Early & Middle Childhood

1. Social Early & Middle Childhood Development

2. Aggression • Instrumental • Common in preschoolers, but decrease with age • Hostile: overt & relational • Overt increases 4-7, then declines • Relational increases • Gender differences? Why and when are children aggressive?

3. Bobo Doll Experiment(Albert Bandura) • Participants: 36 boys & girls; M age = 4.5 • Method • Watched video of either: • Non-aggressive model • Aggressive model • Frustration period • Testing session • Number & type of aggressive acts were recorded

5. Bobo Doll Experiment(Albert Bandura) • Results: • 88% of children (more boys) that watched aggressive model, imitated behavior… …in exactly the same way! • More likely to play aggressively, even if not modeled • 8 months later, 40% reproduced the aggressive behavior What does this say about violence on TV?

7. Aggression: Summary • Aggressive families breed aggressive children • View the world from a violent point of view • Violent media is particularly influential in early childhood because: • Susceptible to models that admire/respect • Lack of perspective taking, centration, etc.

8. Friendships in Childhood ** Types of play** • Early: someone you play with, who likes you • Limit: don’t describe long-term qualities • Middle: trust becomes defining feature Think of your first friend… why were they a friend?

10. Peer Groups in Middle Childhood • Social unit that shares values, similar standards for behaviors, & has a social structure • Proximity • Similarity • Moderately stable “peer culture” • Vocabulary, dress codes, “hang out” spots How do peer groups become organized? What makes up a peer groups “culture”?

11. Peer Acceptance How could we measure peer acceptance? • Sociometric technique “Name 3 children you would like to play with most & 3 least.” • Social behavior is primary determinant • Powerful predictor of current & later adjustment • Four major categories of peer acceptance… • 66% fit categories, 33% are average What do you think determines peer acceptance?

12. Popular children • Many positive votes • Popular-prosocial • Socially & academically competent • Good adjustment • Popular-antisocial • Socially competent, athletic “tough” boys, poor students • Likeability offers protection from maladjustment

13. Rejected children • Many negative votes • Rejected-aggressive • Socially hostile & conflicts; hyperactive & inattentive • Poor academically & at risk for delinquency • Rejected-withdrawn • Socially awkward & passive; anxiety influences academics • At risk for vicimization by bullies

15. Bullies & Victims • Statistics: 10% bullied on weekly basis • Who does the bullying? • Older children bully younger • Boys bullied by boys; if girls, 60% bullied by boys • Mostly rejected-aggressive or popular antisocial • Are victims always passive? • Proactive victims: pick fights & get angry easily • Long-term consequences? • Bullies > criminals • Victims > low self-esteem, depression

16. Controversial children • Many positive & negative votes • Socially hostile, but engage in prosocial behaviors • Relatively happy & comfortable relationships Neglected children • Almost no votes either way • Low rates of social interaction & shy • Relatively well-adjusted

17. Child Rearing Styles

18. Child Rearing Styles • Warm & attentive • Reasonable demands, & consistently explains • Allows appropriate decision making Outcome • Happy • Self-confident

19. Child Rearing Styles • Cold & rejecting • Coercive & criticizing demands • Makes decisions for child Outcome • Anxious & unhappy • Hostile reactions

20. Child Rearing Styles • Warm, but overly indulgent • Few or no demands • Allows decision making before ready Outcome • Immature • Impulsive & less persistent

21. Child Rearing Styles • Emotionally detached & withdrawn • Few or no demands • Indifferent to decision making Outcome • Poor emotion control • Low achievement & delinquency Neglect!

22. In-Class Assignment 5 The purpose of this assignment is to give you practice identifying and distinguishing between Baumrind’s child-rearing styles.

24. Parental Relationships in Childhood • Major developments • Amount of time with parents decline in middle childhood • Not ready for complete independence What type of household did you grow up in? • ¼ of children in single-parent household… • For an average of 5 years

25. Divorce’s Influences on Children • Age: the younger the child, the more difficult • Blame themselves • Fear of abandonment & separation anxiety • Fantasize about reunion • Temperament • Difficult children have most problems • Sex • Girls cry & withdraw; boys act out • Boys have most difficulty in mother-custody homes • School problems greater for boys

26. Long-term consequences? • Improved adjustment by 2-years after divorce • Some problems… • Increased sexual activity in adolescence • More likely to divorce in adulthood • Positive adjustment most likely when… • Parent adopts authoritative style • Boys are placed with fathers Low-conflict, single-parent household better than stressed, high-conflict intact family!