This paper examines some of the aspects of compliance, its antecedents and consequences, that emerged from a sutdy of 136, 2 1/2 year-old boys. The investigation studied parent-child interaction by means of naturalistic home observation, ratings based on observation and interviews, and experimental procedures. Four compliance criterion measures, including a rating of internalized standards (which was significantly associated with overt compliance) were correlated with other child and parent variables. Compliance was found to be positively correlated with child independence and maturity of speech and negatively with a rating of attachment. Multiple regression analyses of the criteria with parent variables indicated that consistently enforced discipline, psychological rewards, encouragement of independence and maternal play contributed importantly to the positive prediction of compliance, whereas material rewards and physical and psychological punishments were negatively associated with it. A weak association between mother's education and compliance was noted. The findings of the correlational analysis support a cognitive theory of moral development and point to the importance of a consistent parental authority role. A sequence analysis, however, demonstrated effectiveness of 'power assertion' in the immediate stimuli controlling compliance. Implications for early development are discussed. (Author)