Psychosocial Development In Early Childhood Chapter 11

Gender Gender Identity Gender Differences Psychological and behavioral differences between males and females Most pronounced difference is aggression Overall IQ scores show no gender differences Gender identity, awareness of one's femaleness or maleness, is an important aspect of the developing self-concept.

Gender 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 Gender identity, awareness of one's femaleness or maleness, is an important aspect of the developing self-concept.

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

Gender 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 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 Childhood Types of Play: Functional play: repetitive movements Constructive play: using objects or materials to make something

Play: The Business of Early 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 Childhood 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 Childhood 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

Parenting 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

Parenting 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

Parenting 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 Why does authoritative parenting seem to enhance children's competence? It may be because authoritative parents set realistic standards. By making clear, consistent rules, they let children know what is expected of them Baumrind's findings were correlational; they merely establish associations between each parenting style and a particular set of child behaviors. They do not show that different styles of child rearing cause children to be more or less competent.

Parenting Parenting Styles Are there ethnic group differences? SES? Is there truly a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to parent? Recent research Why does authoritative parenting seem to enhance children's competence? It may be because authoritative parents set realistic standards. By making clear, consistent rules, they let children know what is expected of them Baumrind's findings were correlational; they merely establish associations between each parenting style and a particular set of child behaviors. They do not show that different styles of child rearing cause children to be more or less competent.