Impact of Imaginary Friends on Child Development

Impact of Imaginary Friends on Child Development Introduction Childhood is a stage that is distinct and abundantly filled with cognitive, emotional and physical changes. During this period in a human life, wonder, innocence and imagination are rampant. Many skills and lessons are learned that will assist with the course the childs future will follow. This could be described as one of the most essential periods for the development of the individual they will eventually become. Some scholars have questioned whether each individual has a core self. Using some examples of the research of George Mead and John Hewitt- among others- it reveals that there are key aspects of the self that are developed by interactions within cultures and those inner communities. For some children there is a period of time where an imaginary friend is an essential part of this course of self-development. It is difficult to say if the presence of an imaginary friend is something that comes from the core self or if it arises after a certain amount of socialization. I will examine the presence of imaginary friends in younger children lives, specifically those within the preschool years. My intention is to explore the function(s) these imaginary friends might accomplish in the development of the role, identity and self within the child. DISCUSSION One concept came from work done by George Herbert Mead, who is one of the leading theorists dealing with work of symbolic interactionism and the development of the self. His work established concepts of position, play, game, and other basic theories based on relationships between the self and societal impact. Meads stages of development seem to rest entirely upon relations with others. Mead (1934) saw the self as something which ripens and results from associations with other individuals. One of his theories, the double, is signified by the establishment of the self as an entity. Some experiences can lead to the birth of a double and can be represented by imaginary friends created by the child, and which allows them to control their experiences through play. He suggested that entities are formed by human activity. The goals of those activities have two important inferences; people live in a world of objects and societal conduct is oriented to goals and purposes. (Hewitt, 2003). When one recognizes his/her self as an object, involvement in societal interaction is possible. (Mead, 1934) Another key factor in Meads theory is the development of the generalized other which-he believes- is vital in the maturity of the self. His concept of the generalized other is like a performance, a viewpoint that a person must creatively assume in order to take into account the formation of his/her own conduct which is created with principles, expectations and ideas influenced by the members of a particular societal group (Hewitt, 2003). The game and play stage must be passed through to reach full development. The play stage is identified as a period a child learns to take the identities of others and pretends about being the other. This developmental period, known as the play stage, allows the child to assume the role of another person and imagines him/herself to become that person, trying to assume and foresee what he/she imagines the other person might do.(Handel, 1988). During this stage, very important abilities are acquired; the development of role understanding, the capability to assume the status of others, the sharpened sense of one as an entity, and the ability to establish boundaries within that roleit is a phase a child will discover and expand insight of themselves and others. During this era, a child can learn and increase their understanding of their entire universe, including themselves. While the play stage usually correlates to the time frame children have imaginary companions it is essential to have a complete understanding of the next stage, the game stage. The essential difference between the play and the game stage is that in the latter the child must comprehend the attitude of all the others involved in that game (Mead, 1934). Advancement to the game stage is when children can incorporate and think about not only their accomplishments but identify with the actions of others. This awareness comes from interactions with other people. After the game stage has passed the child has arrived, optimistically, at the point they are able to have formed a generalized other and can imagine themselves as another entity, whether it be a person or society. The development of a generalized other and obtaining a sense of roles and boundaries is extremely important in becoming a successful individual within society. Children do not strictly follow the socialization that they are exposed to; asserting ones autonomy is one way of establishing their independence and separation from others. It appears that imaginary friends can help to serve this role. The exact way that an imaginary friend is manifested is unknown-however, much research has been performed on this topic but there is no argument that it is a creation belonging to and originated by the child alone. Marjorie Taylor (1999), a psychologist who has studied children and their imaginary friends, does affirm that typically, an imaginary companion is an excellent example of a private act of fantasy controlled by the child him or herself. The imaginary friend cannot be seen, interacted with or known without the aid of the child. It is a complete product and interaction that belongs solely to the child. There are also signs that even quite young children never completely loose touch with the fantasy status of their imaginary companions (Taylor, 1999). A child who has an imaginary friend is a common phenomenon and does not automatically result from psychological problems or neglect. However, it should be noted that situations, such as psychological issues and/or neglect should not be overlooked when assessing a child with an imaginary friend. Imaginary friends can serve various positive objectives in areas of the childs development. An imaginary friend could aid in creating feelings of importance, power, confidence, and could possibly lead to a greater acceptance of the self. Having an imaginary friend is one of the first independent acts separating the child from his/her mother or the childs primary caretaker. One of the endearing things about imaginary companions is that children can boss them around, direct their activities, and dictate their communication with others. There are a few case studies suggesting that if childrens sense of control over imaginary companions is diminished, the pretend friend sometimes disappears (Taylor, 1999). This interaction can assist a child to exercise his/her autonomy and develop more individual interaction skills. A second function of imaginary friends is the ability to assist the child develop stronger social boundaries. Several scholars consider the importance of imaginary friends to be a catalyst for development. Commonly, imaginary friends offer an outlet which a child can use both reality and fantasy to learn right and wrong as well as what is acceptable in the context of different roles. Machin wrote: fantasy allows children to contemplate moral and social issues at a safe distance in the land of make believe (Machin Davies, 2003). An imaginary friend could possibly be an agent between fantasy and reality and an