Chapter 8:

Social and Personality Development in Early Childhood

Theories of Social and Personality Development

Psychoanalytic Perspectives

Freud: gain control over bodily functions and renegotiate parent relationships Anal Stage Phallic Stage

Theories of Social and Personality Development

Psychoanalytic Perspectives

Erikson: agreed with Freud with added focus on social skill development Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt Initiative versus Guilt

Personality and Self-ConceptMe, myself, and more

Components of Self-Concept

Gender Development

Explanations and Theory: Psychoanalytic Explanations Social-Cognitive Explanations Gender Schema Theory

Gender DevelopmentGender Concept Sequence

Gender understanding develops in stages: Gender identity Gender stability Gender constancy

What is this five-year-old conveying about her understanding of gender?

“This is how I will

look when I grow up.”

Figure 8.2 Gender Stereotyping in a Child’s Drawing

Self and Gender Concept

Gender DevelopmentSex-Role Knowledge

What are the stereotypes?

Gender DevelopmentSex-Typed Behavior

Sex-type behavior: Develops earlier than ideas about gender

Learned from older same-sex children

Learned differently by gender

Figure 8.3 Gender and Playmate Preferences

How would you structure preschooler play opportunities?

Family Relationships and StructureParenting Styles: Diana Baumrind

Figure 8.4 Control, Acceptance, Parenting Style

Family Relationships and StructureParenting Styles: Authoritarian

Parenting Characteristics High levels of demand and control Low levels of warmth and communication

Child Consequences Good school performance Lower self-esteem and less peer interaction

skills Some subdued; others highly aggressive

Family Relationships and StructureParenting Styles: Permissive

Parenting Characteristics High in warmth and communication Low in demand and control

Child Consequences Poor adolescent school performance More aggressive and immature Less responsible and independent

Family Relationships and StructureParenting Styles: Authoritative

Parenting Characteristics High in warmth and communication High in demand and control

Child Consequences Higher self-esteem, independence, and

altruism More parental compliance Self-confident and achievement-oriented Better school performance

Family Relationships and StructureParenting Styles: Uninvolved

Parenting Characteristics Low in levels of demand and control Low in levels of warmth and communication

Child Consequences Disturbances in social relationships More impulsive and antisocial in adolescence Less competent with peers Much less achievement-oriented in school

Figure 8.5 Parenting Style and Grades

Parenting Patterns

Family Relationships and StructureEffects of Parenting Styles: Spanking

Most parents believe spanking effective if used sparingly Short-term effects Long-term effects Premack’s principle

Is “authoritative” always best?

Authoritative pattern Positive outcomes seen in all ethnic

groups More common in white families and

middle class Usually more common among intact

families Least common among Asian Americans

Figure 8.6 Social Class, Ethnicity, and Parenting Style

Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Status and Parenting Styles

Authoritarian pattern in Asian American families High levels of school achievement in

Asian American children Economic success Maintenance of ethnic identity

Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Status and Parenting Styles

Authoritarian pattern in African American families Enhances children’s potential for self-

control and success Prepares children to deal with social

forces such as racism that impede social success

Reduces use of substance abuse

What kind of parenting style was used to raise you? What effects did it have on your development? What style will you use as a parent?

Questions To PonderQuestions To PonderQuestions To PonderQuestions To Ponder

Family Relationships and Structure

Family Structure: Diversity in Two-Parent and Single-Parent Families Only 70% of U.S. children lived with both

biological parents in 2007. Many children from two-parent families

have experienced single-parenting. 2% of U.S. children live with custodial

grandparents.

Ethnicity and U.S. Family Types

Figure 8.7 Ethnicity and Family Structure

Family Structure and EthnicitySingle Parents

Family Structure: Single-Parent Families More common among African Americans

and Native Americans Single mothers are less likely to marry. Grandparents and other relatives

traditionally help support single mothers. Some single mothers are financially secure.

Family Relationships and StructureOther Types of Family Structures

Custodial Grandparents Aging and parenting stress cause anxiety

and depression.

Gay and Lesbian Parents No expressed social or cognitive

developmental differences between the children of gay and lesbian parents and the children of heterosexual couples.

Family Relationships and StructureDivorce: Impact on Children

Peer RelationshipsKinds of Play

Successful play associated with development of social skills

Can you define two types of aggression?

Aggression: Behavior intended to hurt another or object

Instrumental Hostile

Prosocial Behavior and Friendships

Prosocial behavior: Actions that benefit or help another person Development of prosocial behavior

increases during preschool years. Parental influences affect children’s

empathy.