peer relations Flashcards
How do young children build relationships through play?
- Play helps children form bonds with non-caregiving adults, siblings, and peers (Dunn, 1983; Schaffer & Emerson, 1964).
- Especially in childcare, sustained peer interactions through play foster friendships.
At what age do children start forming peer preferences?
- By 2–3 years, children discriminate between peers and show preferences (Howe, 1983; Ross & Lollis, 1989).
- Friendships formed in nursery settings are stable; 80% lasted the full 3 years (Howes & Phillipsen, 1992).
- Preschool friendships last about 2 years on average (Dunn, 1993).
How does play differ between friends and non-friends in early childhood?
- Friends engage in more complex and cooperative play, even before 24 months (Howes, 1996).
- Friends: negotiate less about whether to play and more effectively resolve conflicts.
- By ages 3–4, children play more skillfully with friends but also apply those skills to form new friendships.
What role does pretend play serve in friendships?
- Facilitates exploration of trust and intimacy through joint meaning-making (Howes et al., 1992).
- Allows children to express personal concerns and identity themes through symbolic content (Parker & Gottman, 1989).
- Helps children communicate aspects of self they can’t yet express in conversation.
What were the pretend play themes studied by Dunn & Hughes (2001)?
Domestic
Monsters
Violence
Fantasy/Magic
Sex
What were the findings regarding ‘hard-to-manage’ children in pretend play?
- Engaged more in violent themes.
- Were angrier, showed more antisocial behavior, and had greater play conflict, regardless of group.
What are the defining features of friendship in childhood?
Mutual and reciprocated relationship
Voluntary
Intimate, affectionate, and shared interests
Stable over time
(Gifford-Smith & Brownell, 2003)
How is ‘reciprocated friendship’ measured in children?
Children nominate 3 best friends. A match in nominations = reciprocated friendship.
What is the Proximity Observation Method (Howes & Philipson, 1992)?
Observes if children:
1. Are within 3 feet of each other
2. Engage in interactive play
3. Show positive affect
What does the Friendship Qualities Scale measure?
Children’s perceptions of friendship: insight, conflict, preferences (Bukowski et al., 1994).
How is sociometric status measured?
Children nominate peers they like most and least.
Calculations:
Social Preference = Likes Most – Likes Least
Social Impact = Likes Most + Likes Least
What are the sociometric status categories?
- Popular – well liked by many
- Rejected – actively disliked by many
- Neglected – rarely mentioned at all
- Controversial – both highly liked and disliked
- Average – none of the above
Characteristics of Popular children?
- Socially skilled, prosocial, helpful, considerate
- Engage in cooperative play
- Often show leadership
Characteristics of Rejected children?
- Stable status: 30% remain rejected over years
- More time arguing/fighting; less cooperative play
- Disruptive behaviors can become self-sustaining
- Poorer long-term outcomes
Characteristics of Neglected children?
- Low visibility, shy, withdrawn
- Hard to distinguish from average or popular behaviorally
- Least stable category
Characteristics of Controversial children?
Visible, both liked and disliked
Can be leaders but also aggressive
Why are peer relationships important?
- Friendships predict better mental health, adjustment, and academic performance (Gifford-Smith & Brownell, 2003; Wentzel et al., 2018).
- Friends help buffer the impact of peer victimization.
What did Bagwell et al. (1998) find in their long-term study on peer relationships?
Well-liked children → better school achievement, job success, social life
No reciprocated friend → poorer family interactions, self-worth, more depression
No friend + rejection → highest risk for psychopathology
