Chapter 9. Pregnancy and Parenting, Part II

I. Theories of Child Socialization:Developmental Systems approach:

A. Sibling Interactions: >80% children have sibling(s)

B. Self-esteem:firstborn<if sibling born 2or+yrs later;but no if <2;if 5/6 not same

a. 4 Conditions for devel/maint: (1)sense connected,imp. part of family

(2) sense of uniqueness(3)sense of power(capability influ others) through

sharing duties&needs in home;(4) sense of models

b. parents may foster by: 1 have high self-esteem themselves; 2 accept child

as is, 3 enforcing clearly defined limits etc.

c. superficial praise: probably most common way effort backfires

II. Children’s Developmental Needs:

A. Self-esteem:shown to be more sig than intelligence in predict academ perform

B. Sex dif:at 9yrs most girls pos&confident;by hi school,only29% happy way are

a. Boys: also lost self-worth, but not as much as

b. Black girl:say much>rate of self-confident in hi schl than white/Latina

i. Due strong female role models:>likely employ full-time jobs

ii. Racism:parent teach child not wrong w/him;how wld treat him

c. School: may play central role in drop in fem’s self-esteem

C. Diversity: Fams of Mexican origin

a. Seen & not heard: should be role of children

b. Boys: granted more liberty; loud/aggressive behavior tolerated

i. Greater status: is overindulged relative to female

ii. Not monitored/>freedom: acts seldom restricted;free to date

c. Girls: activities closely monitored; expected remain closer to home;

i. Subservient to elder brothers: regardless age, but esp. adoles

III. Other Important Socializers:

A. at end of century: 80% of families will consist of working parents

B. use of daycare: 31% of parents (1996).

C. Effect childcare on child:infant risk for insecure attachments b/ 12-18mos

a. 3-8 yrs: risk of being considered compliant and aggressive

b. other consequences: lowered cognitive performance, distractability,

inability to focus attention;may due to low quality care

D. indep,consideraton: dev w/low student/teach ratio,responsive,stim caregivers

E. US exception:among few indus countries w/o comprehensive day care policy

F. Television: avg 7 hrs/day in US houses; at age 4, child watch 2-3 hrs/day

a. Only sleep: occupies more time for children and adolescents

b. Avg week: 21 hours includes 400 commercials

IV Diversity: A. Latinos &Asian Americans: stress authority of the father in the family

a. Respect: parents command, even when children become adults

b. Older siblings: have authority over younger;should set example

B. Asians specifically:discourage aggression/rely on desire love for compliance

C. Adoptive fams: >2% of US pop is adopted;cost $6k-20k, some $100,000

D. Gay families: 6-14 million children w/ at least 1 gay parent

a. Adjustment:as good as offspring heterosexual pars (Patterson 1992)

b. Gay: no more likely to become than children of heterosexual pars

c. Stability in rel: results better quality parenting than when kept secret