Final answer:
Self-esteem often declines during middle childhood due to the increased importance of peer acceptance and comparison. Negative experiences and the perception of not measuring up can contribute to a drop in self-confidence, especially as children enter the developmental stage of industry versus inferiority as well as during the physical developments of adolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-esteem typically declines during middle childhood, which covers the ages of six to ten years. Peer acceptance plays a crucial role in this phenomenon as children in this age group begin to compare themselves more with others. When children do not feel accepted by their peers, or when they perceive themselves as not measuring up to their classmates in various abilities and qualities, they can experience a decline in self-esteem.
The developmental stage of industry versus inferiority, coined by Erikson, emphasizes the importance of acquiring a sense of competence and belief in oneself during this crucial period of a child's life. The transition into adolescence also brings about re-evaluation of self-concept as teenagers begin comparing physical development among their peers.
During the elementary school stage, children are developing their sense of self and are highly influenced by their successes and failures. Positive reinforcement from parents, teachers, and peers can help foster self-confidence and a belief in their abilities.
Conversely, negative experiences, teasing, or lack of inclusion can lead to poor body image and low self-esteem. This is compounded by physical developments in adolescence that may lead late bloomers to feel inferior to their earlier maturing peers.