Exam 2: Social Development in Early Childhood-Self Concept

Question 1

Cooley’s Looking glass self

Answer 1

our self-concept comes from looking at how others respond to us
ie. people tell us that we’re smart or cute

Question 2

Mead’s “I” and “Me” of the self

Answer 2

The I: the spontaneous, creative self unconcerned with others’ views
-when born we all act without concern about how others view us
The me: the social definition of who we are and begins when we start to consider how an important person views us

Question 3

Early sense of self

Answer 3

Early sense of self is often based on physical traits
emerges to include traits and emotions by 4-5 yrs
Unrealistically positive view of self (biggest, fastest, always happy)- kids aren’t very comparative at this age and reflect on what they can do now vs before

Question 4

Childhood amnesia

Answer 4

no memories prior to 2-3 years old

Question 5

Mirror mark test of self recognition

Answer 5

Child is marked on the face somewhere they cannot see without a mirror
-before 24 months: the child will not reach for their face to explore the mark
-after 24 months: the child will reach for their face; recognize that they are the ones with the mark

Question 6

Self reference effect

Answer 6

Information encoded with reference to self is more likely to be recalled
-exists across the lifespan

Question 7

Howe & Courage + why we have childhood amnesia

Answer 7

A concept of self is required to encode and retrieve an event which one remembers experiencing; this is why we have childhood amnesia

Question 8

Is there self-concept before age 2?

Answer 8

Well…
-Newborns root more towards a single touch then a double touch when the second touch is their own hand; recognize the second is their own hand and they don’t need to turn to it
-Infants smile in response to others
-joint attention
-imitation of manners

Question 9

Self Esteem

Answer 9

Evaluative judgment of who we are

Question 10

Self Esteem in early childhood

Answer 10

-Begins as physical in nature (categorical; physical traits, preferred activities and favorite possessions)
-Generally is positive; lack of social comparison at this age
-early insecure attachment and maternal negative affect predicts poor self esteem

Question 11

Erikson’s Initiative vs guilt

Answer 11

-if children are placed in an environment to explore, make decision, and initiate activities they achieve initiative
-if they are criticized and controlled they will develop sense of guilt
-when children successfully navigate they have purpose and confidence to initiate activities