Question 1

Ramona (a white girl) and Juanita (a Hispanic girl) are best friends. They met when Ramona moved to the same neighborhood in third grade. Based on what we know about cross-race friendships, what can we conclude about Ramona's and Juanita's social development?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that cross-race friendships can broaden children's social experiences and increase their understanding of other cultures. Ramona and Juanita's friendship shows that they are open to making friends with people from different racial backgrounds. Therefore, they will likely be inclusive with others who want to join their friendship circle.

Question 2

Peer evaluations are important sources of:

Accepted Answer

Peer evaluations can provide individuals with feedback on their strengths and weaknesses, leading to increased self-awareness and self-validation. They may also provide opportunities for constructive criticism and improvement, which can ultimately lead to academic success. However, empathy and sympathy may not necessarily be directly related to peer evaluations.

Question 3

Daniel doesn't understand how others feel. He assumes that everyone is trying to be mean to him. He reacts aggressively toward his peers. He is described by his teachers as impulsive and hyperactive. What peer status does Daniel's behavior describe?

Accepted Answer

Daniel's behavior of assuming everyone is trying to be mean to him, reacting aggressively toward his peers, being described by his teachers as impulsive and hyperactive, fits the description of aggressive-rejected peer status. Aggressive-rejected children exhibit high levels of aggression and are actively disliked by their peers.

Question 4

Jeffrey describes himself as someone who is a really good athlete but not so good at academics. He says he is happy with who he is and isn't worried about his lower grades in school. Jeffrey is describing:

Accepted Answer

Jeffrey's statement about being happy with who he is and not being worried about his lower grades indicates that he has positive self-esteem. Self-concept refers to one's overall beliefs about themselves, while social comparison involves comparing oneself to others. Self-complexity refers to the degree to which one's self-concept is composed of different facets or aspects.

Question 5

Self-esteem is influenced by children's self-conceptions as well as:

Accepted Answer

While all of the options may play a role, research suggests that the importance that children assign to their abilities has the strongest impact on their self-esteem. Children who place high importance on their abilities are more likely to feel good about themselves and have higher self-esteem.

Question 6

Isaac tends to sit by himself at lunch and plays alone on the playground. He is described as timid and anxious. He only talks to teachers at school and only if he is called on. He expects that other children don't like him, and he is usually correct. He has never been invited to a birthday party or sleepover. What peer status does Isaac's behavior describe?

Accepted Answer

Isaac's behavior of sitting alone at lunch, playing alone on the playground, being described as timid and anxious, not talking to other children, and not being invited to birthday parties or sleepovers all suggest that he is being rejected by his peers. The withdrawn behavior is a common characteristic of peer rejection. Therefore, the best choice is A) Withdrawn-rejected. The other options do not fit Isaac's behavior.

Question 7

How are rejected-aggressive and withdrawn children similar?

Accepted Answer

Both rejected-aggressive and withdrawn children struggle with accurately interpreting social cues and may have difficulty understanding the motives of their peers. This can result in misinterpretations and poor social interactions.

Question 8

Older children tend to choose friends who have all of the following characteristics except:

Accepted Answer

Older children tend to choose friends based on shared interests, play preferences, and sometimes ethnicity, but not necessarily on similarity in sibling structure.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a characteristic seen prior to a child becoming a target of peer victimization?

Accepted Answer

While social withdrawal, depression, and shyness are often seen as early signs that a child may become a target of peer victimization, poor grades have not been consistently linked with victimization.

Question 10

Jeannie thinks that she is a good friend. She explains that she is popular because she helps other people and smiles at people. She understands that when she is in a bad mood she is more likely to be rude, but she apologizes afterward. Jeannie's description is describing:

Accepted Answer

Jeannie's description is about how she perceives herself, which falls under the definition of self-concept.

