The Self How would you describe yourself PDF

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Summary

notes on how children build their sense of self, at what developmental stages this occurs and problems involved with development of the sense of self. taught by woods...

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The Self: How would you describe yourself? Thursday, April 20, 2017

11:31 AM

Self - Self ○ A conceptual system made up of ones thoughts and attitudes about oneself - The self in infancy ○ Infants appear to have a sense of self § Sense of their ability to control objects outside themselves (2-4 months) § Understanding of their own bodily movements (3-5 months) □ They can move and it will effect the world § Separation anxiety (8 months) □ They know they are not the same as other people § Can follow a pointing finger to find an object and give objects to an adult in an apparent effort to engage the adult in activities (12 months) □ Joint attention starts - The self in early childhood ○ Sense of self becomes more apparent when children can look in a mirror and realize they are looking at themselves (age 18-20 months) § Smudge test 1 □ Smudge something on child's head, they wont recognize it because they don’t have a full understanding of their appearance □ Cant connect their image and behavior is mirrored back to them § Smudge test 2 □ Try again some time later, they will recognize themselves and be able to understand that they got some shit on they forehead ○ Exhibit shame and embarrassment and try to determine their own activities and goals independent of their parents (2 years) ○ Children also begin using language

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○ that identifies them as an individual (2-3 years) The self in childhood ○ As children progress through childhood, their conception of themselves becomes increasingly complex ○ Susan Harter: § Studied children's typical self-descriptive statements at different ages § Three to four: □ Descriptions using concrete, observable characteristics □ Tend to be unrealistically positive □ Young children tend to use things they can do and things they have to describe themselves § Elementary school kids: □ Social comparison ® Comparing aspects of ones own psychological, behavioral or physical functioning to that of others in order to evaluate oneself; compare in terms of their characteristics, behaviors and possessions ® In elementary school, children's self-concepts are increasingly based on their relationships with others § Older children □ Self reflect cognitive advances in their ability to use higherorder concepts that integrate more specific behavioral features of the self □ This allows older children to construct more global views of themselves--results in a more balanced and realistic assessment of the self, although they can result in feelings of inferiority and helplessness □ Increasingly relies on others evaluations of them ® Specifically peers □ Descriptions will focus on social elements § Adolescents □ Recognizing different social groups and how your behavior changes around them ® "variety of selves" □ Not feeling the need to rationalize the negatives or immediately demonstrate the positives □ Knows more about why they are the way they are

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More abstract thinking Adolescents can conceive themselves in terms of abstract characteristics that encompass a variety of concrete characteristics and behaviors □ Concern over social competence and acceptance intensifies □ Personal fable: ® A form of egocentrism that involves beliefs in the uniqueness of ones own feelings and thoughts □ Imaginary audience ® The belief that everyone else is focused on the adolescents appearance and behavior Late adolescence □ More self acceptance over peer acceptance □ Individuals conception of self becomes both more integrated and less determined by what others think □ Reflect internalized personal values, beliefs and standards □ Place less emphasis on what other people think than they did at younger ages and are more concerned with meeting their own standards as well as who they are becoming...