How do the descriptions of the personal self and characterizations of other children change

Question

during middle childhood?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Self descriptions – personal self:
1. at age 6 use limited traits, generally global;
2. by 10, will compare self to another on specific traits;
3. continue to use surface qualities such as eye color until 9-years old;
4. by 11, descriptions of personal self change to include personality traits, feelings and ideas as well as
external factors;
5. self efficacy increases.
Descriptions of others – follows the same patters:
1. at 7, employ mostly external descriptions such as hair and eye color;
2. at 7, may employ evaluative terms such as ‘mean";
3. description of others' personality characteristics are seen as temporary or situation specific; 4. at 7 –
8, begin to employ internal traits;
5. at 7 – 8, traits seen as more consistent;
6. at 8, children employ many behavioral comparisons;
7. by 11, behavioral comparisons have decreased and are replaced by psychological traits.