Historical and social change in the concept of childhood

By itsjp10
  • Period: 1 CE to 399

    Infanticidal mode

    • Children routinely killed due to parental anxieties.
    • Widespread sodomizing of surviving children.
    • Impact on surviving children: profound psychological effects.
    During this period, girls were considered less valuable than boys* Current link: Repulsion towards infanticide reflects an evolution towards values that recognize the intrinsic importance of infant life. Modern society advocates for the rights and protection of children
  • 300

    Infanticide practices

    Infanticide practices
    Here's an example of killing practices during this period
  • 300

    Negative reinforcement

    It strengthens a behavior response by taking away a negative outcome
  • Period: 400 to 1300

    Abandoning mode

    • Acceptance of children having a soul. Abandonment to wet nurses, monasteries, foster families, etc.
    • Symbolized by Griselda and rigid portrayals of Mary with Jesus.
    • Reduction in child sodomizing but projection still significant.
    Current Link: Concern for the emotional well-being of children has led to an emphasis on parental care and emotional support. Abandonment remains condemned, highlighting the evolution towards more child-centric parenting.
  • 1000

    Giving away children

    Giving away children
    During this period children were sold and abandonment practices were too common. Parental care involves separation, reflecting a developing awareness of psychological impact.
  • Period: 1300 to

    Ambivalent mode

    • Massive ambivalence in parenting.
    • Popular image of physical molding of children.
    • Increase in child instruction manuals and cults of Mary.
    • Children seen as moldable soft wax, plaster, or clay. *
    • This metaphor reflected the belief that parents held the responsibility to shape and mold their children into socially acceptable forms.
    Current Link: It may manifest in child-rearing methods seeking to control child's behavior with a heightened awareness of the need for balance and empathy.
  • 1301

    Madonna and Child

    Madonna and Child
    During the Ambivalent Mode, spanning the 14th to the 17th centuries, societal perceptions of childhood underwent a transformation marked by a delicate interplay between tenderness and discipline. Represented by iconic artworks like the "Madonna and Child," this period emphasized the notion of children as pliable entities, akin to soft wax or clay awaiting molding.
  • Period: to

    Intrusive

    • Significant reduction in projection and reversal.
    • Focus on conquering the child's mind rather than just its insides.
    • Introduction of pediatrics, improving care and reducing infant mortality.
    • Parents closely involved but still using threats and guilt for control.
    Current Link: Parent-centered caregiving has intensified, focusing on the child's holistic development. However, the persistence of control methods indicates tensions between child autonomy and parental authority.

  • The Stolen Kiss

    The Stolen Kiss
    During the 18th century, parents embraced a more hands-on approach to child-rearing, seeking to penetrate the child's mind and shape their internal world. The painting can symbolize the shift from external control, as seen in earlier modes, to a more internalized focus on the child's psyche. The parental figure in the artwork represents the intrusive nature of parenting during this period, where the goal was to guide and control the child's mental and emotional experiences.
  • Period: to

    Socializing Mode

    • Continued reduction in projection.
    • Emphasis on training, conformity, and socializing.
    • Dominant model for psychological theories (Freud, Skinner).
    • Fathers begin to take a more active role in child-rearing.
    Current Link: While socialization remains a crucial part of parenting, there is an increase in valuing individuality and diversity in childhood. More flexible, child-oriented approaches are explored.

  • Freudian Theory (Sigmund Freud)

    Freudian Theory (Sigmund Freud)
    Psychosexual Stages: Freud proposed that personality develops through a series of psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latent, genital), and successful navigation of these stages contributes to healthy personality development.

  • Behaviorism (B.F. Skinner)

    Behaviorism (B.F. Skinner)
    • Operant Conditioning: Skinner's operant conditioning theory emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. Parents, as influencers, use reinforcement (reward) and punishment to encourage or discourage specific behaviors in children.
    • Behavior Modification: Behaviorism advocates for modifying behavior through reinforcement strategies. In the context of child-rearing, this involves rewarding desirable behaviors and punishing undesirable ones.
  • Period: to

    Helping mode

    • Child seen as knowing its needs better than the parent.
    • Both parents fully involved in empathizing and fulfilling child's needs.
    • No attempt at discipline or habit formation.
    • Results in a gentle, sincere, strong-willed child unintimidated by authority.
    Current Link: Helping-based parenting is an emerging phenomenon, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of child autonomy and mutual respect. Traditional disciplinary practices are questioned.

  • Empathy and Understanding

    Empathy and Understanding
    Through open communication and shared experiences, parents in the Helping Mode embrace the philosophy that children inherently know what they need at each stage of their lives

  • Parental responsiveness

    Parental responsiveness
    Parental responsiveness, one of the dimensions of parenting style (Maccoby and Martin, 1983), refers to “the extent to which parents intentionally foster individuality, self-regulation, and self-assertion by being attuned, supportive, and acquiescent to children’s special needs and demands” (Baumrind, 1991, p. 66). This type of responsiveness emphasizes that parents attend to and respond to children’s needs.
  • Period: to

    Current Social Moment

    • Transition towards a more child-centric approach.
    • Increasing awareness of children's rights and well-being.
    • Psychological theories continue to evolve, considering childhood experiences.
    Ongoing debates on parenting styles and educational approaches reflect a society seeking to balance parental authority with respect for the child's individuality and needs. Parenting is conceived as collaboration rather than unilateral control.

  • Child-centric approach

    Child-centric approach
    Recognizing the importance of play in a child's development, the Child-Centric Approach incorporates playful learning. Communication is open and transparent, allowing the child to express themselves freely. Unlike authoritative modes, the Child-Centric Approach respects the child's autonomy and encourages them to express their thoughts and make age-appropriate decisions