Psych 133D (Gender)

Psychology 133D: Social and Personality Development

• Instructor: Bonnie Goff, Ph.D.

• Week 7 Class 1 Overview

Class Schedule

• No class on Monday (President’s Day)

• Exam 2: Wednesday, 2/18 in class at 2:00 PM

  • Coverage Topics:

    • The Role of Caregivers

    • Early Understanding of Self and Others

    • Self-esteem

    • Gender/Sexuality (subject to time limits)

Early Emergence of Self: Middle Childhood

• Developmental Changes:

  • Evolution of Self-Concept:

    • Defined initially by external attributes (physical characteristics, behaviors)

    • Shifts towards inner qualities (traits, values, beliefs, ideologies) (Damon & Hart, 1988; Harter, 1999)

  • Transition from childhood to preadolescence characterized by an increasing psychological portrayal of self.

• Self-Descriptions:

  • Example of a 9-year-old's self-description:

    • Focus on physical traits and activities (e.g., brown eyes, playing sports).

  • Example of an 11/12-year-old's self-description:

    • More abstract traits (e.g., "truthful person", engagement with feelings, social dynamics).

Early Emergence of Self: Adolescence

• Self-Concept:

  • Becomes more psychological, abstract, and integrated.

  • Examples include identification with personality traits and political or social beliefs.

• Adolescent Self-Descriptions: Focus on complex self-identifications encompassing emotions and societal roles (Montemayor & Eisen, 1977).

Adolescent fMRI Research on Self-Valuation

• Key Findings:

  • Brain regions activated during self-evaluation vs. other-assessment differ based on age.

  • Shows developmental shifts in how adolescents assess self-worth as they grow older (Pfiefer & Berman, 2018).

Self-Esteem Development

Childhood

• Definition: One’s evaluation of personal worth based on self-concept.

• Early Assessments: Children’s evaluations influenced by attachment styles.

  • Securely attached children report more favorable self-assessments (Verschueren, et al., 1996).

• Shifts in Perception:

  • Ages 4-7: Positive self-regard in self-assessment across domains.

  • Age 8: Greater awareness of social feedback begins to influence self-assessment.

Adolescence

• Self-Esteem Trends:

  • Declines during adolescence due to body image issues, abstract thinking, and increased social pressures.

Traditional Gender Stereotypes

• Gender Typing: Process by which children adopt behaviors and roles considered appropriate for their biological sex.

  • Female Roles: Expressive roles; kindness, nurturance, cooperation.

  • Male Roles: Instrumental roles; protectiveness, assertiveness, independence.

Gender Differences in Socialization

• Socialization Pressures: Notable differences in expectations for boys and girls across various attributes (Barry et al., 1957).

Gender Identity Development

• Developmental Milestones:

  • Infants: Discriminate between male and female voices and faces by the end of the first year (Leinbach & Fagot, 1993).

  • Ages 2-3: Children begin using gender labels accurately.

• Rigid Gender Roles: Emergence of gender-typed preferences prior to age 2, leading to gender segregation in play.

Nurture vs Nature in Gender Identity

• Nature: Underlying biological factors influencing gender identity and development.

• Social Constructs: Gender norms and roles differ widely across cultures and can change over time.

Nonbinary Individuals & Gender Fluidity

• Generation Z Trends:

  • More acceptance of nonbinary identities and fluid concepts of gender.

  • Increased recognition and reporting of nonbinary and transgender identities among young adults.

Gender Equality Initiatives in Sweden

• Prominent Features:

  • Gender-neutral pronouns and promotion of gender equality in various sectors (education, parenting, societal norms).

Resources and Social Influences on Gender Identity

• Use of social systems (friends, family, mass media) affecting perceptions of gender roles and identities.

Questions?

• Open floor for students to inquire about the lecture's content or further topics.