Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2008):

[Differences in doll play of four-year old children of different ethnic groups]

(Unterschiede im Spielverhalten von Vierjährigen aus unterschiedlichen ethnischen Gruppen.)

Full Abstract

In its psychological development, the child learns social-emotional competences in order to be able to cope with conflicts. Since ethnic diversity increases due to globalization, the influence of the ethnic background on the social competence children development must be investigated furthermore. The present study examines the differences of the social-emotional competences of children of various ethnic groups. To track the social-emotional competence in play, 84 Asian-American, Latin-American and African-American kindergarteners (age = 4) were tested with the Mac Arthur Story Stem Battery and the attachment representation using the Attachment Doll Play manual. There were significant differences in the avoidance of conflict, empathic and moral themes in problem-solving among the ethnic groups. Furthermore, according to ethnic background the children significantly differed in the dimensions of attachment representation, freezing/blocking, constriction and controlling. Since ethnically specific social competence, attachment dimensions and their inter-correlation were found, the children started Kindergarten with differing qualifications. There are indications that the differences in attachment accentuations in children call for ethnic differences in social competence and interpretations of social situations in adults and children.

Author information

Author/s: Petrowski, Katja (K); Joraschky, Peter (P); Juen, Florian (F); Benecke, Cord (C); Cierpka, Manfred (M);

Affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Dresden. katja.petrowski(-atsign-)mailbox.tu-dresden.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie (Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr), published in Germany. (Language: ger)

Reference: 2009-; vol 58 (issue 4) : pp 297-309

Dates: Created 2009/06/02; Completed 2009/07/07;

PMID: 19485097, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 7/24/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

California Child, Preschool Conflict (Psychology) Cross-Cultural Comparison Defense Mechanisms Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology Empathy Ethnic Groups - psychology

Female Humans Interview, Psychological Male Moral Development Object Attachment Social Adjustment Socialization

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

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