Chapter 13: psychosocial development in middle school

Question 1

what is the self-concept?

Answer 1

external traits, internal traits and social relationships/group membership

Question 2

what is the self-esteem?

Answer 2

• many areas: athletics, appearance, academics, peer relationships, parent relationships & parenting style
• declines steadily (lowest at 12-13)
• influenced by technology and social media
• erikson’s industry vs inferiority (capacity for productive work after evaluations’ results)

Question 3

emotional development

Answer 3

• better ability to understand own and others’ emotions
• better emotional regulation
• empathy and prosocial behaviours continue to develop
• children help when: have good friends, feel responsible for the person in need, feel competent to help, in a good mood, cost of helping is modest

Question 4

parent-child relationships

Answer 4

• school work, chores, peers
• less supervision
• co-regulation
• family conflict

Question 5

same sex parents

Answer 5

• legalization of gay marriage in canada in 2005
• psychological adjustment of kids
• child’s gender identity and sexual orientation is NOT in function of parents’ sexuality

Question 6

causes of divorce

Answer 6

low income, little education, age when married, parental divorce, little religious affiliation

Question 7

family structures (other possibilities)

Answer 7

step parents and blended families, single parents, grandparents as primary caregivers

Question 8

working parents

Answer 8

not harmful to children

what can be harmful to children: family income, parental education, quality of parent-child relationship

Question 9

positive aspects of siblings

Answer 9

warm and supportive relationship
- better adjustment
- social competence
- prosocial behaviour
- empathy
- conflict resolution
- other’s point of view
- negotiations
- problem-solving

Question 10

negative aspects of siblings

Answer 10

high conflict
- internalizing problems (anxiety and depression)
- externalizing problems (delinquency and aggression)
- older siblings as a negative model (antisocial behaviours, drug/alcohol, early sexual behaviour)

Question 11

aspect of peers

Answer 11

friendships, peer acceptance, peer rejection, bullying

Question 12

aspect of popularity

Answer 12

• positive nominations: who you like/play with, who others like
• negative nominations: who you do not like/play, others do not like
• popular kids have good social skills

Question 13

three types of aggression

Answer 13

instrumental, hostile, relational

Question 14

factors in aggression

Answer 14

• aggression in families: physical punishment, abuse
• violent media: tv, video games
• cognitive: interpret neutral social situations as aggressive
• use psychological theories to interpret
• nature vs nurture

Question 15

factors on bullying

Answer 15

• key elements: intent to harm, repeated, imbalance of power, victim’s distress
• consequences of being bullied: anxiety, depression, withdrawal, school refusal, somatization
• consequences of being a bully: conduct disorder, aggression, dating violence, sexual harassment, academic problems, anxiety

Question 16

victims of aggression

Answer 16

• young kids are likely to be victims of aggression: aggressive, withdrawn, submissive
• how can children avoid being victims: learning new ways of responding to aggression, raising self-esteem, having friends

Question 17

consequences of rejection & victimization

Answer 17

• do less well in school
• lower self-esteem
• behavioural problems (juvenile offences, self-harm, harm others)
• metal health problems

Question 18

how do bullies get power?

Answer 18

• victims not doing anything about it
• bystanders
• no proactive measures in place
• poor reactive measures
• “it’s normal” excuses by authority
• ignorance by all
• low parental warmth

Question 19

social and emotional problems

Answer 19

depression, anxiety, separation anxiety disorder, conduct disorder