self: the combination of physical and psychological attributes that is unique to each individual...

• Self: The combination of physical and psychological attributes that is unique to each individual

• Self-Concept: One’s perceptions of one’s unique combination of attributes

Development of Self-Concept in Infancy and Toddlerhood

– Early sense of self believed to emerge between 2-6 months:

• Awareness that physical self is separate from others

• Awareness that self can control events

Evidence of “Self-Awareness”:

• 2- to 4-month-olds can learn to move their limbs to make a mobile move; may show distress when no longer have control of mobile

– Suggests awareness that the self can control events (and awareness of own body)

Testing Emerging Self-Awareness

• 3- to 5- month old infants look longer when shown a video of their leg movements from a perspective other than their own

– Suggests awareness of own body

• Onset of separation distress around 8 months

– Suggests awareness of self as physically separate from caregiver

Evidence of Self-Recognition:

– Rouge test

• Pass between 15 and 24 months

– Photo selection

• Pass between 20 and 30 months

• Two- and three-year-old children do not seem to have a sense of self that extends over time

– When shown a video of themselves with a sticker on their forehead shortly after the event occurred, they do not attempt to remove the sticker

• Four- and five-year-olds seem to have a sense of the self as stable over time

– Retrieve the sticker after a brief delay (but not if shown the video a week later)

Developments After Self-Recognition:

• Self-conscious emotions

• Self-assertion and increased possessiveness (“Terrible Twos”)– “No!”; “I do it”; “Mine!”

• Increased social skills– Imitation of peers– Cooperation (resolving conflicts, playing games,

problem solving)

• Development of the categorical self

– Classification of the self along socially significant dimensions

• Ex: age, sex, physical characteristics, behaviors/abilities, etc.

– e.g., “baby”, “boy/girl”, “big/little”, “good/bad girl”, “Did it!”

– Emerges between 18 and 30 months

Self-Concept in Preschoolers (3-5 years)

• Preschoolers’ self-descriptions focus on concrete, observable characteristics such as:

– Physical attributes (“I have blue eyes”)– Physical activities/abilities (“I can run real

fast”)– Social relationships (“I have a sister”)– Possessions (“I have a kitty”)– Preferences (“I like pizza”)

• Preschoolers’ self-descriptions tend to be unrealistically positive

• Fail to distinguish between “ideal” and “actual” selves

• Why?

– Do not generally compare their performance with that of others (social comparison)