Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
1
Sense of Self Who am I?
self-concept - beliefs about self How good am I as a person?
self-esteem - child’s judgment of own worthiness
self-efficacy - child’s beliefs about what he/she can accomplish
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
2
Sense of Self Helps children take charge of things that
happen to them Motivates behavior Helps them envision future selves Helps them make choices to reach goals Children focus more on what they do well Children behave in ways that mirror self-
perception sometimes engage in self-handicapping
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
3
Factors Influencing Sense of Self
Past behaviors and achievements Others’ perceptions
Parents Siblings Peers
Own perceptions about achievements and comparisons to others
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
4
Sense of Self: General Trends
Children construct increasingly multifaceted understandings of who they are
Feelings of self-worth increasingly depend on peers’ behaviors and opinions
Children gradually internalize criteria others use for evaluation
Children gradually integrate many self-perceptions into general abstractions of who they are
Sense of worth becomes more stable over time
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
5
Development of Sense of Self
Infancy view self as distinct, lovable being ability to imitate others recognizing self in mirror
Early childhood autobiographical self (personal history) language reflects self: I, me, mine self = physical characteristics, simple
psychological traits, interests overconfidence, high self-esteem
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
6
Development of Sense of Self
Middle childhood describes self in physical and psychological
terms aware of strengths and weaknesses self-esteem generally high compares self with peers structures self-esteem into different
competencies academic social physical physical appearance
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
7
Development of Sense of Self
Early adolescence can reflect on how they are perceived by others
imaginary audience belief in personal fable self-esteem drops (especially girls) begin to use abstract values to describe
themselves social comparisons continue
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
8
Development of Sense of Self
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
9
Development of Sense of Self
Late adolescence develop a more complex understanding
of self, with contradictory descriptions identity develops over time
identity diffusion foreclosure moratorium identity achievement
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
10
Development of Sense of Self
Child Development and Education, Fourth EditionTeresa M. McDevitt and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
11
Gender Differences Both nature and nurture contribute Boys overestimate, girls underestimate abilities Girls have greater difficulty accepting criticism Girls more critical of physical appearance Boys say they are good at
athletics problem-solving math and science
Girls say they are good at manners social relationships reading and writing
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