Question

Explain the emergence of self-gender awareness as observed during the childhood.

Answer 1

1. Emergence of self: The self-concept encompasses all aspects of one’s abilities and characteristics. In early childhood, children have a single, one-dimensional view of themselves and are unable to consider multiple aspects simultaneously. Thinking is either all or nothing. The need to deal with conflicting thoughts about the self leads to the third stage of personality development outlined by Erik Erikson - initiative vs guilt. Conflict arises from a child's developing sense of purpose, which allows them to organise and execute actions.
2. I-self: During the first few months, infants develop a sense of self-identity, known as the I-self. The I-self begins their sense of self when they notice how their activities affect objects and people. They comprehend the connection between the self and the physical and social environment.
3. Me-self: During the second year of life, toddlers develop self-concept and become conscious of their physical characteristics. Self-recognition, or the experience of oneself as a distinct physical individual, has been demonstrated for around two years. They recognise themselves in images and use pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘me’ to refer to themselves.
4. Self-esteem: the self-evaluative component of self-concept. It is the judgment that children make of their total worth. Young children’s self-esteem may not reflect accurate judgments. In early childhood, self-esteem is often binary: either “I am good” or “I am bad”. Middle childhood marks a shift towards more realistic, balanced, and conscientious self-judgment. Erikson’s (1982) research suggests that children’s self-esteem is heavily influenced by their perception of their ability to work productively. The issue to address in middle childhood is industry vs. inferiority. Successfully resolving the crisis fosters a sense of competence, a belief in one’s ability to master skills and tasks. Social support, particularly from parents, friends, and teachers, plays a significant role in boosting self-esteem.
5. Emergence of peer relationships: As children grow, they become less dependent on parents and are influenced more by their peer groups. Peer groups, often same-sex in childhood, help children learn social skills, gender roles, independence, and self-confidence. By comparing themselves with others, children develop a better understanding of their abilities and self-efficacy. Peer groups also teach cooperation, adjustment, and social behaviour. However, peer influence can sometimes be negative, leading to drug use, antisocial behaviour, or reinforcement of prejudice. In middle childhood, popularity becomes important. Popular children are usually intelligent, helpful, and socially skilled. Friendship is different from popularity because it is based on mutual affection and trust. Strong friendships help children learn communication, cooperation, and self-understanding, while peer rejection may have long-term effects.