Self-discrepancies and perceived peer acceptance.

We examined developmental changes in the self and the relationship between such changes and perceived peer acceptance in a sample of 414 6- to 11-year-old Australian children (211 boys, 203 girls) who completed a self-discrepancy scale and a perceived peer acceptance scale specifically constructed for this study. Resulting scores suggested that critical periods in developmental changes in the structure of the self occur at about 7 to 8 years and that a relationship exists between the reporting of a comparative large number and a larger size of discrepancies and a perception of lack of peer acceptance.