This thesis studies the differences in the cultural expectations of parents between the United States and France and examines how these cultural differences affect the behavior of children. Split into three parts, the first part of the thesis outlines behavioral theory of anthropologist, Erving Goffman. The second part discusses the parent-child relationship as outlines by American author, Pamela Druckerman and French psychologist, Francoise Dolto. The last part examines three different French children's books and discusses the behavior of each protagonist. Ultimately it is argued that behavior is culturally conditioned, even in young children.