instrument with which the child can explore their boundaries. One indicator that imaginary friends might be representative of children becoming autonomous is that they usually do share the information with their parents. Research has shown that although the parents lack of knowledge regarding their childs imaginary friend does not automatically come from the childs refusal to reveal information about their friend. An imaginary friend could possibly be a means a child uses to differentiate between fantasy and reality and an instrument with which the child can explore their boundaries. Children learn through the responses of others and that their behaviors have consequences (Handel, 1988). A childs creation of an imaginary world also offers an alternate place where children can learn about the needs, feelings, and expectations of others. Discovering about roles and societal boundaries and expectations from imaginary friends could possibly tie into the transition between Meads play and game stages, bridging the gap between the play and game stage since the child not only interacts with the imaginary friend but also exhibits its reactions and thoughts. It is complicated to identify if imaginary friends serve a positive function in a childs development of sense of self, role acquisition, and identity based on this research. Research of prior studies led to my theory that imaginary friends may serve with developing identity in children and assist the child learn societal boundaries. The growth of these characteristics in a child usually results in their ability to function well when interacting with others, allows a certain level of confidence in themselves, and provides a level of independence and/or willingness which will assist the child to implement their autonomy. Fundamentally, it appears that imaginary friends offer those that have them a chance to find structure in a non traditional fashion. According to many previous studies, approximately one third of all children between the ages of two and a half to four years of age have one or more imaginary friends and they tend to be more frequent among females. Some in the academic community, as well as, many within the general public do regard the existence of imaginary friends as a wonderful manifestation on the part of the child and will engage in dialogue and recognition of the imaginary friends. However, at the same time as there are those that acknowledge imaginary friends, there are many that do not think that the existence of an imaginary friend presents a positive influence or role in the childs development. It has been noted that the existence of an imaginary friend can actually cause tension within a family due to accommodations to involve this imaginary friend of their childs in family activities. Many parents are also cynical of the imaginary friend due to the possibility that the child may use the imaginary friend as a defense for the child to blame bad behavior upon. However, the suggestion that using the imaginary friend as an excuse is not certain. The most widespread characterization of an imaginary friend is an invisible character, named and referred to in conversation with other persons or played with directly for a period of time, having an air of reality for the child but no apparent objective basis (Taylor, 199) A greater part of imaginary friends take human form, have names, and are believed to really see, think, feel, know or act. Imaginary friends have been depicted as having a high level of importance to the children that still have them and/or to the adults that had them during childhood and these imaginary friends continue to typically complete some sort of nurturing function. Since many of these companions take on traits that are part of a childs daily interaction, one could suggest that these friends are influenced by the social world of the child and also serve to help the child develop more ways of learning how to interact. In addition, connecting with a friend, whether imaginary or not; a child is establishing their concept as an entity. This is important for social interaction and learning about human conduct, expectations and societal boundaries. Imaginary friends serve several levels of companionship functions that divert the child when out with a parent and/or caregiver, desiring play and social interactions, or situations when carrying out day-to-day routines. Some visits from the imaginary friend are very rare, while other times the appearance of the imaginary friend is a daily occurrence. Some children actually engage and play games with their friends while other children will just talk to the friend. One child (me) had their imaginary friend present during a move which correlates to the idea that an imaginary friend can be used as a means to adjust and learn about new situations. It appears these imaginary friends help those who had them- in some way- and performed some beneficial purpose. Though the capacity to evaluate this question would be incredibly difficult, it would be valuable to study where imaginary friends come from and how and why they are created. More research needs to be done with children who currently have an imaginary friend and in a way that information could then be compared and contrasted between those children with imaginary friends and those children without imaginary friends. On the other hand, while it may be ideal to explore this issue further, there are drawbacks to studying children. When interviews are being performed with children, it is uncertain that what they are answering is actually what we are asking them. Additionally, when dealing with imaginary friends and pretend play there is the added component of the childs ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Unfortunately, there is no way to approach this issue which would be infallible. CONCLUSION Mead was accurate when he alluded to the fact that imaginary friends play a significant role in the development of the self. There are no blatantly bad indicators that imaginary friends are harmful. Nevertheless, there still exist many negative perceptions, both in research as well as within the general public. These perceptions link imaginary friends to problems later in life, ranging from unacceptable social behavior to forms of mental illness, including psychosis. It must be noted, there are cases where this link can be found, however, these cases include indicators of other problems, mental, emotional or physical. This culture is has become overly dependant on exposure to the media. Imaginary friends are quite often used for entertainment purposes and are frequently misrepresented. Taylor contends that imaginary friends are framed in a negative light; however, not every aspect of media portrayal is negative. Overall the media-meaning movies, books, etc. tends to over-exaggerate circumstances and highlight the negative aspects. Earlier work has shown the opposite and my findings from this research indicate that imaginary friends, more likely than not, could boost childhood development, confidence levels and establish stronger boundaries. Furthermore, while performing and compiling my research on this controversial topic, I have found that more information exists to support that the existence of an imaginary friend can assist a child deal with a myriad of issues and situations that may not be successfully dealt with and/or overcome without the assistance of an imaginary friend.

