The development of the concept of group

Abstract

Human infants do not play competitive games, do not enter primary relations, and do not interact meaningfully beyond the dyadic state (DeFleur 1966; Parten, Newhall 1943; Baldwin 1955; Maier 1965). There is no agreement on a chronological age when complex abstract concepts of social relations begin to develop. Some say it is from ages 6 to 8 (DeFleur 1966; Vinacke 1954) or 8 to 10 (Sullivan 1953). Piaget believes that conceptual development in children occurs in ordinal rather than interval stages (Flavell 1963). If there is movement in conceptual development, it may be possible to measure it and to indicate its direction. Persons may be arranged along the continuum of no concept to complete concept in relative positions based on such limiting factors as chronological age, mental age, social expectation and social opportunity