Self-Discrepancies and Perceived Peer Acceptance

Abstract

We examined developmental changes in the self and the relationship between such changes and perceived peer acceptance in a sample of 414 6- to 11-year-old Australian children (211 boys, 203 girls) who completed a self-discrepancy scale and a perceived peer acceptance scale specifically constructed for this study. Resulting scores suggested that critical periods in developmental changes in the structure of the self occur at about 7 to 8 years and that a relationship exists between the reporting of a comparative large number and a larger size of discrepancies and a perception of lack of peer acceptance.

Drama Education and Development of Self: Myth or Reality?

“…This differentiation has been noted from as early as five years (Ittyerah & Mahindra, 1990;Sanders & Harper, 1976). There is also related evidence of gender differentiation in the case of self-discrepancy, with Brown and Kafer (1994) reporting more self-discrepancies, of a larger magnitude, for six-year-old boys than for girls. This study is the only one of three recently published that considered gender and self-discrepancy in middle childhood; the other two studies investigated populations of undergraduate university students (Gardner & Tockerman, 1993;Strauman et al, 1991).…”

“…In the first phase, administration of the instruments was done over four separate sittings. The Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scales (1984); (P-H) and the Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire (Brown & Kafer, 1994); (SDQ) were administered to each class. The Chandler Story Task (1973); (CST) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (Dunn & Dunn, 1981); (PPVT-R) were administered to each student individually in an interview room away from the classroom.…”

“…This algorithm represents the difference between how a respondent views him/her self and how his/her best friend, as the significant other, views him/her in each of the three conceptualisations of possible selves, that is "actual", "ideal" and "ought" self (Brown & Kafer, 1994). As such, it should represent the notion of different possible selves.…”

“…The SDQ is a modification by Brown and Kafer (1994) of a questionnaire designed by Higgins et al (1986). The items on the SDQ are statements descriptive of self, each rated from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree).…”

Temperament and externalizing behavior: Social preference and perceived acceptance as protective factors.

“…Brown and Kafer (1994) found that there was a dramatic increase in self-awareness around age 7 or 8. The kindergarteners in our sample were reporting perceived acceptance prior to this time, resulting in a greater range in the extent to which children’s perceptions correlated with peer nominations.…”