Bicyclists and Motorcyclists Should Be Required By Law To Wear Helmets Essay

Due to the rising cost of gasoline all over the world more and more people are looking into alternative forms of transportation. Using your car these days is heavy on the budget because the amount of a full tank of gasoline will effectively feed a family for at least a week. This is why the cost efficient forms of transportation, bicycles and motorcycles have been emerging as more popular and cost-effective ways of transportation. There is one drawback though, these are also the 2 most dangerous forms of transportation for an individual.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Riding a bicycle or a motorcycle exposes the rider to various kinds of dangers on the way to his destination. One has to admit that it is very easy to turn turtle and hurl off a bicycle while getting pinned under a motorcycle is a reality that all riders have to face. Since nothing can be done about the injuries below the neck, and considering that an EMT on the way to the hospital can usually give emergency treatment to these injuries, the injuries to the head will instantly kill the rider. This is why both motorcyclists should be required by law to wear a helmet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I believe that this is a non-negotiable issue because it pertains to saving the life of a rider. I will agree that helmets can be uncomfortable when worn. It is hot, heavy, and tends to get smelly after a while. But it is that hot, heavy, and stinky piece of protective gear that always saves lives. Just like a seatbelt does in cars. Discomfort is a small price to pay if it means preserving your life in dire accident situations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The father of my best friend died in a motorcycle accident because he was not wearing his helmet. He had crashed his motorcycle into a car on the opposite side of the road when he lost control of the motorcycle. If only he were wearing the helmet, he would not have cracked his skull on the pavement when he hit the ground. He had no other injuries so he should have survived. The helmet spelled the difference.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Personally, I had an accident on my mountain bike a few months back. It flew right from under me during a rocky downhill ride in the mountains. I tumbled farther than my bike did but survived the fall with only a few bruises and deep cuts. The helmet I was wearing took most of the blow. It is all cracked now and I had to replace it. I still keep it displayed on my shelf as a conversation piece. To remind people I know of that share the same or similar activities about why it is important to wear a helmet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If lawmakers would only take the time to talk to the survivors of such accidents, they will come to realize why laws such as these are important and have to be implemented. The rising cost of gasoline should not mean the rising body count on our streets either.

