Social Relations in Middle Childhood
Please use the course reading as your main source.
Course reading: Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French (2017). Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective.
Instructions
When I Was a Kid...
This essay should be between 750-1000 words long (not including heading and references). This essay needs to be long enough to get the job done thoroughly. You must cover everything listed below in order to obtain a high mark.
Writing and citations should be in APA format. For example, (Lally & Valentine-French, 2017).
Note: For all written assignments, only the material assigned in the course should be cited. Show evidence of thoroughly reading and listening to the course resources. This is preferable to outside research. If you also provide additional resources, they will be graded on their scholarly credibility; that means sources of questionable truth may result in a lower grade on the essay and sources of good credibility may result in a higher grade.
The Essay Topic
Use the theories of Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky, Bandura, and Kohlberg to answer the following questions for grades 1 - 6 (you must include information about 4 out of these 5 theories in some part of your essay).
How would you describe your social competence as a young child? Did it change over middle childhood (up until grade 6)? ?
Were you a high or a low status child?
Did you play predominantly with high or low status children?
Were you popular?
Think of a popular child in your school and an unpopular child (first names only).
Describe the popular child. Make sure you consider the characteristics that contributed to this child's popularity. How do these characteristics compare with popular child characteristics you read about in your text?
Describe the unpopular child. Make sure you consider the characteristics that contributed to this child's unpopular status. How do this child's characteristics compare with unpopular child characteristics you read about in your text?
General Instructions for Written Assignments
Your written assignment is intended to test your understanding of important concepts and discover how to sharpen your intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application. The intent of the written assignment is to provide an opportunity to more fully describe, explain, and analyze the books and other sources. When you submit your written assignment, you may want to submit it as an .RTF file attachment, as these usually retain your formatting.
Social Relations in Middle Childhood
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Social Relations in Middle Childhood
Introduction
Early life is critical for developing social skills as children learn to navigate interpersonal relationships and peer interactions. This essay investigates Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky, Bandura, and Kohlberg's theories to understand social competence and status in grades 1-6. This analysis examines personal experiences to see if Martha Lally and Suzanne Valentine-French's "Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective" (2017) theories match or differ.
Social Competence in Early Childhood (Erikson and Piaget)
Erikson's theory of psychosocial development claims that humans move through a number of phases, each defined by distinct psychosocial crises. Children in grades 1-6 are in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage, striving for competence and mastery. I was enthusiastic about school and extracurriculars to prove my abilities and fit in with my peers. My social competence, marked by my eagerness to participate and learn, aligned with Erikson's theory. Piaget's cognitive development theory further illuminates the social development of children (Lally & Valentine-French, 2017). In his preoperational stage, marked by egocentrism, I recall instances of conflicts with peers due to differing perspectives and the struggle to empathize with their viewpoints. As a child, my understanding of others' feelings was limited, leading to occasional misunderstandings. This aligns with Piaget's assertion that children in this stage struggle to take on another's viewpoint fully.
Changes in Social Competence over Middle Childhood (Erikson and Piaget)
As I transitioned through middle childhood, Erikson's theory indicated that my social competence should have evolved. I indeed experienced a shift in my motivation and self-perception. The drive to achieve and excel continued, but it was balanced with a growing awareness of competence in different areas, from academics to sports. The onset of a sense of self-worth was apparent. Piaget's theory suggested that my cognitive development would improve social interactions. I began to understand my peers' perspectives more, which fostered improved relationships and cooperation in group activities. For example, I distinctly remember a group project in grade 5 where I could better consider my teammates' opinions and work collaboratively, reflecting the cognitive growth predicted by Piaget's theory. These changes in social competence reflected the developmental milestones outlined by Erikson and Piaget.
Childhood Status and Peer Relationships (Vygotsky and Bandura)
Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes culture and social interaction in cognitive development. I had many peers in grades 1-6, some of whom were high-status due to their academic or social skills. Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) shows that h...