Development of Self-Concept in Afro-American Children
Jeanne Spurlock M.D.1
1 The American Psychiatric Association, 1400 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005
Studies of self-concept in Afro American children differ in their findings according to whether the research was conducted before or after the civil rights movement of the 1960s. While the earlier studies reported that the Afro-Americans had lower self-esteem than Caucasians, studies conducted aften the height of the civil rights movement do not support that finding. The development of self-concept in Afro-American children is influenced by the strengths and weaknesses of the family, extended family, or community; individual perceptions of untoward events or environments; and the ability to devise mechanisms to ward off threats to self-esteem. The author stresses that those who study self-esteem among Afro-Americans should examine developmental processes within the individual's social context and reference groups rather than from the perspective of the dominant group.