Find Out Whos Worried About Conclusion Sentence and Why You Should Be Paying Attention

Find Out Who's Worried About Conclusion Sentence and Why You Should Be Paying Attention The Dirty Truth About Conclusion Sentence In the event the initial text has no typos and errors, then generated conclusion will be ideal when it comes to grammar. Aside from that, each simple block needs to have the conclusion sentence. You may use a concluding sentence to state how you'd like to find things change later on. Writing Concluding Sentences Most individuals think TV shows are purely entertainment, but they can likewise be informational. Physical punishment may be a beneficial process of discipline. Very good sentence starters are particular to an intended function. The penalties are heavy to tolerate. Turn and tell your partner another instance of a last sentence. Conclusion Sentence Ideas There are several cheap customized essay writing companies. You must pay money beforehand and indicate the deadlines. There's no guarantee that we'll approve your application. You can easily locate them online. Writing isn't only a means to communicate, it's a tool for expressing your ideas and exploring new ideas. Also, you are going to need a transition word to produce readers understand you're going to conclude. Readers invest a great deal of time and emotions in your writings, so it's your duty to offer appropriate closure. Your readers ought to be at ease once they finish reading your writings. There are lots of different sorts of essays, which means that your conclusion will vary between each category. Today, finding a conclusion paragraph isn't that challenging. In the event the sentence is meant for commentary, then utilize commentary sentence starters. Compiling to a suitable conclusion is impossible without two or three steps. When you're writing a superb conclusion paragraph, you must consider the most important point that you would like to acquire across and be sure it's included. A concluding sentence ought to be an overview of the former discussion, not incorporate any new info. The expression conclusion denotes the end component of a bit of writing. An effective conclusion is thorough and elaborative, it gives a very clear and robust idea regarding the entire text. If you should finish your paper, it's far better to use automated conclusion builder. Many writers don't realize that it closes out the last thoughts about the subject on which they're writing. Consider any ideas you might have skirted around but didn't make an immediate statement about. You submit a claim in the subject of the essay, and it's your job as an author to supply hard evidence in support of your point within the body of your essay. You can locate a very good essay writing company to direct you through the essay writing process. Summary paragraph generator might be helpful for every single student Regardless of the academic level or the intricacy of the topic, our conclusion sentence generator will make a well-summarized end that is likely to make your essay perfect. Ending an essay with similar scenario might help to demonstrate your point and make a better understanding. At length, it's highly advised that you make the most of professional writing help to produce your essay generally engaging and irresistible to the admission committee, not just in using fantastic sentence starters but in all facets. The Meaning of Conclusion Sentence The way a particular algorithm works is set by the kind of summarization that the tool performs. On the flip side, human-aided machine summarization methods act in a reverse way. Modern-day summarization tools are capable of delivering a good result no matter the text's comp lexity and the duration of summary you wish to get. All automated summary tools rely on a particular algorithm to create the desired outcome. All you have to do is to underline the text that you want to outline and paste it in the box on the ideal generator. Our writers are highly qualified in the area of writing. Your strongest point ought to be revealed in the last body paragraph. You also summarize once again your key points of your entire essay.

Type 2 Diabetes A Growing Epidemic - 1775 Words

Lillian Soo Constance Farley ENGL101 MW 5:00 17 April 2017 Type 2 diabetes: A Growing Epidemic Many types of chronic diseases can have major tolls on individuals and their families. According to Merriam Webster, chronic is described as â€Å"Continuing or occurring again and again for a long time†. For many Americans chronic and acute diseases are a reality. As stated by Medicine.net, an acute disease is â€Å"Of abrupt onset, about a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness that is of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care.† Chronic disease is defined as â€Å"A disease that persists for a long time. A chronic disease is one lasting 3 months or more† (â€Å"Medical†). One very common chronic disease is type 2 diabetes. This†¦show more content†¦First, extreme fatigue may occur in individuals with type 2 diabetes because the body is being tremendously deprived of sugar which is fuel for the body thus causing sleepiness and even irritability (â€Å"Symptoms†). Second, t his condition can also cause increase thirst and frequent urination. According to the Mayo Clinic this occurs because â€Å"Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues.†. Third, increased hunger may occur because your body is not producing enough insulin to distribute sugar throughout, the muscles and organs become depleted of energy (â€Å"Symptoms†). Fourth, the condition affects the way the body can heal and protect itself from multiple types of infections. Fifth, blurred vision is common because when the body’s blood sugar is too high it pulls fluids from the eyes causing blurred and unfocused vision. The sixth symptom that may occur is tingling, numbness, or pain can occur in the hands or feet because the body’s tiny blood vessels are being exposed to excess sugar which can lead injury leading to the sensation of tingling, numbness, or pain in the tips of the fingers or toes (â€Å"Symptoms†). 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