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Young children's perceptions and beliefs about hypothetical shy, unsociable, and socially avoidant peers at school

Bibliographic Data

ID12686552
AuthorsFederica Zava (0000-0003-4007-535X, Department of Developmental and Social Psychology Sapienza University Rome Italy), Lori K Watanabe (Department of Psychology Carleton University Ottawa Canada), Stefania Sette (0000-0003-4953-0128, Department of Developmental and Social Psychology Sapienza University Rome Italy, corresponding author), Emma Baumgartner (0000-0003-0995-3468, Department of Developmental and Social Psychology Sapienza University Rome Italy), Fiorenzo Laghi (0000-0003-3969-4292, Department of Developmental and Social Psychology Sapienza University Rome Italy), Robert J Coplan (0000-0003-3696-2108, Department of Psychology Carleton University Ottawa Canada)
Year2019
Volume29
Issue1
Pages89-109
Publication date2019-05-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-9507 • E-ISSN: 0961-205X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sode.12386
OpenAlexW2947413559
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited46

The aim of this study was to explore young children's perceptions, beliefs, and anticipated outcomes about different types of social withdrawal (shyness, unsociability, social avoidance). Participants were N = 212 children ( n = 110 boys) aged 2.55–6.37 years ( M = 4.86, SD = 0.89) recruited from three preschools and kindergartens in Italy. Children were interviewed individually and asked about hypothetical peers displaying different types of social withdrawal (i.e., shy, unsociable, socially avoidant) and for comparison purposes, aggressive and socially competent behaviors were also assessed. Among the three vignettes depicting types of withdrawn children, children rated the hypothetical shy peer as having the highest social motivations, the unsociable peer as receiving the least sympathy from others, and the avoidant peer as being the least intelligent and least liked by the teacher. In addition, girls reported wanting to play more with the shy peer than boys, and kindergarteners reported a higher affiliative preference for all subtypes of socially withdrawn peers than preschoolers. These findings suggest that Italian young children have a quite sophisticated ability to differentiate among the different social motivations and emotions that may underlie social withdrawal

Anxiety · Developmental psychology · Friendship · Peer acceptance · Peer group · Perception · Preference · Shyness · Social withdrawal · Sympathy · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance

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Unique citing works12
Citations per year2,4
Citation span2021 - 2026 (6)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 12
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