Psych

Development of Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

• Middle Childhood Growth

  • Kids begin to describe themselves beyond physical traits, incorporating psychological characteristics.

  • Shift from simple descriptors (e.g., possessions) in early childhood to more complex traits in middle childhood (e.g., "I am popular," "I am helpful").

  • In collectivist societies, children identify with social roles more readily, while American children improve in social self-description by middle childhood.

• Erik Erikson's Stages of Development

  • Erikson proposed eight stages, each with a conflict to resolve for identity development.

  • Conflict in middle childhood: Industry vs. Inferiority

    • Children try to prove themselves capable and work hard to succeed.

    • Failure can lead to feelings of inferiority if not managed positively.

  • Resilience in children helps them maintain an industry orientation, encouraging persistence despite setbacks.

• Self-Esteem Trends

  • Early childhood self-esteem tends to be inflated and unrealistic.

  • In middle childhood, self-esteem begins to accurately reflect abilities and weaknesses, becoming more nuanced.

  • Recognizing strengths and weaknesses becomes important in identity formation.

Social Comparison and Self-Esteem

• Social Comparison Theory (Festinger)

  • Children begin comparing themselves to peers to determine social standing.

  • Upward Comparison: Looking at peers who are doing better and aspiring to reach them can lower self-esteem.

  • Downward Comparison: Comparing to peers doing worse can improve self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.

• Cycle of Failure vs. Cycle of Success

  • Cycle of Failure: Low self-esteem leads to avoidance of effort, resulting in failure and further lowering of self-esteem.

  • Cycle of Success: Positive self-esteem promotes effort and success, reinforcing self-worth and encouraging future successes.

Emotional Development in Middle Childhood

• Emotional Complexity

  • Children develop nuanced emotional understandings, including recognizing mixed emotions (e.g., excitement and anxiety).

  • Ability to anticipate emotional responses based on experiences and situations increases.

  • Concealing inappropriate emotional reactions becomes possible (e.g., masking joy during a friend's disappointment).

• Empathy Development

  • As cognitive abilities advance, empathy grows, allowing children to perspective-take and respond appropriately to others' emotions.

  • Improved regulation leads to better social interactions and relationships.

Influence of Environment and Culture on Emotional Development

• Parenting Style

  • Cultural influences affect how emotions are expressed and regulated.

  • Peers play a significant role in modeling acceptable emotional responses and feedback.

  • High-quality preschool experiences positively correlate with emotional and social competence.

• Nancy Eisenberg’s Model

  • Emphasizes indirect influence of parents on children's emotional development through social interactions and emotional coaching.

  • Emotion coaching helps children recognize and manage emotions, which is critical for social success.

Moral Development and Reasoning

• Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

  • Moral reasoning develops slowly, and children generally remain at lower stages in middle childhood.

  • Stage reasoning emphasizes social contracts and personal relationships (e.g., whether to follow laws based on their fairness).

  • Higher moral reasoning correlates with age and social experiences.

• Critical Perspectives on Moral Reasoning

  • Research indicates reasoning may not always align with personal experiences or real-life scenarios.

  • Group discussions enhance moral reasoning due to multiple perspectives being shared.

  • Challenges remain in evaluating moral reasoning in children versus adults based on situational context.