Chapter 10: Social and Emotional Development in Preschool

Question 1

define prosocial behaviour

Answer 1

All the acts aiming at promoting others’ well-being, such as assistance, comfort, cooperation - opposite of hostile behaviour

Question 2

describe the difference between gender role and gender stereotype

Answer 2

gender role involves what a culture feels is an appropriate for a girl/boy to behave; gender stereotype are beliefs about how boys and girls are different based on personality, behaviour and interests

Question 3

what are instrumental traits

Answer 3

personality traits that require active involvement with or influence over the environment - typically male - things like skilled in business, mechanical aptitude, aggressive

Question 4

what are expressive traits

Answer 4

personality traits that reflect emotional functioning and interpersonal relations - typically female - like, kind, caring, home-oriented, creative…

Question 5

describe cultural impacts/influences on gender stereotypes

Answer 5

not the same world wide. north american views - especially american, are most extreme.

Question 6

when does gender stereotyping occur in a child’s familiar play activities

Answer 6

24mos: in girls
31mos: in boys
preschool children see stereotypes as guidelines for behaviour that are binding

Question 7

describe some differences between girls and boys play in terms of gender stereotypes

Answer 7

girls tend to focus on more social; boys on more physical, BUT - when girls join boys play, the girls will play physically, not vice versa.
tend to choose playmates of the same gender
girls play in small groups; boys play in large groups

Question 8

define gender identity

Answer 8

perception of oneself as either female or male

Question 9

how does gender identity emerge

Answer 9

gender labelling: learning to name who is a boy/girl

stability: understanding gender doesn’t change
consistency: doesn’t change based on situation/wishes
constancy: identifiable, stable, and consistent

Question 10

explain the media/tv viewing influence on gender role

Answer 10

boys views became more stereotyped on all dimensions: traits, behaviour, occupation, relationships. Girls views changed on several domains as well. Implies that media impacts severely because children aren’t yet exposed to broad range of experiences as adults are.

Question 11

explain children’s play influence on gender role

Answer 11

girls interactions are enabling - support others and sustain interaction.
boys interactions are constricting - one partner threatens, contradicts, dominates

Question 12

explain parent influence on gender role

Answer 12

fathers more likely to push sons towards independence, more likely to reassure daughters. mothers more likely to respond to child based on need, father based on stereotype

Question 13

what is gender schema theory

Answer 13

using gender based info to decide whether an activity or object is worth learning more about

Question 14

explain biological influence on gender identity

Answer 14

some research suggests that females exposed to androgens will prefer masculine activities

Question 15

define self esteem - what is it’s level at preschool age

Answer 15

feelings about one’s self worth - at preschool it’s super duper high!

Question 16

define and describe the systems view of family dynamics

Answer 16

the theory that there is an interaction between parents and children - parents influence the children through direct behaviour (giving to them, encouraging them) and indirectly (by their behaviour and interactions with others like church, work, neighbours, etc) Children also influence the parents in this design.

Question 17

list and describe the primary dimensions of parenting

Answer 17

warmth and responsiveness: affectionate, see to child’s emotional needs, interested in child’s daily activities, not hostile. (there are cultural differences here)
effective control: too much vs too little - neither extreme is good

Question 18

list and describe parenting styles

Answer 18

authoritative: high control with high involvement
authoritarian: high control with low involvement
indulgent-permissive: low control with high involvement
indifferent-uninvolved: low control with low involvement

Question 19

identify where parent behaviour affects child development

Answer 19

direct instruction: what to do, when to do it and why
observational learning: can lead to counterimitation (when action is punished) and disinhibition, where there is an increase in all similar behaviours (when action is aggressive)
feedback: reinforcement or punishment

Question 20

explain ways children determine how parents rear them

Answer 20

parents react to the child’s behaviour - example based on temperament. Over time, a parent responding to a difficult child may become less affectionate.

Question 21

what are the different roles of grandparents

Answer 21

formal: interested but hands off
fun-seeking: primary source of fun and avoid seriousness
distant: little contact except during holidays
dispensing family wisdom: provide info/advice
surrogate parent: same role as parent

Question 22

describe a preschooler’s play

Answer 22

bullying: using aggression to solve conflict
make-believe: can use props, then move onto imaginary, use to deal with frightening topics, imaginary friends
solitary play: colouring or puzzles is healthy - aimless wandering is not
parental influence: act as playmate, act as mediator, act as coach. Secure attachment predicts better peer play

Question 23

describe and define social aggression

Answer 23

Inflicting harm by damaging another’s self-esteem and/or social status. Some behaviours include: Glares of contempt, Eye rolls, Hair flip, Cold shoulder, friendship withdrawal, etc. Used more frequently by girls

Question 24

define self control

Answer 24

ability to regulate thought, behaviour, and emotional reactions in planful manner so as to not give into impulse

Question 25

developmental trajectory of self control

Answer 25

1: by 1yr, child realizes that ppl impose demands and that he isn’t free to do as he wishes - based on safety and socialization
2: by 2yr, child has internalized some strategies that have been imposed/modeled by parents (doesn’t grab toy from other child because told to wait)
3: by 3yr, child has more flexible methods that match how fast paced play can be - so the child can devise his own way to deal with problem if another child has a toy, like get another, walk away,
individual differences vary between children

Question 26

what are parental influences on self control

Answer 26

modeling: when parents have good self control, children will model
strictness: if parents are overly strict, children have less control

Question 27

what factors contribute to self control

Answer 27

temperament: anxious/fearful children more self control
delay of gratification: being able to put off reinforcement
learning about moral rule: lies vs mistakes ?