Communication Communication Competencies Competencies

and Socioculutural Prioritiesand Socioculutural Priorities of Middle childhood of Middle childhood

(Chapter 15)

“I was in middle childhood approximately 23 years ago.” Jessica Shultzaberger

Kids say the darndest Kids say the darndest thingsthingsSocial Competencies

◦Humor◦How to tell Stories◦Discern Teasing from threats◦Which topics are taboo?

Our text focuses on the following:◦Caring Behaviors, Emotional Support,

and Comforting◦Argumentation and Conflict

Management◦Emotional Expression, Display Rules, Self

Monitoring

OverviewOverviewMiddle ChildhoodSocializationSocial Construction of ChildhoodSocial Competencies

Middle ChildhoodMiddle ChildhoodMiddle school yearsTime of innocenceNot a babyNot quite an adolescentTime to adapt to life outside the

family

Newborn Age 10 Age 15

Social ConstructionSocial ConstructionChildhood is socially constructed.Varies by history and culture.

The shifts in the last century

SocializationSocializationLanguage acquisition and communication

developmentFamily is responsibleChildren learn how to communicate from their

family cultureConsidered socially competent

Social Competence Skills – These are the skills that help the individual achieve culturally desirable outcomes.

Socially Desired OutcomesPeer CompetenceSchool Readiness and Academic

Performance

“…in order to participate in the “adult world,” children must become active creators of social knowledge, not merely recipients of it.”

Socially Desired OutcomesSocially Desired OutcomesPeer Competence

◦Peer acceptance = socialized child◦Socialized child = Peer acceptance◦Popularity◦Friendships

Peer Competence Peer Competence Continued…Continued…Negative Peer Relationships

Peer Competence Peer Competence Continued…Continued…Positive Peer Relationships

Socially Desired OutcomesSocially Desired OutcomesSchool Readiness and Academic

Performance◦Simply learning to do school.◦Develop language, cognitive and

social skills.◦Academic Achievement◦Classroom – Answers must be

academically and socially correct.◦A whole new set of rules to learn and

conform to.

School Readiness and School Readiness and Academic Performance…Academic Performance…ContinuedContinuedPoor School Adjustment

School Readiness and School Readiness and Academic Performance…Academic Performance…ContinuedContinuedPositive School Adjustment

Communication Communication CompetenciesCompetenciesCaring Behaviors, Emotional

Support, and ComfortingArgumentation and Conflict

ManagementEmotional Expression, Display

Rules, Self Monitoring

Caring Behaviors, Emotional Caring Behaviors, Emotional Support, and ComfortingSupport, and Comforting

Capacity to provide emotional support is key.

Caring, sharing, helping dependent on the ability to take into account another’s perspective.

Ability to provide emotional support has been linked to peer acceptance.

Argumentation and Conflict Argumentation and Conflict ManagementManagementConflict resolution predicts

academic success, friendship relationships, and popularity.

In adaptive conflict resolution the other perspective must be seen.

Arguments become stronger as they grow and find more holes in opponent’s arguments and more supporting evidence in their own.

Emotional Expression, Emotional Expression, Display Rules, Self Display Rules, Self MonitoringMonitoringDisplay Rules – appropriate

suppression or expression of emotions.

Successful projection of emotions = competence according to teachers

Knowing which situations warrant concealment of feelings = appropriate socialization.

Hiding emotions helps with self-preservation.

Different rules for different audiences.

Communication Communication Competencies and FamilyCompetencies and FamilySocialization is the primary

responsibility of the family.Parental Influence on

Children’s Communication Skills – the Mother

Siblings – As get older more time with siblings and less with mother. Contributes to peer relationships.

At some point, children begin to socialize the adults. (i.e.. Soccer games, school events)

SummarySummary