Developmental Psych Socialization: Family, Peers, School & Media

What is socialization?

The process by which children acquire the beliefs, motives, values, and behaviors deemed significant by a culture or subculture.

What is the primary socialization agent for children?

The family.

How does the family function in socialization?

As a social system with reciprocal relationships, it plays a crucial role in socializing children

- even more so with more than one sibling, each relationship impacts the family system as a whole

What is sibling rivalry?

Competition between siblings, often influenced by the arrival of a new baby.

What factors can lessen sibling rivalry?

Smaller age gaps (2 years or under) and secure attachments between siblings.

How can parents manage sibling conflicts?

Through parental monitoring, authoritative intervention like scaffolding problem solving and ensuring equality of treatment.

What are some positive contributions of sibling relationships?

Caretaking, emotional support, and serving as models and teachers.

What are extrafamilial influences?

Social agencies outside the family that influence a child's development, such as peers, school, and media.

What are the stages of play in preschool years according to Parten (1932)?

1. Non-social activity, 2. Onlooker play, 3. Parallel play, 4. Associative play, 5. Cooperative play

- children at any each can play in each of these ways

How is peer acceptance measured?

Using sociometric techniques, such as self-report surveys of liked vs. disliked peers Ex. Top three vs bottom three you'd like to play with

What classifications can children receive based on peer nominations?

Popular, rejected, neglected (not rated either way), controversial (rated both high and low), and average status.

What impact does authoritative parenting have on peer relationships?

It is more likely to result in children who are well-liked and exhibit calm, friendly, and supportive behaviors.

Rejected vs Neglected children

Rejected - more likely to be aggressive or immature

Neglected - more likely to be shy, not as noticed

What defines a friendship?

A close relationship between two people characterized by loyalty and mutual affection

- become gradually more influential as a socialization agent as children get older

What is the effect of close friendships for children that have a rejected or neglected status?

They can buffer the negative effects of social status

- children who are have a negative status and no close friendships are worse off

What are the advantages of having friends?

Security, social support, and practice in resolving conflicts

- the more positive relationships the better

What did Schneider et al. (2006) find about friendship stability?

About 60% of dyad friendships were stable over the year, with positive relationships being more stable

What role did Dickson et al find between friendship stability and parenting style?

Found that psychological control in parenting was related to friendship breakup while monitoring friends from 3rd to 6th grade

What role does school play in socialization?

Schools provide both formal (academic) and informal (social) curricula that shape children's development.

What are determinants of effective schools?

A safe and encouraging climate, clear academic goals, and a balance of boundaries and independence

- relates to bronfenbrenners model

What is the estimated screen time for infants and children?

Infants: 40-45 minutes; 2-4 years: 1 hour; 4-8 years: up to 7 hours a day

- may include more than one device at a time and doesn't differentiate between recreational and educational use

What are some positive effects of media on child development?

Educational apps and programming can enhance skills like counting, problem-solving, and social connections.

What are the negative effects of media on children?

Increased aggression, exposure to stereotypes, marketing, addiction, reduced creativity, online danger and less community involvement

Which was more of an issue in video games: violence or competition?

Competition element of games was more predictive of behavioural issues

What is technoference?

The negative impact of parental device use on child development and parent-child relationships.

What recommendations are made for media use in children?

Limit TV viewing, monitor programming quality, encourage media literacy, and model good tech habits.

What is the impact of parenting style on friendships?

Psychological control in parenting can predict friendship instability and breakups.

What is the significance of having a best friend for rejected or neglected children?

Having a close friend can buffer the negative effects of being rejected or neglected by peers.

What is the impact of media violence on children?

It can lead to increased aggressive behavior, thoughts, and feelings that may persist into adulthood.