Chapter 13

Development of Self-Recognition

• 6-12 months -- It’s another baby

• 13-24 months -- Withdrawal

  • Not happy at catching their own image in the mirror

  • Some look a little wary

  • Others smile occasionally and make some noises

• 20-24 months onwards -- It’s me!

  • A crucial milestone in the development of self

Contributions to Self-Recognition

• Secure attachment to a primary caregiver

• Parent-child interactions

  • Provide descriptive information

  • Evaluate child’s behaviour

  • Talk about noteworthy events they have shared

    • Build autobiographical memories → Development of Extended Self

  • Cultural differences in parenting styles

• Cultural differences in parenting styles

  • The extent to which mother from the different cultures stressed autonomy

    • The collectivist society of the Nso people of Cameroon

    • The individualistic society of Greece

    • The society of Costa Rica -- In between the two cultures

Consequences of Self-Recognition

• Increase in social and emotional competencies

  • Ability to experience self-conscious emotions

  • More outgoing and socially skilled

    • Imitate a playmate’s activities

    • Share intentions and cooperate to achieve shared goals

Self-Esteem and Psychological Well-Being

• Kids with self-esteem

  • Feel liked and accepted

  • Feel confident

  • Feel proud of what they can do

  • Think good things about themselves

  • Believe in themselves

• Kids with low self-esteem

  • Are self-critical and hard on themselves

  • Feel like they’re not as good as other kids

  • Think of the times they fail rather than when they succeed

  • Lack of confidence

  • Doubt they can do things well

Social Contributors to Self-Esteem

• Parenting styles

  • Authoritative -- Children tend to be friendly, energetic, cheerful, self-reliant, self-controlled, curious, cooperative and achievement-oriented

  • Permissive -- Children tend to be impulsive, rebellious, aimless, domineering, aggressive and low in self-reliance, self-control and achievement

  • Uninvolved -- Children tend to have low self-esteem and little self-confidence and seek other, sometimes inappropriate, role models to substitute for the neglectful parent

• Peer Influences

  • 4 to 5-year olds use social comparison information to gauge whether they perform better or worse then their peers

Knowing About Others -- Person Perception

• 3 to 9 months old

  • Prefer faces of their own race than other races

• 3 to 4 months old

  • Ethnic categories formed

• 5 to 7 year olds

  • Prejudice peaks

• 8 to 9 year olds

  • View out-groups more favourably then their own group

Combatting Ethnic Prejudice During the Preschool Period

• Parents and teachers talk openly

  • The merits of ethnic diversity

  • The harmful effects of prejudice

• Parent groups

  • Attend classes to learn more about ethnic prejudice and discuss diversity issues with their children

• Social experience

  • Increase positive contact with peers from diverse ethnic background