Child Development: Latency
The period of latency is characterized by
indifference to sexually related matters. During this
time, the child's identification with the parent of his
own sex becomes stronger. The child imitates his or
her behavior -- speech, gestures, mannerisms, as well
as beliefs and value systems. The child also
incorporates more and more of the beliefs and values of
his culture. Thus, the super-ego is developing to a
greater extent. (It began to develop during the late
anal and phallic stages. The child comes to
distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable
behavior in his society.
The period of latency is also marked by the fact
that children seek associations ( or playmates) of
their own sex. Boys prefer the company of boys and
consciously avoid girls. Girls prefer contact with
other girls and avoid boys. This period of sexual
latency lasts five years, from ages six to eleven.
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