Chapter 10

child sexual abuse

-committed against children of both sexes, but more often against girls. -most cases are reported in middle middle childhood but for some victims abuse begins early in life and continues for many years. -abuser is typically male -either a parent or someone the parent knows well

divorce

-usa has highest divorce rate in the world. -of the 45% of american marriages that end in divorce, half involve children. -children of divorce spend an average of five years in a single parent home. -

only child

Us children growing up in one child and multi child families do not differ in self rated personality traits. -only children are higher in self0 esteem -do better in school - attain higher levels of education -less well accepted in the peer group -

emotional development

greater self awareness and social sensitivity support gains in emotional competence in middle childhood. Changes take place in experience of self copious emotions, emotional understanding and emotional self regulation.

peer relations

in middle childhood, the society of peers becomes an increasingly important context for development. Peer contact contributes to perspective taking and unerstanding of self and others.

development of self esteem

physical appearance correlates more strongly with overall self worth than any other self esteem factor

identity versus inferiority stage: Erikson

psychological conflict of middle childhood which is resolved positively when children develop a sense of competence at useful skills and tasks.

peer acceptance

refers to likability - the extent to which a child is viewed by a group of age mates, such as classmates, as a worthy social partner.

siblings

sibling rivalry tends to increase in middle childhood. the child who gets less parental affection, more disapproval, or fewer material resources is likely to be resentful and show poorer adjustments. same sex siblings who are close in age get more comparisons. can rely on each other for companionship and support the more positive their relationship, the more siblings resolve disagreements constructively, provide each other wit various forms of assistance, and contribute to resilience in the face of major stressors, such as parental divorce.

gender typing

the process by which a child becomes aware of their gender and thus behaves accordingly by adopting values and attributes of members of the sex that they identify as their own.

maternal employment and dual worker families

when mothers enjoy their work and remain committed to parenting, children show favorable adjustment - higher self esteem, more positive family and peer relations, less gender stereotyped beliefs, and better grades in school.

family influences

As kids move into school, peer, and community contexts, the parent - child relationship changes. at the same time kids well being continues to depend on the quality of family interaction.

emotional self regulation

ability to respond to the ongoing demands of experience with the range of emotions in a manner that is socially tolerable and sufficiently flexible to permit spontaneous reactions as well as the ability to delay spontaneous reactions as needed.

peer groups

collectives that generate unique values and standards for behavior and a social structure of leaders and followers

fears and anxieties

common fears of the school years include poor academic performance, peer rejection, the possibility of personal harm, threats to parents health, and media events. -about 5% of school age children develop intense, unmanageable fear called a phobia. Phobias are accompanied by physical complaints like dizziness or nausea.

friendships

contribute to the development of trust and sensitivity. during the school years, it becomes more complex and psychologically based.

some common problems of development

fears and anxieties, sexual abuse

moral development

focuses on the emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood. In the field of moral development, morality is defined as principles for how individuals ought to treat one another, with respect to justice, others' welfare, and rights.