Psychosocial Psychosocial Development In Development In Early ChildhoodEarly Childhood

Chapter 11Chapter 11

GenderGender

• Gender Identity• Gender Differences

– Psychological and behavioral differences between males and females

– Most pronounced difference is aggression

– Overall IQ scores show no gender differences

GenderGender

• Gender Differences– Females tend to do better at

verbal tasks (but not analogies), at mathematical computation, and at tasks requiring fine motor and perceptual skills

– Males excel in most spatial abilities and in abstract mathematical and scientific reasoning

GenderGender

• Perspectives on Gender Development: Nature and Nurture– Gender roles: culturally influenced– Gender stereotypes

GenderGender

– Socialization-Based Approach•Peer groups: a major influence on gender-

typing; boys more strongly influenced•Culture influences gender •In the U.S., television is major transmitter

of cultural attitudes toward gender•Children’s books transmit gender attitudes•Socializing agents mesh with biological

tendencies and cognitive understandings

Play: The Business of Early Play: The Business of Early Childhood Childhood

• Children engage in different types of play at different ages

• Children’s play is classified by its content and its social dimension– 3 levels are notable

Play: The Business of Early Play: The Business of Early ChildhoodChildhood

• Types of Play:– Functional play:

repetitive movements

– Constructive play: using objects or materials to make something

Play: The Business of Early Play: The Business of Early Childhood Childhood

• Types of Play:– Pretend play (aka: fantasy play,

dramatic play, or imaginative play) involves imaginary people or situations (symbolism)

– Formal games with rules: organized games with known procedures and penalties

Play: The Business of Early Play: The Business of Early ChildhoodChildhood

• How Gender Influences Play– The tendency toward sex

segregation in play appears universal across cultures

– Sex segregation increases in middle childhood

– Boys like active, forceful, more spontaneous play in large groups

Play: The Business of Early Play: The Business of Early ChildhoodChildhood

• How Gender Influences Play– Girls prefer quieter, cooperative, and

more structured play with one or a few playmates

• How Culture Influences Play– The frequency of specific forms of play

differs across cultures; influenced by play environments reflecting cultural values

ParentingParenting

• Forms of Discipline– Reinforcement and punishment:

external and internal– Corporal punishment: physical force– Power assertion: physical or verbal

enforcement of parental control– Inductive techniques: designed to

induce desirable behavior by reasoning

ParentingParenting

• Forms of Discipline– Withdrawal of love: may include

ignoring, isolating, or showing dislike for a child

– Induction is usually the most effective– Power assertion is the least effective– Psychological aggression: verbal

attacks causing psychological harm

ParentingParenting

• Parenting Styles– Authoritarian: values control and

unquestioning obedience.– Permissive: values self-expression and

self-regulation.– Authoritative: values individuality but

also stresses social constraints.– Neglectful or uninvolved: focuses on

parents’ own needs rather than child’s

ParentingParenting

• Parenting Styles– Are there ethnic group differences?– SES?– Is there truly a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to

parent?– Recent research