Psychosocial Development in Middle Childhood: Lecture Chapter 14

1. Psychosocial Development in Middle Childhood: Lecture Chapter 14

2. Middle Childhood (6-12) • What are some significant milestones of middle childhood? • Physical • Cognitive • Social • Emotional

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. The Developing Self: Representational Systems • _______________________________: judgments about the self become more realistic, more balanced, more comprehensive, and more consciously expressed in middle childhood • “I’m a bit shy, but I’m honest and quite smart and I work very hard. I’m religious, which is important to me…”

8. The Developing Self con’t • Can focus on more than one dimension of personality • Can compare one’s _________ self with one’s ___________ self and judge how well one measures up to social standards in comparison with others • All of these changes contribute to the development of _________________

9. Self-Esteem • __________ versus inferiority: virtue that develops is _________________, a view of the self as able to master skills and complete tasks • Children rate physical appearance most important to self-worth • ___________ support from parents and classmates, and friends and teachers is important

10. Emotional Growth • Children become more __________ and inclined to prosocial behavior in middle childhood • __________ of negative emotions is an aspect of emotional growth • When parents show disapproval of, or punish, negative emotions, children may learn to hide such emotions

11. Can you… • Identify some aspects of emotional growth in middle childhood and tell how parental treatment may affect children’s handling of negative emotions?

12. The Child in the Family • Family Atmosphere • School-aged children spend _______ time away from home than when they were younger and become ___ close to parents • Most important influences is the ______________ within the home (supportive and loving or conflict ridden?)

13. Parenting Issues • Striving for _________________ during preadolescence often leads to deterioration ofthe quality of family problem solving and negotiation • __________________ – transitional stage in the control of behaviour in which parents exercise general supervision and children exercise moment-to-moment self-regulation • The way parents __________ conflicts more important than the specific outcome

14. Siblings • In Asia, Africa, South America, siblings care for one another • Feeding, comforting, disciplining, assigning chores etc.

15. Sibling Relationships • The _______ of siblings in a family and their spacing, birth order, and ________ often determine roles and relationships • Siblings influence each other, not only __________, through their own interactions, but indirectly, through their impact on each other's relationship with the parents

16. They develop skills needed for __________ and intimacy They enhance relationships They gain a sense of ____________ Frees them to make independent judgments The Child in the Peer Group: Positive

17. The Child in the Peer Group: Negative • A child is expected to ___________ peer group’s values and behavioral norms, even if undesirable, and children may not have the strength to resist (ie. shoplift, use drugs) • The peer group may reinforce ___________ (unfavourable attitude toward “outsiders”, especially members of certain racial or ethnic groups)

18. Popularity • Peer relationships in middle childhood are ___________ predictors of later adjustment • Popular children typically • have good _________________ abilities • are high achievers • are good at solving __________ problems • help other children • are _______________ without being disruptive or aggressive

19. Friendship • Popularity is the peer group’s opinion of a child, but friendship is a ______street • Friends: • know each other well • ______________ each other • feel a sense of commitment to one another • treat each other as ____________

20. Friendship • Children learn to ________________ and cooperate, learn about themselves and others, help each other get through stressful transitions, inevitable quarrels help children learn to resolve _____________ • Friendships are deeper and more ________ in middle childhood • ______________ and time spent together are factors in school-age friendships

21. Aggression and Bullying • During the school years, __________ aggression (aggression aimed at hurting its target) becomes more common than _______________ aggression (aggression aimed at achieving an objective), the hallmark of the preschool period • Aggressors tend to be _______________ and have social and psychological problems

22. Bullying • Aggression deliberately and persistently directed against a particular target, or victim, typically one who is weak, vulnerable, and _____________________ • ___________ bullies tend to use physical force (overt aggression) • Female bullies tend to use verbal or psychological means (_____________ aggression) and are more likely to victimize other ___________

23. Aggression and Bullying • ______________ bias - children who seek dominance and control may be especially sensitive to slights, provocations, or other threats to their status, see other children as trying to hurt them • Instrumental aggressors view force and coercion as _____________ ways to get what they want (expect to be rewarded) • Aggressiveness can be reduced by cutting down on television use

24. What can and should be done about children’s exposure to violent television programs?

25. Common Emotional Disturbances • ____________ or mood disorders (feeling sad, depressed, unloved, nervous, fearful, or lonely) • ___________________ • separation anxiety disorder • ___________________ • generalized anxiety disorder • obsessive-compulsive disorder • Among the most prevalent mental health problems in Canada for children and adolescence

26. Common Emotional Disturbances • _____________conduct disorders (aggression, defiance, or antisocial behavior) • oppositional defiantdisorder (ODD) • conduct disorder (CD) • Childhood depression: a disorder of mood that goes beyond __________, temporary sadness

27. Stress and Resilience • Stress that becomes ___________can lead to psychological problems • Psychologist David Elkind has called today's child the “______________" He warns that the pressures of modern life are forcing children to grow up too soon and are making their childhood too stressful

28. The Resilient Child: Table 14-2 • _________________ Children – those who weather adverse circumstances, function well despite challenges or threats, or bounce back from traumatic events

29. Protective factors • Help children overcome stress and contribute to resilience • Good relationship & strong bonds with at least one ___________ parent or caregiver • High _______ and good problem solvers • Personality (adaptable, friendly, well liked, independent, sensitive to others) • Supportive school environment, success in sports, music etc.

30. How can adults contribute to children’s resilience? Give examples.

31. 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?