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