PSYC 255: CH. 8 - SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE AND LATE CHILDHOOD

In middle and late childhood, children what?

• Increasingly describe themselves with psychological characteristics and traits rather than concrete self-descriptions. 

• Become more likely to recognize the social aspects of the self, including references to social groups in their self-descriptions. 

• Increase references to social comparison.

In middle and late childhood, how do children increase references to social comparison?

More likely to distinguish themselves from others in comparative rather than absolute terms.

What is the social cognitive process involved in assuming the perspective of others and understanding their thoughts and feelings?

perspective taking

This improvement in perspective taking is due to what?

executive function improvements, particularly cognitive inhibition (controlling one’s own thoughts to consider the perspective of others) and cognitive flexibility (seeing situations in different ways). 

Self-esteem

refers to global evaluations of the self, also referred to as self-worth or self-image.

Self-concept

refers to domain-specific evaluations of the self. 

What are important for children’s well-being?

High self-esteem and a positive self-concept

The foundations for self-esteem and self-concept emerge from the quality of what?

parent-child interaction in infancy and early childhood.

Self-efficacy

is the belief that one can master a situation and produce favorable outcomes.

• It is the belief that, "I can” while helplessness is the belief that "I cannot”. 

The increased capacity for self-regulation in middle and late childhood is characterized by?

deliberate efforts to manage one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts which leads to increased social competence and achievement.

In middle and late childhood, children are in Erik Erikson’s fourth psychosocial stage which is?

industry versus inferiority. 

industry

expresses a dominant theme of middle and late childhood, where children become interested in how things are made and how they work. 

In middle and late childhood, children further develop their what?

industry and inferiority of emotion.

Developmental changes in emotion include what?

• Improved emotional understanding. 

• Increased understanding that more than one emotion can be experienced in a particular situation.  

• Increased tendency to be aware of the events leading to emotional reactions. 

• Ability to suppress or conceal negative emotional reactions. 

• The use of self-initiated strategies for redirecting feelings. 

• A capacity for genuine empathy.

Lawrence Kohlberg

proposed three universal levels of moral development

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed three universal levels of moral development, which are?

• preconventional reasoning

• conventional reasoning

• postconventional reasoning

Preconventional reasoning

(before age 9) the lowest level of moral reasoning where children interpret good and bad in terms of external rewards and punishments. 

Conventional reasoning

(by early adolescence) the second, or intermediate level where individuals develop expectations about social roles and apply certain standards, but these standards are set by others (such as parents or the government). 

Postconventional reasoning

(by early adulthood) the highest level of moral development (achieved by only a small number of individuals) where morality involves flexible thinking and is more internalized; individuals engage in deliberate checks on their reasoning to ensure that it meets high ethical standards. 

What does sharing reflect?

Sharing reflects a more complex sense of what is just and right during middle and late childhood.

At what age do children begin to use the word “fair” to mean “equal” or same”?

6-year-old children might use the word fair as synonymous with equal or same.​

Time spent in social interaction with peers increases from 10% at 2 years of age to what?

more than 30% in middle and late childhood.​

Researchers have distinguished five peer statuses, which are?

• popular children

• average children

• neglected children

• rejected children

• controversial children

Popular children

Frequently nominated as a best friend and are rarely disliked by their peers.​

Average children

Receive an average number of both positive and negative nominations from their peers.​

Neglected children

Infrequently nominated as a best friend but are not disliked by their peers.​

Rejected children

Are infrequently nominated as someone’s best friend and are actively disliked by their peers.​

Controversial children

Are frequently nominated both as someone’s best friend and being disliked.

Social cognition

involves thoughts about social matters.​

• Ex: An aggressive boy’s interpretation of an encounter as hostile; his classmates’ perception of his behavior as inappropriate.

Friendships can serve six functions, which are?

• Companionship

• Stimulation

• Physical support

• Ego support

• Social comparison

Companionship

Provide a familiar partner and playmate.

• Someone who is willing to spend time with them.​

• Someone to join in collaborative activities.​

Stimulation

Provide interesting information, excitement, and amusement.​

Physical support

Provide time, resources, and assistance.​

Ego support

Provide support, encouragement, feedback.​

Social comparison

Provide information about where the child stands in comparison with others.

Affection and intimacy

Provide a warm, close, and trusting relationship.​

Intimacy in friendships is characterized by?

• Self-disclosure.​

• Sharing private thoughts.