Childhood

Question 1

Psychological theory of childhood

Answer 1

Piaget-theory of cognitive development

• development of childhood is natural and universal
• all kids go through same order at same age
• ages and stages approach: master the skills at one stage to move onto the next
• developmental stage
• ‘normal children go through stages at right times’

Question 2

traditional childhood theory (built upon psychological theory)

Answer 2

Parsons socialisation theory

• when first born, child creates ripples in family, then later impacts other institutions e.g. education
• biologically human but not yet socially/culturally
• socialisation is the key tool that transforms the egocentric child into a culturally mature adult
• it is adult who socialise the child over time
• ‘proper and inproper’ socialisation reflects Piaget’s theory (stages to go through)
• adulthood is the finished idea

Question 3

similarities between the psychological and traditional childhood models (Piaget and Parsons)

Answer 3

• ‘beomings not beings’
• children are close to nature in their biological state-incomplete bodies
• powerless, passive, uncivilised, dependent
• universal biological/physiological state (HIGHLY CRITICISED)
• only seen as important in their progression to adulthood

Question 4

who talks about the new sociology of childhood?

Answer 4

james and prout (1990)

Question 5

the 5 features of the new sociology of childhood:

Answer 5

1. childhood is a social construction upon the biological framework
2. childhood is diverse (gender, class etc)
3. childhood important as beings, not just becomings
4. children are social actors with agency, voice and impact
5. minority groups in the generational structure

Question 6

how do james and prout think chilkdhood studies should occur?

Answer 6

research should be done with and for them, not on and about them

Question 7

who talks about centuries of the childhood?

Answer 7

Aries

Question 8

what did aries use as evidence for his claims about childhood?

Answer 8

artwork from medieval society and the diary of Louis VIII

Question 9

aries view on medieval childhood

Answer 9

• it didn’t exist
• children started work age 5
• in artwork, wear same clothes and play same games as adults
• high rates of infant mortality meant parents didn’t get too attached (may withhold naming child until aged 1/2)

Question 10

according to aries when did childhood become ‘invented’?

Answer 10

16/17th century

Question 11

why was there the invention of childhood? (Aries)

Answer 11

christianity saw children as fragile beings and creatures of God =privatisation of family life and growth of formal education

Question 12

criticism of Aries view of childhood

Answer 12

• saw it as a fixed social category
• only used the diary of a rich king-what about the majority who lived in poverty?
• Archard-a dissimilarity in ideas about childhood, not an absence

Question 13

who did Heywood disagree with and why?

Answer 13

Aries-because saw distinctions between childhood and adulthood through medieval law.

Question 14

who agreed with Heywood and why?

Answer 14

Cunningham-saw key event of compulsory education doing more to transform childhood than any other event in past 5 centuries

Question 15

advantages of Aries childhood theory

Answer 15

• showed it was a social construction

- set it up as a serious topic worth discussing

Question 16

Hendrick 9 constructions of childhood

Answer 16

e.g. 5 schooled child, 8 is psychological child.
aims to illustrate historical variability and show perceptions can be understood in context of how different cohorts responded to the social, political and economic challenges of their respective era

Question 17

legislation and emergence of modern childhood is associated with which thinker?

Answer 17

Ennew-modern forms of childhood have 2 aspects

1) characterised by ridged age hierarchy-keeps them in quarantine period
2) golden age-characterised by innocence and happiness

Question 18

who else talks about medieval childhood? what did she say?

Answer 18

Hanawait-childhood in medieval London
looked at children’s play (death from tools common at aged 8) and their participation in community life (active participants but also an audience=leisure time)

Question 19

evidence of concern about childhood

Answer 19

• Bryon review (2010) children in a digital world
• Bailey review (2001) examining pressures children are under to grow up too quickly
• HM government childhood obesity plan
• UNICEF child well-being rankings
• campaign groups e.g. Save the Children

Question 20

who talks about the disappearance of childhood?

Answer 20

Postman

Question 21

what is Postman’s argument?

Answer 21

-childhood is disappearing
-children now commit ‘adult crimes’ e.g. murder
-trends towards similar child and adult clothing, games
-blames electronic media
1) requires no instructions
2) doesn’t make complex demands on behaviour
3) doesn’t segregate its audience
stops withholding secrets…without secrets can be no such thing as childhood
tv eliminates exclusive knowlege-quarantine period is broken down

Question 22

criticisms of Postman

Answer 22

• children’s culture appears resilient (Opius studies of playground games)
• only focuses on western notions of childhood (Boydon)
• social construction subject to change

Question 23

who talks about the crisis being mobilised as a ‘moral resource’ to control children’s lives? what did he mean?

Answer 23

Wyness

• childhood as separateness creates a moral panic
• ‘real children’ can be like adults, but societies dominant ideals disallow for opportunities for them to show this
• we want to get rid of childhood as it is limiting these young people

Question 24

what are the childhood liberationist stance?

Answer 24

-it is bad that childhood isn’t disappearing

Question 25

which theorist is association with child liberationism?

Answer 25

Hood-Williams-exclusionary status where children remain under authority of adults…this is becoming universalised

Question 26

who criticises child liberationists?

Answer 26

and Boyden-‘official version of childhood’ which sees them being demarcated from adults through biological and physiological aspects
this is reflected in philosophies of various human and welfare agencies
-but this ignores that childhood is different for all

Question 27

examples of childhood not disappearing and it being a good thing

Answer 27

Opius childhood studies of playground games (1993)=outdated

Question 28

childhood is disappearing and that’s good-who is associated with this theory?

Answer 28

• Wagg: sees childhood disappearing as adult society is less protective, more exposure to violence and sex
• these changes have been beneficial as the child is recognised as a consumer

Question 29

who thinks we need new analysis for the position and status of childhood and why?

Answer 29

Qvotruys-changes such as decreasing fertility rates means new analysis is needed