scent must master identity versus role confusion, integrating roles such as child, sibling, student, athlete, worker, into one self-image ("Erkison's development stages," 2005). Thus, Erikson points out that the preschool child is focused on initiative versus guilt while the adolescent is focused on identity versus role confusion. While the preschooler develops a sense of sexual identity, the focus is primarily on developing the ability to initiate activities. The adolescent has the sole focus of developing an identity to avoid role confusion. The preschooler interacts socially from an egocentric point of view and the adolescent interacts socially seeking approval from peers and others.
Garner,ßRobertson, and Smith (1997) examined preschool children's (n=82) emotional expressions with peers and the roles of gender and emotion socialization.ß Children with emotional competence were more successful in emotionally challenging peer situations. Girls expressed more positive emotion than boys and mothers and fathers used different emotion socialization practices depending on the gender of the child. Mothers reported more sadness. Parental expression of emotion was related to child expression of emotion and emotional competence.
Elias and Weissberg (2000) reported that adolescents begin to learn in childhood how to deal with their feelings effectively, maintain self-control, and communicate effectively. When they fail to learn social and emotional competence, adolescents tend to express their emotions with negative behaviors. For example a teenager may smoke, drink beer with friends, get pregnant, or skip school to express emotions. Aggression and high-risk behaviors are negative forms of emotional expression.
Piaget presents stages of cognitive development for different ages. The preoperational stage lasts from two to seven years and includes: preoperational phase (2-4 years) where verbal representation is increased...