The categorical selfAge and gender

The categorical self
Age and gender are both parts of the central core of
the self-image. They represent two of the categories
regarding the self that are also used to perceive and
interpret the behaviour of others.
Age is probably the first social category to be acquired
by the child (and is so even before a concept of number
develops). Lewis and Brooks-Gunn (1979) found
that 6- to 12-month-olds can distinguish between
photographs, slides and papier-mâché heads of adults
and babies. By 12 months, they prefer interacting with
unfamiliar babies to unfamiliar adults. Also, as soon as
they’ve acquired labels like ‘mummy’ and ‘daddy’ and
‘baby’, they almost never make age-related mistakes.
Before age seven, children tend to define the self
in physical terms – hair colour, height, favourite
activities and possessions. Inner, psychological
experiences and characteristics aren’t described as
being distinct from overt behaviour and external,
physical characteristics. During middle childhood
through to adolescence, self-descriptions now
include many more references to internal,
psychological characteristics, such as competencies,
knowledge, emotions, values and personality traits
(Damon and Hart, 1988). However, Damon and Hart
also report important cultural differences in how the
self-concept develops (see Critical Discussion 33.1).
School highlights others’ expectations about how
the self should develop and provides a social context in
which new goals are set and comparisons with others (peers) are prompted. This makes evaluation of the self
all the more important (Durkin, 1995). This comparison
becomes more important still during adolescence (see
Chapter 37).