Question

Describe social and emotional development during middle childhood, including facts about Erikson’s stage of development and the conflict to be mastered, self- concept, social cognition, and social interactions /friendships with peers.

Answer 1

Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of psychosocial development is one of the most influential developmental theories. Middle childhood stage occurs in the fourth stage where the child is between industry and inferiority. One of the major challenge in terms of entering and smoothly completing this stage depends on whether the previous stages had been completed properly or not. Incomplete accomplishment in the previous stages would lead to deficiency during middle childhood. One of the most important factors is that the child comes out of its selfish nature and start to recognize that there is a wider world and that it should behave in a way to get the wider world’s recognition and appreciation. Children who are supported by teachers and parents will develop confidence and be very industrious whereas children who do not receive this encouragement would lack the needed confidence to face the world. They start to compare themselves with their friends thus start to imitate others in order to be accepted in the group. When children play together, they learn together. They start to form lifelong friendship from the middle childhood. Children at this stage also learn to be more autonomous in terms of choosing things for them.