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A short class with Sarah and her students. The other ways are under More.
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Today, we’ll explore how self-concept changes during middle childhood. Can anyone share how you describe yourself now?
I would say I am good at football and I like video games.
I think I’m smart because I get good grades.
Great examples! Notice how you both included your skills and interests, not just how you look. This indicates a shift towards incorporating internal traits into your self-definitions.
Let’s talk about psychological characteristics. How do you think these play a role in identifying yourself?
Well, I think being friendly is important for me, so I would say I’m friendly.
I agree! I try to be helpful, and that makes me feel good about myself.
Excellent points! It’s clear that kindness and helpfulness are becoming part of how you define yourselves. Remember, this refers to your 'internal characteristics'.
As you grow, it's natural to consider how you compare to others. Why do you think this is important?
It helps me see what I’m good at and what I need to improve.
Yeah, like when we have races in class, I can see who runs faster!
Very insightful! This comparison helps you form your social identity, which is another layer of self-definition. Remember the idea of belonging to groups like sports teams or clubs?
Let’s explore the concept of real self versus ideal self. What do you think they mean?
Real self is who I am now, and ideal self is who I want to be, like a rock star!
I want to be a better player, so that’s my ideal self!
Exactly! Real and ideal selves highlight where you currently are and where you want to go. This is crucial for your self-development.
As children enter middle childhood, their self-assessment shifts to include psychological characteristics.
Children begin to compare themselves with their peers, which shapes their self-identity.
Children recognize the difference between who they are and who they aspire to become.
In middle childhood, we start to see, our real self and ideal self, both agree!
Imagine a young girl named Lily who dreams of being a doctor. While she loves helping her friends now, she knows her ideal self is a caring doctor she aspires to be one day.
SIPS - Social Identity, Psychological traits, Self-comparison.
CAR - Compare, Aspire, Reflect (to remember the stages in self-definition).
Term
What is self-concept?
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Term
Define social comparison.
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Term
What is the ideal self?
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The understanding and perception of oneself, including traits, characteristics, and identity.
Traits reflecting an individual’s emotions, thoughts, and personality.
The sense of who one is based on group membership and social roles.
Defining oneself in relation to others, rather than in absolute terms.
The distinction between the current identity a person perceives versus the desired identity.
In middle childhood, children's self-evaluations become more complex, encompassing psychological characteristics, social identities, and comparative self-descriptions.
As children transition into middle childhood, their self-concept evolves significantly. They begin to incorporate psychological traits and social identities into their descriptions of self, moving away from purely physical characteristics. This period is marked by social comparisons, awareness of an ideal self versus a real self, and the ability to perceive their place in social contexts.
During middle childhood, self-evaluations change and grow in complexity as children begin to understand themselves beyond mere physical traits. They start to define themselves by their psychological characteristics such as preferences or personality traits, moving from statements like 'I am tall' to 'I am good at making friends'. Social descriptions are included, such as involvement in groups, and children begin to compare their abilities with peers rather than describe themselves in absolute terms. They also distinguish between their real self — reflecting their current abilities — and an ideal self — embodying what they aspire to be. This evolution helps children form a more realistic self-concept as they become aware of how others perceive them.