Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Psychosocial Development in Early Childhood: Week 9 Lecture The Developing Self The Developing Self –Self-Concept –Understanding Emotions –Erikson: Initiative vs Guilt –Self-esteem Gender Gender –Gender differences –Perspectives on gender development

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Guideposts for Study Guideposts for Study 1. How does the self-concept develop during early childhood, and how do children advance in understanding their emotions? 1. How does the self-concept develop during early childhood, and how do children advance in understanding their emotions? 2. How do young children develop initiative and self-esteem? 2. How do young children develop initiative and self-esteem? 3. How do boys and girls become aware of the meaning of gender? 3. How do boys and girls become aware of the meaning of gender?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. The Developing Self _____________ _____________ –What we believe about who we are –Sense of self; descriptive and evaluative mental picture of one’s abilities and traits –Determines how we feel about ourselves and guides our ______________

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.Self-Definition By age __ attempts at self-definition are becoming more comprehensive By age __ attempts at self-definition are becoming more comprehensive –Concrete, observable behaviours; external characteristics; preferences; possessions; particular __________ –Unrealistically ________________ –ie. My name is Jason, I live in a big house with my mother and father and sister. I have a cat that’s orange and a television set in my room…I like pizza, I can climb to the top of a jungle gym

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Understanding Emotions Helps children __________ their behavior in social situations and talk about feelings Enables children to _________the way they show their feelings and to be sensitive to how others feel Affected by ____________ relationships Can talk about their feelings and discern the feelings of others but lack full understanding of shame & _________ and have trouble with conflicting emotions (happy about new bike but sad it is the wrong colour)

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Erikson: Initiative versus Guilt The need to deal with conflicting feelings about the self The need to deal with conflicting feelings about the self –Growing sense of purpose which lets children plan and carry out activities –Preschool children can and want to do more and more –They learn that some of things will be met with approval while others will not –_________ in personality between the part that remains a __________ (wants to explore) and the part that is becoming an ___________ –Eventually leads to development of ___________

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Erikson: Initiative versus Guilt con’t… If the crisis is not ____________ adequately a child may turn into an adult who strives for __________ or showing off, or who is ________________, unspontaneous, and/or intolerant If the crisis is not ____________ adequately a child may turn into an adult who strives for __________ or showing off, or who is ________________, unspontaneous, and/or intolerant With guidance and consistent __________ children can attain a balance between too much competition and feeling repressed and guilt-ridden With guidance and consistent __________ children can attain a balance between too much competition and feeling repressed and guilt-ridden

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.Self-Esteem The judgment a person makes about his or her self- _____________ The judgment a person makes about his or her self- _____________ Not based on realistic appraisal of abilities Not based on realistic appraisal of abilities In early childhood it tends to be global “I am good” In early childhood it tends to be global “I am good” Self-esteem should not be contingent on _________ Self-esteem should not be contingent on _________ Some show elements of feeling “__________” (self- blame, negative emotion, lack of expectations) Some show elements of feeling “__________” (self- blame, negative emotion, lack of expectations) To avoid fostering “____________” pattern, parents & teachers need to give specific, focused feedback rather than criticizing the child as a person To avoid fostering “____________” pattern, parents & teachers need to give specific, focused feedback rather than criticizing the child as a person Examples? Examples?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.Gender Gender _________________ Gender _________________ –awareness of one’s femaleness or maleness and all it implies in a particular society Gender Differences Gender Differences –Intelligence test scores show _____ gender differences –_________ tend to do better at verbal tasks, at mathematical computation, and at tasks requiring fine motor and perceptual skills –__________ excel in most spatial abilities and in abstract mathematical and scientific reasoning

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Gender con’t… Around age _____, however, problem behaviour diminishes in girls, boys tend to get in trouble or “act up” Around age _____, however, problem behaviour diminishes in girls, boys tend to get in trouble or “act up” Possible reasons lie in both biological and cognitive differences: Possible reasons lie in both biological and cognitive differences: –Lower reactivity to ___________, greater use of language, socialized to control themselves, think of others all found in females Gender differences are valid for large groups of boys and girls not necessarily for _______________________ Gender differences are valid for large groups of boys and girls not necessarily for _______________________

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 3 Aspects of Gender Identity Gender ____________ Behaviours, interests, attitudes, skills and traits that a culture considers appropriate for males and for females Gender_______________ Socialization process by which children learn appropriate gender roles Gender _________________ Preconceived generalizations about male or female role behaviour

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. What accounts for gender differences? Nature versus Nurture Biological Approach Biological Approach –Many or most behavioural differences between the sexes can be traced to __________________ differences –Differences in brain development and hormones may lead to some biological differences in males and females –Role of biology in gender differences is ____________

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. What accounts for gender differences? Socialization-Based Approach Socialization-Based Approach –Gender-typing is a result of interpretation, ________________, and internalization of socially transmitted standards –Outcome of a complex array of interacting influences, personal and __________ –The way a child ___________ experiences with parents, teachers, peers, and cultural institutions plays a central part

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Influences on Gender Development Parental influences Parental influences –Affects gender knowledge more than gender __________ (know what is for boy or girl but don’t necessarily choose it) –Boys are more gender-socialized in _________ preferences than girls ie. not okay for boy to play with a doll but okay for girl to play with a truck ie. not okay for boy to play with a doll but okay for girl to play with a truck –In households where the roles are more _______ between males and females there is less gender stereoptypes

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Influences on Gender Development con’t… Peer Influences: Peer Influences: –Peers begin to reinforce gender-typed behaviour by age _______ –Show more ________________ of boys who act “like girls” than of girls who are tomboys

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Influences on Gender Development con’t… Cultural Influences Cultural Influences –Children who watch more television will become _____ gender-typed by imitating the models they see on the screen –Children’s ______ are a source of gender stereotypes (male characters predominate, females are more likely to ask for help, males more likely to give it) –Do you believe in fairy tales?