Self, Family, Peers Flashcards
What is the self from ages 3-4?
First sign of child having a sense of self, grounded in the concrete, observable characteristics related to physical attributes, activities, and psychological traits
What is the self?
A conceptual system made up of one’s thoughts and attitudes about one’s self, including one’s gender appearance, possessions, values, etc.
4 facts about the self from ages 3-4?
1) Often unrealistically positive: they think they are really good at what they are doing
2) Sense of self over time, later in life, people refer back to this age to support their notions of self
3) Children change/refine conceptions of self in primary school due to increasing engagement in social comparison
4) As child who they are, if they are playing soccer at that moment, they will say “a soccer player”
What is the self in middle to late primary school?
Conceptions of self begin to become integrated and more broadly encompassing, start to see they have multiple components to who they are as a person
What are two facts about the self in middle to late primary school?
1) Older children rely on objective performance, evaluate themselves through social comparison (e.g. might not say they are passionate about something if someone else seems more passionate)
2) Self-concepts increasingly based on their relationships with others, especially peers and others’ evaluations on them
What is the self in adolescence? And one difficulty?
Think of themselves in terms of a variety of selves depending on the context (e.g. different selves with friends and family).
Difficulty when there are contradictions in the different selves
What is the self in early adolescence?
Thinking about the self is characterized by a form of egocentrism called the personal fable (no one else is able to understand who you are or how you are feeling)
What are two side effects of the personal fable?
1) Can cause adolescents to be preoccupied with what others think of them
2) Gives rise to the imaginary audience: the belief that everyone is focused on your appearance and behaviour (as if under a microscope)
What is the self in the middle teens?
Adolescents often begin to agonize over the contradictions in their behaviour and characteristics (e.g. stop eating meet because they value animal protection)
What is one ability that adolescents lack in their middle teens around their conception of self?
Most lack the cognitive skills needed to integrate their recognition of these contradictions into a coherent conception of self (can identify contradictions but not solve them)
What is the self in late adolescence and early adulthood?
Self becomes more integrated and less determined by what others think; self reflects internalized values, beliefs, and standards. Adult support is important still.
What are the first 5 stages of Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development?
1) Basic trust vs. Mistrust (yr 1)
2) Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt (1-3.5 years)
3) Initiative vs. Guilt (4-6 years)
4) Industry vs. Inferiority (6 to puberty)
5) Identity vs. Role confusion (adolescence-early adulthood)
What occurs at the Basic trust vs. mistrust stage (yr1)?
If at this stage, children cannot learn to trust others, they will continue to have trouble trusting others throughout their life
What occurs at the Autonomy vs. shame and doubt stage (1-3.5 years)?
Children are acquiring new skills and thoughts.
If they feel criticized (‘don’t do that’), it can cause doubt and hinder their sense of agency later on
What occurs at the Initiative vs. guilt stage (4-6 years?)
Children are often putting their parents on pedestals and feel guilt when they don’t meet parents expectations.
What occurs at the industry vs. inferiority stage (6 to puberty)?
Gain sense of competence vs. excessive feelings of inadequacy, through feedback from others
What occurs at the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage (adolescence-early adulthood)?
Resolve who they really are or face negative outcome. Successful resolution of crisis results in identity achievement (coherent sense of self they feel positive about)
