The Effect of Parents on the Self-Appraisals of Children

We examine the reflected appraisal process as it applies to the effects of parents on the self-appraisals of children. Fourth through seventh grade children evaluated themselves in the areas of academics, athletics and physical attractiveness. Comparisons of these appraisals to parental appraisals indicate that mothers and fathers are just as favorable in their judgments of children as the children are themselves, and in the case of physical attractiveness, they are more favorable. Parents' appraisals have effects on self-appraisals, except in the area of physical attactiveness. Parents tend to have a stronger influence on a child of the opposite sex.