Theoretical Frameworks for Personal Relationships by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-134-75453-3
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)

Friendship in Middle Childhood

Sullivan (1953) suggested that in middle childhood children begin to form “chumships” (i.e., a close alliance with one other child). Chumships are stable peer relationships that provide children with companionship. Failure to develop a chumship is expected to lead to loneliness (Sullivan, 1953). Sullivan suggested two other benefits of chumship. First, children have opportunities to learn sensitivity to another and to try and understand another’s perspective. The learning of interpersonal sensitivity is viewed as an important precursor to altruism. Second, chums provide validation of children’s self-worth.

Several studies have examined friendship in middle childhood. Mannarino (1980) compared 10- and 11-year-old boys who did or did not have chums. The criteria for defining chumship were threefold: high scores on a chumship checklist (Mannarino, 1980), stable friendship choice over a 2-week period, and preference for the friend rather than playing with other friends. The two groups were matched on IQ and peer acceptance. Boys with chums reported higher self-worth and were more altruistic.

Other studies have found that school-aged children behave differently toward friends and acquaintances. When with friends, children are more affective, interactive, cooperative, and mutually directed (for a review, see Hartup, 1983). These studies suggest that collaboration with a peer is an important achievement at this age.

A similar view was offered by Gottman and Mettetal (1986), who suggested that friends are trying to build solidarity at this age. They suggested that children share gossip as a way to promote cohesion and closeness. Gottman and Mettetal found that unacquainted older children and adolescents who “hit it off” engaged in a greater amount of negative-evaluation gossip. These results suggest that exchanging gossip facilitates peer relationships in middle childhood by increasing the liking and cohesion in peer dyads.

In summary, participation in friendship at this age involves collaborating with a peer. Being sensitive to another’s wishes and sharing gossip with a peer are important skills for establishing and maintaining friendships.

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