Peers & Friends - Social Development in Middle Childhood

importance of peer relationships for development

• peers are equals

  • not a developmental or power differential (like adult relationships)

• develop important social skills

• acceptance & sense of belonging

• help and support

• fun

what are the social skills that develop with peer relationships

• sharing

• cooperating

• conflict resolution

measuring peer acceptance

sociometric procedures

• ask children to name children who they most like & dislike

• ask children to rate peers

what is important to note with measuring peer acceptance

peer acceptance/popularity depend on both likeability and status

what are the categories of peer acceptance

• popular

• average

• neglected

• rejected

what are the popular categories of peer acceptance

• popular-prosocial

• popular anti-social

what are the rejected categories of peer acceptance

• rejected-aggressive

• rejected-withdrawn

characteristics of popular-prosocial

• friendly

• cooperative

• socially skilled

• good perspective-taking skills

• outgoing

• usually do moderately well (or better) academically

• physically attractive

• athletic - boys

what does anti-social mean in terms of psychology

means aggressive

characteristics of popular-antisocial

• some teens are both popular and aggressive

  • tend to be outgoing & attractive but mean to others

• boys in this category tend to be “tough & cool”

• girls in this category tend to engage in relational aggression

why are boys in popular-antisocial considered to be “tough & cool”

• usually physically competent

• athletic which gives them status

• engage in overt aggression towards others

how do girls who are popular-antisocial engage in relational aggression

they enhance their own status by ignoring, excluding, & spreading rumors about their peers (normally girls)

who is an example of popular-antisocial

Regina George → Mean Girls

what is there to note about popular-antisocial

some of these teens may eventually become rejected if their aggressive behaviors escalate over time

characteristics of rejected-aggressive

• these kids tend to have conduct problems & poor social skills

  • enable conflict w/ other kids → retaliate than compromise

  • aggressive - overt or relational

  • impulsive

  • disruptive/ annoying in class

  • troublemakers at school

  • poor social skills

  • poor perspective-taking skills

  • hostile to attribution bias

• May bully other kids to try to gain power/status

what falls under hostile attribution bias

• sensitive to threats

• tend to attribute negative intent when the intent is ambiguous

• creates negative feedback loop

  • ppl are out to get me

characteristics of rejected-withdrawn

• shy

• passive

• socially awkward

• other kids think they’re “strange”

• poor social skills

• lack social confidence

• few friends

• sensitive to social threat

• most likely to be victimized/bullied (easy targets)

what do rejected-withdrawn kids expect when they are sensitive to social threat

• expected to be treated negatively

• are anxious about being ridiculed or attacked

characteristics of neglected category

• usually well-adjusted overall

• decent social skills

• shy/introverted

• can interact effectively w/ others, but as introvert, prefers being alone or w/ small group of friends

• has friends

• flies under the radar

factors that determine peer acceptance/rejection

• behavior (pos vs neg social behaviors)

• personality (introversion-extroversion)

• cognitive & social-cognitive skills

  • perspective taking ability

  • hostile attribution bias

  • academic performance

• physical characteristics

  • attractiveness

  • body shape

• parenting style

what parenting style might determine peer acceptance/rejection

authoritative parenting → tends to be associated w/ better social skills

effects of peer rejection

• psychological issues/problems

• delinquency (trouble in school & w/ the law)

• academic difficulties & school avoidance → more likely to drop out

• turn to other rejected children for companionship → increase problematic behaviors

• vicious cycle

what are some examples of psychological issues/problems as a result of peer rejection

• loneliness

• low self-esteem

• depression

• anxiety

• conduct disorder

explain what is meant by vicious cycle in regards to peer rejection

sensitivity to social threat & negative attributions

think others are mean/out to get them → react negatively to others → peers reject them

Girls vs. Boys World’s in middle school

boys & girls tend to seperate themselves form each other in middle childhood

• “boys are gross”

• “girls are annoying”

what are the differences in peer groups (GvsB World’s in Middle School)

Boys - larger peer group; more competitive; focused more on shared activities

Girls → smaller peer groups; more cooperative; focused more one talking/sharing secrets

friendship

• very important for children in middle childhood to develop close friendships

• considered a “developmental task” in middle childhood

how do children make/choose their friends

• Shared characteristics

  • same age

  • same race

  • same overall level of sociability

• early in development, physical proximity is important

  • neighbors

  • playmates @ daycare

  • children of parents’ friends

• later in development, psychological factors become more important

Changing Conception of friendship Early Childhood

• friends are momentary playmates

• made based on proximity

• friendships are easily made & easily broken

Changing Conception of friendship Middle Childhood

• friendships are more important & contribute to sense of belongingness

• shared activities/interests become more important

• girls → focus on talking/sharing secrets

• boys → focused on sharing activities/interests w/ friends

• reciprocity is important - helping, providing support, being loyal

• similarities in personality become more important

Changing Conception of friendship Adolescence

• focused on shared emotional commitments

• increased emotional intimacy

  • self-disclosure (disclosing thoughts, feelings, ideas, beliefs)

• importance of trust (“he/she/they have my back”)

• similarity becomes less important than compatibility

  • friends don’t have same personality characteristics or be involved in the same exact activities

  • compatibility/understanding each other/being emotionally connected is more important

• gender differences

  • intentional self-disclosure is more important in girl’s friendships

  • boys still focused on shared activities but will often disclose emotions/problems during those activities