Middle Childhood in Development Psychology - Lecture Slides |, Study notes of Developmental Psychology

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Chapter 10Chapter 10

Middle Childhood Middle Childhood

Erikson’s Fourth StageErikson’s Fourth Stage

 Crisis to be resolved is INDUSTRY VSCrisis to be resolved is INDUSTRY VS INFERIORITY. INFERIORITY.  Virtue to be developed isVirtue to be developed is COMPETENCE COMPETENCE  Children need to learn skills that areChildren need to learn skills that are valued in their culture. valued in their culture.

CoregulationCoregulation

 During the course of childhood, control ofDuring the course of childhood, control of behavior gradually shifts from parents to behavior gradually shifts from parents to the child. the child.  Definition – Parent and child share power:Definition – Parent and child share power: Parents oversee but child makes moment- Parents oversee but child makes moment- by-moment decisions. by-moment decisions.  Cooperative process which requires trustCooperative process which requires trust and communication. and communication.  The process of solving problems is moreThe process of solving problems is more important than the solution. important than the solution.

Effect of Mother’s WorkEffect of Mother’s Work

 3 out of 4 mothers work today.3 out of 4 mothers work today.  If mother feels good about her work andIf mother feels good about her work and herself, the experience is positive. herself, the experience is positive. Depends on many factors. Depends on many factors.  Children of working mothers tend to live aChildren of working mothers tend to live a more structured life than full-time more structured life than full-time homemakers. homemakers. Children are moreChildren are more independent and have more egalitarian independent and have more egalitarian gender roles. gender roles.

Effect of PovertyEffect of Poverty

 One in five children in middleOne in five children in middle childhood live in poverty. childhood live in poverty.  It can inspire people to work harderIt can inspire people to work harder or it can crush their spirits. or it can crush their spirits.  Harms children’s developmentHarms children’s development through its impact on the parent’s through its impact on the parent’s emotional state and parenting emotional state and parenting practices and on the home practices and on the home environment they create. environment they create.

Adoption – Special ChallengesAdoption – Special Challenges

 Need to integrate the child into their existingNeed to integrate the child into their existing family structure. family structure.  Explaining the adoption to the child.Explaining the adoption to the child.  Helping the child develop a healthy sense ofHelping the child develop a healthy sense of self. self.  Possibly helping the child contact thePossibly helping the child contact the biological parents. biological parents.  If problems surface, usually around time ofIf problems surface, usually around time of sexual maturity. sexual maturity.  Children adopted in infancy are less likely toChildren adopted in infancy are less likely to have adjustment issues. have adjustment issues.

Open AdoptionOpen Adoption

 Adoption in which the birth parentsAdoption in which the birth parents and the adoptive parents know each and the adoptive parents know each other’s identities and share other’s identities and share information or have direct contact. information or have direct contact.  This is the trend today and leads toThis is the trend today and leads to healthier adjustment of the child. healthier adjustment of the child.  Adoptive parents actually feel moreAdoptive parents actually feel more secure that the arrangement is secure that the arrangement is permanent. permanent.

Parents and DivorceParents and Divorce

 Younger children are more anxious aboutYounger children are more anxious about divorce, have less realistic perceptions divorce, have less realistic perceptions about what caused the divorce – blame about what caused the divorce – blame themselves. themselves. They tend to adapt quickerThey tend to adapt quicker than older children. than older children.  School-age children have more loyaltySchool-age children have more loyalty conflicts and may fear abandonment and conflicts and may fear abandonment and rejection. rejection. Boys may find it harder toBoys may find it harder to adjust than girls but it depends on how adjust than girls but it depends on how involved the father stays in the family. involved the father stays in the family.

How Parents Can Help TheirHow Parents Can Help Their

Children Adjust Children Adjust

 Reassure the child that it is not their fault.Reassure the child that it is not their fault.  Reduce the conflict between the parents,Reduce the conflict between the parents, do not put the child in the center. do not put the child in the center.  Custodial parent needs to create a stable,Custodial parent needs to create a stable, structured, and nurturing environment. structured, and nurturing environment.  Parents need to take care of themselves.Parents need to take care of themselves. Work on their issues of grief and loss. Work on their issues of grief and loss.

Helping Children AdjustHelping Children Adjust

 Do not place too much responsibilityDo not place too much responsibility on the child. on the child.  Do not make the child yourDo not make the child your “Surrogate spouse” or counselor. “Surrogate spouse” or counselor. They are in their own grief process. They are in their own grief process. No matter what the other parent did, No matter what the other parent did, the child loves them both. the child loves them both.  Child need to see both parents withChild need to see both parents with as little conflict as possible. as little conflict as possible.

Single Parent HomesSingle Parent Homes

 In U.S. one child in four lives withIn U.S. one child in four lives with only one parent. only one parent. Rise in divorce rateRise in divorce rate and people choosing to be single and people choosing to be single parents. parents.  A child has a 50% chance of livingA child has a 50% chance of living with only one parent. with only one parent.  One in six single parent homes areOne in six single parent homes are headed by the father. headed by the father.

Special ProblemsSpecial Problems

 Children tend to do less well socially andChildren tend to do less well socially and educationally than children in two parent educationally than children in two parent families mainly because one-parent families families mainly because one-parent families are more likely to be poor. are more likely to be poor.  Children are more on their own, take moreChildren are more on their own, take more responsibility, more conflict with siblings, less responsibility, more conflict with siblings, less family cohesion, less support. family cohesion, less support. DivorcedDivorced mother tend to have more trouble with their mother tend to have more trouble with their sons. sons.  Many factors are present on well the childrenMany factors are present on well the children turn out. turn out. Poor outcomes are not inevitable.Poor outcomes are not inevitable.

Step FamiliesStep Families

 Remarried families must re-inventRemarried families must re-invent their own ways of doing things. their own ways of doing things. MoreMore likely to fail than first marriages. likely to fail than first marriages.  Boys tend to benefit from aBoys tend to benefit from a stepfather. stepfather.  Girls tend to be jealous of theGirls tend to be jealous of the stepfather. stepfather.

Suggestions for BlendedSuggestions for Blended

Families Families

 Best if step-parent takes a “hands-off”Best if step-parent takes a “hands-off” approach to the children. approach to the children.  Life goes smoother when stepparent supportsLife goes smoother when stepparent supports the natural parent and does not try to step in the natural parent and does not try to step in themselves to discipline. themselves to discipline.  The step-parent needs to reassure the childThe step-parent needs to reassure the child that they are not taking the other parent’s that they are not taking the other parent’s place in the family. Take the role of a friend place in the family. Take the role of a friend and supporter. and supporter.  Allow the two parents to make decision for theAllow the two parents to make decision for the welfare of the children and when asked may welfare of the children and when asked may assist. assist.