Ch 12

Middle Childhood: Social Development
Chapter 8
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Personal development
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Erikson theory: In this stage, children face the psychosocial crisis of industry versus inferiority, where they must work toward a sense of competence and achievement that balances their abilities against the expectations of their environment.
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Self concept, self-esteem and self-efficacy are crucial as children develop their identities based on comparisons with peers and feedback from adults. Children learn to recognize their unique traits and strengths.
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Resilience becomes essential, as children learn to cope with challenges, adapt to change, and recover from setbacks, ultimately fostering emotional health and stability.
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Family
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The role of parents shifts from authority figures to supporters and facilitators of independence as children grow more self-reliant.
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Family structure and function are key in how families support children’s development, adapting to various configurations including single-parent, two-parent, or extended families to meet children's emotional and practical needs.
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Children require physical necessities, learning opportunities, and a stable environment to thrive. They also need the presence of supportive peers and family harmony to feel secure and valued.
Outline
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Peers
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Friendship: Children begin to form deeper friendships based on mutual interests, emotional support, and loyalty, rather than mere proximity.
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Social status becomes visible, with children recognizing who is popular or well-liked, learning to navigate complex social hierarchies and peer dynamics.
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Bullying emerges as a critical issue during this period, where conflicts may arise through aggressive behaviors, necessitating social and emotional learning to address and mitigate its impact.
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Moral development
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Piaget’s theory illustrates that children develop moral reasoning through situational context and social interactions.
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Kohlberg’s theory expands upon this by outlining the stages of moral judgment, illustrating how children’s understanding of right and wrong matures with age and experience, integrating their personal beliefs with societal norms.
Psychosocial theory (Erikson)
Industry vs. inferiority:
Personal development
Resolution: Children who successfully navigate this stage develop competence and self-confidence.
Unresolved: Those who struggle may experience feelings of inferiority that can persist into adulthood.
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The role of school
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Changes in self-descriptions. As children advance in school, they begin to articulate personal strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, moving beyond simple attributes. The educational setting fosters peer interaction and social comparison that further influences their self-image and development. Self-concept in middle childhood ![null](•
Social comparison helps children gain a more nuanced understanding of their identity, contributing to both self-criticism and the realization of potential biases or prejudices within themselves and society.
Self-esteem
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How individuals value and perceive themselves evolves during middle childhood, which is crucial for their developing identity.
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Healthy self-esteem balances positive perceptions with realism, which is linked to later academic and social success.
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Supportive environments and constructive feedback are essential for fostering a healthy self-image.
Self-efficacy
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The belief in one’s capabilities to achieve specific goals significantly influences motivation and performance. Bandura (1977) emphasizes the role self-efficacy plays in personal development.
Resilience
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Resilience is the capacity to adapt well in the face of adversity. It requires dynamic processes such as positive adaptation and the ability to overcome significant stress.
Family structure
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Legal and genetic relationships among relatives living in the same home create various family structures including single-parent, two-parent, or extended families, each with unique impacts on children's upbringing.
Family function
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Family function refers to how well families meet their members’ physical and emotional needs. Effective functions foster children’s development and emotional well-being.
What do kids need?
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The essential needs for children include not only physical necessities such as food and shelter but also a nurturing environment that includes learning opportunities and supportive peer relationships.
Family trouble
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Challenges such as poverty or conflict within the family can significantly increase parental stress levels and impact children’s development and well-being negatively.
Divorce
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Divorce can disrupt the stability children need, yet it may also open pathways to healthier environments free from conflict, which can be beneficial in certain contexts.
Drive for independence
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As children enter middle childhood, their desire for independence expands their social world, increasing their reliance on peers for companionship and emotional support, which can help them develop vital social skills.
Friendships in middle childhood
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Friendships become more significant and are characterized by greater intimacy and emotional support, and are often formed based on traits such as gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Bullying
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Bullying is recognized as a pervasive issue, characterized by repeated, systematic efforts to inflict harm on those perceived as weaker. Both victims and perpetrators face potential long-term negative outcomes, including lower academic achievement and mental