Test 3_ Self and social understanding Flashcards
Social Cognition
how children come to understand their multifaced social world
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in infancy, 3-4 months
First Evidence
Early Infancy: about 3-4 months of age
Separation of body from environment
(Secondary Circular Reactions)
Evidence: Infant looks longer at video of peer than self.
May be habituation… not clear if it is self recognition
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in infancy, 15 months of age
Ruse test:
Infant will touch own nose when looking in mirror at self
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in infancy, 15-18 months
Infant reacts differently to video of Self Vs. Unfamiliar Infant
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in childhood, 2 years
recognition of self (mirror, etc.) is well established.
Development of “Categorical Self”
Classification based on salient differences such as age, sex, physical differences, and a;so “Good” and “Bad”
Begins the use of “I” and “me” in speech
Begins to show “shyness” and “bashful”
More awareness of peer interaction
Observe modeling of peer playing (not simple imitation) in order to engage in cooperative or mutual play activities.
Cognitively, sense of identity permanence is emerging…. Identity constancy
For securely attached infants, self esteem seems to be high (happy child)
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in childhood, 3-4 years
Development of a sense of “Inner Self”
Private thoughts: make reference to thinking, dreaming, imagining, pretending.
Begin to distinguish between mental life and behavior
Begin to understand how belief, desire, and behavior are related
Beliefs and Desires can determine Behavior
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in childhood, 3/4-7/8
Self Concept / Self descriptions
Based on observable/physical characteristics
Self definitions include things they are good at:
“I’m a baseball player”.
These early descriptors gradually become dispositions (early personality traits)
Includes “good girl” “bad girl”
Self Assessment / Early Social Comparison
Self esteem and achievement motivation become part of the self descriptors
Shift from concrete descriptors (boy, short, red-head, good batter… what I’m good at) to more abstract descriptors (smart, friendly, loyal… personality and subjective traits)
Often see decline in self esteem as they make more social comparisons.
As they redefine self, they also redefine peers in the same terms.
Describe how the concept of the self emerges in adolescence, 9/10-12/13
Begin to see formation of a consistent self-identity
Self esteem may rise (as they reach an identity)
Attempts to put together a complete package that defines the self and is somewhat
Identity process:
Discover possible identities
Select identity
Accept identity
Improved ability to monitor self and others
20+ Stability in personality characteristics
Self esteem during the first few years of elementary school
declines over the first few years as children start to make social comparison.
What does self esteem do after fourth grade
Except for a temporary drop associated with school transition, it rises
From middle school to adolescence, self esteem
individual differences in self esteem become more stable
Favorable self esteem profiles are associated with
positive adjustment
Low self esteem profiles are associated with
adjustment difficulties
What cultural forces effect self esteem
emphasis on social comparison and gender stereotyped expectations
Parental control is linked to
low self esteem
