Lecture 6 - Socioeconomic Status

Question 1

What is socioeconomic status? (SES)

Answer 1

• A measure of a person’s economic and social position in relation to others
• One’s access to economic and social resources and the social positioning and privileges that derive from these resources

Question 2

SES and cognitive development

Answer 2

-[Farah et al.,2006] studied a group of children from low SES households and a group of children from mid SES households. Found low SES children did poorer in language, memory and executive functions.

Question 3

SES and maths skills

Answer 3

• Preschool children from lower SES families begin school with less maths knowledge
• Cross-cultural research on early maths development in China, Japan and the US found an SES related gap in early maths knowledge in all 3 countries
• [Rathbun and West,2004] found a maths achievement gap at school entry between lower SES children and higher SES children but also found this gap widened over the first 4 years of school

Question 4

Differences in parenting styles

Answer 4

• [Lareau,2002] studied 88 families from diverse SES backgrounds using observations and interviews
• Found that higher SES parents engaged in concerted cultivation (deliberate effort to stimulate children’s development) whereas lower-mid and low SES parents engaged in natural growth (seeing development as spontaneously unfolding)
• Higher SES parents were more likely to have enrolled their children in a range of extra curricular activities whereas lower-mid and lower SES participated in fewer organised activities and had more free time

Question 5

Investment model

Answer 5

-Argues lower SES parents have less resources, assists so are unable to invest as much in their children
-3 Main aspects = cognitive stimulation, resources, tools for maths thinking
1-Cognitive stimulation = lower SES children tend to receive less cognitive stimulation (read less, more TV)
2-Resources = higher SES parents are more likely to buy games/materials targeting academic skills
3-Tools for maths thinking = higher SES parents tend to use more language involving numbers

Question 6

The stress model

Answer 6

• Lower SES leads to long-term stress which has negative consequences
• Indirect effects = harsh parenting practices
• Direct effects= brain changes/development
• Can affect the formation of memories particularly those not associated with the stress episode
• Nurturing can reverse these effects