Skip to main content
Log in

Self-concept and mother-concept in black and white preschool children

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Utilizing objective psychological assessment instruments and projective techniques, measures of self-concept and mother-concept were obtained from young black children and white children. No significant differences were found between the self-concepts and mother-concepts of these two groups of children. As predicted, there was significant positive association between the self-concept and mother-concept in both groups. Consideration was given to contradictions between the present findings, plus some from other recent studies, and certain views presented in the older psychological literature. The need for longitudinal studies of self-esteem was emphasized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hall CS, Lindzey G:Theories of Personality. New York, Wiley, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Erikson EH:Childhood and Society. New York, Norton, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sullivan HS:The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry. New York, Norton, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  4. McCandless BR:Children: Behavior and Development. New York, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clark KB, Clark MP: Racial identification and preference in young children. In TM Newcomb and EL Hartley (Eds),Readings in Social Psychology. New York, Holt, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Baughman EE:Black Americans. New York, Academic Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Grambs JD: The self-concept: Basis for reeducation of Negro youth. In WC Kvaraceus, JS Gibson, F Patterson, B Seasholes, and JD Grambs (Eds),Negro Self-Concept: Implications for School and Citizenship. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Grier WH, Cobbs PM:Black Rage. New York, Basic Books, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bellak L:The Thematic Apperception Test and the Children's Apperception Test in Clinical Use. New York, Grune & Stratton, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Davids A, Lawton MJ: Self-concept, mother-concept, and food aversions in emotionally disturbed and normal children.J Abn Soc Psychol 62:309–14, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Clark KB: The pathos of power: A psychological perspective.Amer Psychol 26:1047–57, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  12. McDonald RL, Gynther MD: Relationship of self and ideal-self descriptions with sex, race, and class in southern adolescents.J Pers Soc Psychol 1:85–88, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Coopersmith S:The Antecedents of Self-Esteem. San Francisco, Freeman, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The author appreciates the assistance of Katie Ahern, Jean Bessette, and Nancy Dadekhian who administered the tests and assisted with the data analyses while enrolled in an undergraduate course on experimental child psychology at Brown University.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davids, A. Self-concept and mother-concept in black and white preschool children. Child Psych Hum Dev 4, 30–43 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01434182

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01434182

Keywords

Navigation