Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Psychosocial Development in Middle Childhood Chapter 14

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Guideposts for Study 1. How do school-age children develop a realistic self-concept, and what contributes to self-esteem? 2. How do school-age children show emotional growth? 3. How do parent-child relationships change in middle childhood?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Guideposts for Study  4.What are the effects of parents' work and of poverty on family atmosphere?  5. What impact does family structure have on children's development?  6.How do siblings influence and get along with one another?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Guideposts for Study  7.How do relationships with peers change in middle childhood, and what influences popularity and choice of friends?  8. What are the most common forms of aggressive behavior in middle childhood, and what influences contribute to it?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Guideposts for Study  9.What are some common emotional disturbances, and how are they treated?  10.How do the stresses of modern life affect children, and what enables "resilient" children to withstand them?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Developing Self Representational Systems: A Neo-Piagetian View Broad, inclusive self-concepts that integrate different aspects of the self (Harter) One can compare one’s real self with one’s ideal self and judge comparison with others

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Developing Self Self-Esteem Industry versus inferiority  competence, a view of the self as able to master skills and complete tasks Children rate physical appearance most important  self-esteem, follwed by social acceptance Social support from parents and classmates, friends and teachers are important

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Developing Self Emotional Growth Children become more empathic and inclined to prosocial behavior, a sign of positive adjustment, in middle childhood Control of negative emotions is part of emotional growth When parents show disapproval of, or punish, negative emotions, children learn to hide such emotions

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Can you… Identify some aspects of emotional growth in middle childhood and tell how parental treatment may affect children’s handling of negative emotions?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Family Family Atmosphere Supportive and loving, or conflict-ridden? Striving for autonomy  deterioration of the quality of family problem solving and negotiation Poverty can harm children's development through its impact on parents' emotional state and parenting practices

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Family Family Structure More traditional families are adoptive, and many two-parent families are stepfamilies, resulting from divorce and remarriage Growing number of single-parent families, gay and lesbian families, and grandparent-headed families The structure of the family is less important than its effect on family atmosphere

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Family Sibling Relationships The number of siblings in a family and their spacing, birth order, and gender often  roles and relationships Siblings influence each other, not only directly, through their own interactions, but indirectly through their impact on each other's relationship with the parents

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Positive Effects of Peer Relations They develop skills needed for sociability and intimacy They enhance relationships They gain a sense of belonging Helps them make independent judgments

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Negative Effects of Peer Relations A child is expected to accept group’s values and behavioral norms, even if undesirable, and children may not be able to resist The peer group may reinforce prejudice

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Popularity Peer relationships in middle childhood  later social adjustment Popular children: have good cognitive abilities are high achievers are good at solving social problems help other children are assertive without being disruptive or aggressive.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Friendship Friendship is a two-way street Friends: know each other well trust each other feel a sense of commitment to one another treat each other as equals

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Aggression and Bullying Hostile aggression (aggression aimed at hurting its target) becomes more common than instrumental aggression (aggression aimed at achieving an objective), the hallmark of the preschool period Aggressors tend to be unpopular and have social and psychological problems

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display The Child in the Peer Group Aggression and Bullying Children who seek dominance and control may be especially sensitive to slights, provocations, or other threats to their status Instrumental aggressors view force and coercion as effective ways to get what they want Studies agree that children seeing televised violence act more aggressively

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display How can parents and schools reduce racial, religious, and ethnic prejudice?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Common Emotional Disturbances Anxiety or mood disorders (feeling sad, depressed, unloved, nervous, fearful, or lonely) school phobia separation anxiety disorder social phobia generalized anxiety disorder obsessive-compulsive disorder

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Common Emotional Disturbances Disruptive conduct disorders (aggression, defiance, or antisocial behavior) oppositional defiant disorder=a pattern of defiance, disobedience, and hostility toward adult authority figures Childhood depression: a disorder of mood that goes beyond normal, temporary sadness

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Treatment Techniques Individual psychotherapy: a therapist sees a child one-on-one  the child gain insights into his or her personality and relationships interpret feelings and behavior

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Treatment Techniques Family therapy: therapist sees the family together  observes how members interact points out both constructive or destructive patterns of family functioning Behavior therapy, or behavior modification  eliminate undesirable behaviors (such as temper tantrums) or develop desirable ones

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Treatment Techniques Drug therapy Antidepressants to treat depression Ritalin to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat obsessive-compulsive and depressive disorders

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Mental Health Stress and Resilience Stress that becomes overwhelming can lead to psychological problems Psychologist David Elkind has called today's child the "hurried child." He warns that the pressures of modern life are forcing children to grow up too soon and are making their childhood too stressful

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display How can adults contribute to children’s resilience?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Can you… Explain Elkind’s concept of the “hurried child”? Name the most common source of fear and anxiety in urban children and tell how fears change with age? Identify protective factors that contribute to resilience?