Discuss the View That Children’s Understanding of Friendship Is Determined Largely by Age. Refer to Evidence in Your Answer. (12 Marks)

Discuss the view that children’s understanding of friendship is determined largely by age. Refer to evidence in your answer. (12 marks)

There are many different definitions of friendship that have been developed by different theorists. Hartup said; Friendship is a relationship where there is attention, reciprocity and commandments between people who see themselves as equals. Smith et al’s definition was; a close relationship between 2 people, as indicated by their association together or their psychological attachment and trust.

Selman and Jaquette carried out a study to investigate different opinions about friendship. This included 225 individuals aged between 4 and 32 being interviewed about their friendships. The results showed that 3-7 year olds thought that a friend was a partner in physical interaction, 4-9 year olds saw friends as a one way assistant to a child’s needs. 6-12 year olds said that it’s a reciprocal relationship with some idea of other persons needs; 9-15 year olds say that friendship is about intimate relationships, vey clos tending to jealousy and possessiveness ‘an in-group of two’. Lastly 12-adults say friendship is without the extreme intensity – autonomous interdependence. This concludes that as you get older the nature of friendship changes.

This study however relies on interview data where observations of friendships and behaviours may be more appropriate and valid. People may not tell the truth in interviews; also there are issues of reliability, as younger children may not understand the question or people may interpret it in different ways.

Damon (1977) also carried out research to do with age related differences in the understanding of friendships. The method included children being interview and asked questions such as ‘tell me about your best friend’ or ‘tell me a story about two children who are friends’. The context of the replies was then analysed and categorized into 3 levels of understanding. The results showed...