Question 11

The degree to which a child is viewed as a worthy social partner by his or her peers is called:

Accepted Answer

Peer acceptance refers to the extent to which a child is accepted and valued by their peers as a social partner. It is a measure of a child's social status within a peer group and is determined by factors such as social skills, personality, behavior, and physical appearance. Popularity and peer support are related concepts, but they do not capture the same construct as peer acceptance. Social referencing refers to the use of social cues to determine how to behave in a particular situation and is unrelated to the concept of peer acceptance.

Question 12

Which of the following characteristics is not consistent with children who engage in physically aggressive forms of bullying?

Accepted Answer

Parents who are intrusive are actually a consistent characteristic seen in children who engage in physically aggressive bullying. The other three options, hyperactive behavior, poor school achievement, and higher rates of depression, are typically seen in these children.

Question 13

Based on what we know about school-age children's friendships, which of the following girls is most likely a friend to Teresa, a white school-age girl from the suburbs whose parents are considered to be upper middle class?

Accepted Answer

School-age children tend to form friendships based on proximity, similarity, and shared activities. In this case, Tanya is a white girl who sits next to Teresa in homeroom, goes to the same church, and lives next door. These factors make it highly likely that Tanya and Teresa have similar socio-economic backgrounds and may engage in similar activities, making them more likely to form a friendship. The other options do not have as strong of a basis for a friendship with Teresa based on these factors.

Question 14

Which of the following advances in cognitive development lead children to make more complex descriptions and evaluations of themselves?

Accepted Answer

Perspective taking and social comparison abilities allow children to understand how they fit in with others and to evaluate themselves in relation to their peers. This leads to more complex self-descriptions and evaluations. Social referencing and habituation relate more to social learning and habituation to specific stimuli, while selective attention and working memory relate more to cognitive processing and memory, and divided attention and impulsivity relate more to attention and self-control.

Question 15

Industry in childhood means that children:

Accepted Answer

Industry in childhood typically involves children learning and mastering skills that are valued in their society. This could include skills related to traditional crafts, sports, or other activities that have practical or cultural significance. While children may also contribute to the broader community through volunteering or other forms of service, the focus of industry in childhood is on individual skill development rather than community service. Therefore, choices B, C, and D can be eliminated as incorrect.

Question 16

Randy is the tallest boy in his class. He is very assertive and impulsive. He is not insecure when it comes to talking to other people. He tends to make friends easily. Randy tends to get angry very quickly when he perceives someone criticizing him. Randy is most likely a:

Accepted Answer

Randy's assertiveness, impulsivity, tendency to make friends easily, and quick anger suggest that he may be exhibiting traits of a bully.

Question 17

According to Erik Erikson, school-age children face the task of developing a sense of:

Accepted Answer

According to Erikson, the psychosocial stage that school-age children (ages 6-12) face is industry versus inferiority. During this stage, children strive to acquire competence in a variety of areas including academics, sports, social skills, and hobbies. Success in these areas leads to a sense of industry, while failure or negative feedback can result in feelings of inferiority.

Question 18

Ryan's parents are both very intrusive. They are so overprotective that they don't let him go outside alone, even though he is 9 years old. They are very critical of him and nag him daily about trivial things. Based on Ryan's home environment, he is most likely:

Accepted Answer

Ryan's overprotective and critical parents are likely hindering his social development and confidence, making him more vulnerable to being victimized by bullies. There is no evidence to suggest that he will become a bully or aggressive against others, and while his parents' behavior may negatively impact his self-esteem, it is not directly linked to academic performance.

Question 19

An aggressive response that is preceded by an insult, confrontation, or frustration is called:

Accepted Answer

Reactive aggression is a type of aggression that occurs in response to an insult, confrontation, or frustration. It is a defensive or retaliatory behavior, often characterized by impulsive and emotional reactions. Overt aggression involves physical aggression, while passive aggression involves more subtle forms of aggression, such as passive resistance or withdrawal. Relational aggression involves using social manipulation to harm others.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a common characteristic of popular children?

Accepted Answer

Cliquish exclusion is not a common characteristic of popular children. Rather, popular children tend to be helpful, assertive, and trustworthy.

Quiz 10: Socioemotional Development in Middle Childhood