Childs Understanding Of Others

Question 1

What is perspective taking?

Answer 1

Being able to put yourself in other people’s shoes.

Question 2

Briefly describe what the Holly scenario entails.

Answer 2

Holly climbs trees and was told not to by her father. However she needs to in order to save a kitten.

Question 3

How many stages are there in Selman’s perspective taking theory?

Answer 3

Five.

Question 4

What is the name of stage 0?

Answer 4

Undifferentiated perspective taking.

Question 5

What is the age range for stage 0?

Answer 5

Ages 3-6.

Question 6

Outline stage 0.

Answer 6

Children recognise that themselves and others can have different thoughts and feelings but they frequently confuse the two.

In the scenario, the child predicts that Holly will save the kitten because she does not want it to get hurt and believes that Holly will feel just as she does.

Question 7

What is the name of stage 2?

Answer 7

Self reflective perspective taking.

Question 8

What is the age range for stage 2?

Answer 8

Ages 7-12.

Question 9

Outline stage 2.

Answer 9

Children can step into another persons shoes and view their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours from the other persons perspective. They also recognise that others can do the same.

In the scenario, they do not think Holly will be punished because her father will understand why she climbed the tree. This response assumes that Holly’s point of view is influenced by her father being able to step into her shoes.

Question 10

What is the name of stage 4?

Answer 10

Societal perspective taking.

Question 11

What is the age range for stage 4?

Answer 11

Ages 14- adult.

Question 12

Describe Haikkinen’s opinion of Selman’s stage theory.

Answer 12

Hakkinen says that communication is done less by face to face and more by technology (web based communication) therefore Selman’s theory is out of date.

However, this Hakkinen study was done in 2000 so back then it was more like msn, text and Skype. Especially now Facebook, snapchat etc. All allow face to face communication.

Question 13

Explain Harmon-Jones study.

Answer 13

Harmon - Jones said that perspective taking can be useful for educating younger children. However, it could be misleading suggesting that a child’s behaviour would put them in a particular level because they are trying their best to handle a difficult situation.
Harmon believes that cultural differences and prejudice should be taken into account when deciding a persons personal stage of development.

Question 14

What IDA can be used to evaluate Harmon-Jones.

Answer 14

Harmon makes sure to suggest that it is not culture bias.

Question 15

What does Phelps believe?

Answer 15

Phelps believes that there is a developmental process children go through in that order that allows them to perspective take.

Question 16

What does Kurdek believe?

Answer 16

Longitudinal research - Kurdek believes perspective taking needs time to look over and is more complex than putting people into stages. Stage theories are deterministic in nature.

Question 17

Who is the main psychologist concerned with children’s understanding of others?

Answer 17

Selman.

Question 18

Describe O’Keele and Johnson.

Answer 18

The stage theory has applications for education - O’Keele and Jonhson researched perspective taking and teacher effectiveness. A teacher needs to understand what stage of perspective taking the child is at in order to develop them fully.

Question 19

What is a general criticism of Selman?

Answer 19

Selman’s views are imposed etic, culture bias. They are white middle class views and they have tested children from these backgrounds. Therefore they ignore how other sub cultures may develop their perspective taking.