CFS100 - NS Ch.9

Plays Well With Others

What is the myth described?

• “Modern, involved parenting makes kids kinder, more cooperative, & less aggressive”

  • Parenting strategies like educational TV, protecting kids from conflict, & avoiding discipline can backfire—kids still show aggression, often in more subtle & socially strategic ways

Ostrov & Gentile’s Study

• Observed preschoolers in 2 Minnesota schools over 2 years

• Noted aggressive behaviors while tracking what media (violent vs. educational) the children watched

  • Educational TV (ex: Arthur) increased relational aggression more than violent TV increased physical aggression

Types of Aggression

Physical aggression:

• Hurting others w/ the body (ex: hitting, pushing, grabbing toys)

Relational aggression:

• Hurting relationships (ex: excluding or ignoring others, saying “You can’t play,” spreading lies)

Verbal aggression:

• Using words to hurt, often w/ physical aggression (ex: name-calling, saying “Shut up” or “You’re stupid”)

Scheibe’s Study

• Analyzed 470 children's TV shows

• Recorded every insult, name-call, or put-down

  • 96% had insults; most weren’t corrected

    • Even “prosocial” shows had aggressive content, often met w/ laughter or silence

Dr. Cummings’ Study

• Let children witness staged arguments (live or on video) between parents or actors, then observed their stress levels & behavior; some kids saw resolution, others didn’t

  • Children were less aggressive & more emotionally stable if they saw the conflict resolved—not just the argument itself

Dr. Dodge’s Study

• Tracked 453 White & Black children from kindergarten to 11th grade, analyzing effects of corporal punishment on long-term aggression

  • Spanking increased aggression in White kids, but decreased it in Black kids

    • due to cultural context & how discipline is interpreted

“The Nurture Paradox”

• Overprotective parenting prevents kids from learning to handle conflict & setbacks on their own

APA Task Force on Zero Tolerance

• Zero tolerance increases anxiety, punishes normal mistakes, & erodes trust in authority

Dr. Hawley’s Research

• Studied "bistrategic controllers" (kids who use both kindness & cruelty)

  • These kids are socially skilled, popular, & well-liked—even though they use aggression

Dr. Schoppe-Sullivan’s Study

• Classified dads as progressive, traditional, or disengaged; observed their parenting behaviors & marital quality; tracked kids’ aggression at school

  • Kids of progressive dads acted out as much as those w/ disengaged dads—due to inconsistent discipline

Recommendations

• Let kids witness conflict resolution, not just conflict

• Monitor educational media for subtle aggression

• Avoid one-size-fits-all discipline

• Be clear & consistent with parenting

• Help kids manage peer-driven status pressures ethically