Publication Date

2003

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Pillow, Bradford H.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Social perceptions in children; Schemas (Psychology) in children; Interpersonal relations in children

Abstract

The present study investigated the impact of relational schema based expectations on children's social interpretation and goals. Eighty-five sixth grade children were read a series of social vignettes describing negative situations. Children were asked their expectations of others' typical behavior in these situations. Children were then read three ambiguous negative events and asked to rate three interpretations and four goals corresponding to each event. Results indicated that children with positive relational schemas rate prosocial interpretations higher than children with negative relational schemas, who rated anti-social interpretations higher. Some evidence was found to suggest that children with positive relational schemas endorse more prosocial goals than children with negative relational schemas. Limited support was also found for the hypothesis that the quality of a child's relational schema and type of situation interact to influence children's social interpretations and goals. In sum, the present findings support the notion that relational schemas represent a specific type of latent social knowledge structure that biases specific aspects of children's social information processing.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [70]-73)

Extent

v, 97 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS