Social Development: Childhood & Adolescence

Question 1

What are two examples of vertical and horizontal relationships that meet developmental needs?

Answer 1

Vertical - Parental, those that possess superior experience, psychological maturity and greater material, resources and power

Horizontal - Peers, a social equal that functions at a similar level of behavioural complexity

Question 2

How have structural changes in Australian family dynamics affected development?

Answer 2

It has now made the parent-child relationship more complicated.

Question 3

What is a key protective mechanisms that parents use that has been shown to support strong emotional and academic development?

Answer 3

The idea of parental responsiveness and moreover, parental monitoring. Protecting the child against negative outcomes.

Question 4

What is the promotion of volitional functioning (PVF) strategy?

Answer 4

Parents guide or scaffold adolescent decisions making (rather than imposing a solution or ceding control) which creates autonomy and self-determination.

Question 5

How does the parent-child dynamic shift in adolescence?

Answer 5

Changes from a vertical to horizontal relationship, therefore the relationship becomes more egalitarian. Adolescents increase regulation, seek control and autonomy (with support)

Question 6

Where do discrepancies arise in parent-adolescent dyads?

Answer 6

The changes between expectations of responsibilities and freedoms.

Question 7

Neo-freudian theorist Henry Stack Sullivan believed that social needs change as we get older and are gratified through different kinds of social relationships at different, how do these peer relationships develop through the age and stage understanding of peer interactions and relationships?

Answer 7

Age 6, parent-child relationship is central for care and nurturance

Peers then become important. At first, children need playmates, then a growing need of acceptance by peer group (social hierarchies), 9 to 12, children need intimacy through formation of close friendships.

Question 8

How do peer relationships change in middle childhood?

Answer 8

Deeper social understanding.

Prosocial and antisocial/withdrawal behaviour characteristics in interactions.

Gender segregation.

Consolidation of social hierarchies

Self-reflection regarding relationships

Links between aspects of peer relations and psychosocial functioning

Question 9

How do peer relationships change in adolescence?

Answer 9

Peer influence particularly strong

Peer status is entrenched and has impact on psychosocial adjustment

Simultaneous increase and reduction in gendered behaviour and gender-specific relations

Increase in both intensity of specific peer relationships/friendships and importance of social networks

Growing importance of romantic relationships

Question 10

How do peer networks change in terms of sex-cliques?

Answer 10

Emergence of same-sex cliques in late childhood. Interaction begins in early-late adolescence. Same-sex cliques provide a secure base for romantic relationships.

Question 11

Less popular peers form mixed-sex cliques, thus a new peer-group structure is formed called the crowd, how does the crowd relate to social development?

Answer 11

Central to arranging organised social activities, such as parties, and provides opportunities to get to know members of the other sex as friends and potential romantic partners. The crowd loosens in adulthood.

Question 12

Friendship is a dyadic relationship rather than a social one, what are the qualities of friendship?

Answer 12

A special form that is both voluntary and mutually affirmed, characterised by feelings of companionship, affection and intimacy.

Question 13

What is the function of friendships?

Answer 13

Fosters social competence (prosocial skills, problem-solving skills, conflict negotiation and resolution) - the strength of a friendship is how well you can solve your issues.

Gives ego support

Provides emotional support

Source of intimacy and affection, guidance and assistance, companionship and stimulation.

Is the basis for reliable alliance.

Question 14

What is Castells three modes of communication that coexist in the social media context?

Answer 14

1. Interpersonal communication: designated sender(s) and receiver(s)
2. Mass communication: traditionally one-directional sent from one source to many receivers. Youtube.
3. Mass self-communication: Message is self-generated, the potential receiver(s) is self-directed and the electronic retrieval is self-directed. Facebook.

Question 15

What are the three opportunities for action on social media?

Answer 15

1. Maintain a catalogue of close and distant social contacts and follow their activities
2. Choose whether to broadcast self-expressions to everyone in the network at once or to exchange private digital communications
3. Manicure a digital representation of the self to others

Question 16

The quality of the connections (friendships) conducted using social media seems dependent on the purpose and intent of the interaction, and on pre-existing personal characteristics, more than the medium used. How do extroverted and introverted individuals differ in these mediums?

Answer 16

Extroverted individuals self-disclose and communicate online more frequently, facilitating the formation of online friendships.

Introverts are more motivated to communicate online to compensate for lacking social skills, increasing their chances of making friends online.

Question 17

How are particular communication levels preferred for personal communication, how is this determined?

Answer 17

It is determined by the level of connection or intimacy that has already existed. Not the channel or quantity but the quality of the interactions you have.

Question 18

What is one overarching factor that disregards preferred communication channels with friends?

Answer 18

Adolescent’s in close, high-quality relationships have high-quality interactions regardless of the medium through which they interact.

Question 19

According to Brown, adolescent relationships evolve through four phases. The first stage is the initiation phase, what is this characterised by?

Answer 19

In early adolescents, the focus is on the self. To see oneself as a person capable of relating to members of the other sex in a romantic way.

Question 20

According to Brown, adolescent relationships evolve through four phases. The second stage is the status phase, what is this characterised by?

Answer 20

In mid-adolescence, having a romantic relationship with the “right kind” of partner is important for the status it brings in the larger peer group.

Question 21

According to Brown, adolescent relationships evolve through four phases, the third stage is the affection stage, what is this characterised by?

Answer 21

In late adolescence, the focus is on the relationship; Romantic relationships become more personal, caring relationships.

Question 22

According to Brown, adolescent relationships evolve through four stages. The fourth stage is the bonding phase, what is this characterised by?

Answer 22

In the transition to early adulthood, the emotional intimacy achieved in the affection phase is connected to a long-term commitment to create a lasting attachment bond.

Question 23

What is electronic partner monitoring and when are negative effects present?

Answer 23

Use of socially interactive technology and media to monitor a partners behaviour, including activities, location and interactions with others. Negative consequences are present when the relationship is not strong.

Question 24

What are the three kinds of EPM?

Answer 24

Monitoring of specific activity/location

Monitoring of technology activities

Monitoring of general activities

Question 25

How do different aspects of development (brain, biological, cognitive, self/psychological and social) integrate?

Answer 25

Brain development drives development of cognitive ability and executive functioning as well as self-regulation, which are implicated also in psychological and social development.