Discuss both Jacob’s and Patrick’s reaction to the “mean monkey.”

Both Jacob and Patrick’s reaction to the “mean monkey” experiment were different. Jacob who was a little younger than Patrick could not understand why the monkey kept taking the sticker he wanted. The psychologist told him many times that the monkey will take the sticker that he wants and not care if Jacob gets upset, Jacob had many opportunities to try and persuade or trick the monkey into taking a different sticker. Patrick on the other hand was a little older than Jacob. Patrick is able to figure out why people think different than others. Patrick was able to little to the psychologist and hear that the monkey will take the sticker that Patrick liked, unless Patrick was able to persuade the monkey. Indeed, Patrick was able to persuade the monkey and he ended up tricking the monkey and getting the sticker that he really wanted and the monkey getting the sticker that Patrick really didn’t want.

What stage would Erickson say each child is in?

Jacob- Early Childhood (1-3) Autonomy vs. shame. Jacob has acceptance of the cycle of life, from integration to disintegration.

Patrick- Play Age (3-6) Initiative vs. guilt. Humor; empathy; resilience.

How do these different stages influence their values and attitudes?

These different stages influence their values and attitudes because each stage tells you a different part of the child. When children become autonomous like Jacob they feel confident that they can make their choices on their own, and that every time they make these choices they will have a positive experience. They don’t know that something may not go their way and there is a chance they won’t get what they want. When it comes to Patrick and children develop initiative they are continuing to develop their confidence and self-esteem, but at the same time they are starting to take consequences for their choices and when the consequences come into play children start to learn that they don’t always get what they want, and if they want something they have to really think about it; just like Patrick had to trick the mean monkey.

Do you think it is possible for a child over the age of three to have trouble understanding that his or her beliefs can be false?

Yes, I believe that it’s possible for a child over the age of three to have trouble understand that their belief can be false. It all comes down to the microsystems having the biggest influence on a young child. What children believe in comes directly from the parents, siblings and teachers. So when you are hearing all your life to believe something and that’s that, you learn to accept this. After believing this your whole life, it can come to a surprise to a child to find out that you do truly have a mind of your own, and that not everyone thinks the same. Patrick definitely has this mind set, and Jacob is still trying to find out who he is and what he actually believes in.

RESPOND IN 50 WORDS OR MORE.

Include how you would explain to a child how his or her beliefs could be incorrect. Give specific examples that would be appropriate for a three- to five-year-old child.