Children's Construction of Society in Mizo and Delhi Cultures

ABSTRACT

Mizo and Delhi children between the ages of 3 and 8 years responded to queries that emerged from six contexts, three of which were real contexts and three other pretense contexts. The study tested if young children from different cultures understand pretense and reality situations and know the use of children’s reference to self, others, significant others and self with others in their narratives of reality and pretense contexts. Content analysis of the children’s narratives revealed that children from both cultures were similar in their reference to self, others, significant others and self with other. However, the reference to self and others differed in the reality and pretense contexts of both groups of children.

Findings indicate processes in children that differ in the pretense and reality situations. Furthermore, developmental differences indicate that this ability improves with age and sustains the effects of peer culture that has similarly influenced both groups of children.