Social development & Identity
One thing that is important when
a child begins to interact within society is the formation and
understanding of their own identity to themselves. In
the early child hood years identity is formed through a process
called "identification" where a child attempts to look,
act, feel and be like other people in their environment. An important
key in forming social development and identity
is the discovery of ones sex and the sex roles that go with it.
Identity is usually formed through observation and imitation of
others in their lives who are available and who the child pays
a lot of attention to. Kohlberg (1966) believed that children
went through certain stages in acquiring their sex roles.
* Basic sex-role identity occurs when a child labels
themselves either boy or girl.
* Sex-role stability occurs when children realize that
sex-roles are stable - girls will grow up to be women and boys
to be men.
* Sex-role constancy occurs when children realize that
no matter what their outward appearance is, their sex stays the
same. For example they know that dressing as a boy will not make
them a boy, if they are already a girl.
Related Links
Child Psychology
Infancy
Learning
Attachment
Early Childhood
Mental Development
Aggression
& Prosocial Behaviour
Parenting
Community
Influences
Middle Childhood
Adolescence
Developmental
Psychology
Problems
of Children & Teens
|
