Fitting In or Standing Out? Conformity in Childhood

Disabled Mother's Challenges (03:48)
Alison, born without arms and with very short legs, learns to accept her condition and shuns artificial limbs. Her son Paris is born normal. At age 6, how aware is Paris of his mother's differences?

Why Children Conform (02:54)
In his second year of school, Paris chooses to be more like his classmates in the choices he makes, e.g., he eats only white bread because his classmates do. Paris chooses to be part of the crowd, and he prefers not to stand out.

Identical Twins/Separate Identities (03:58)
Identical twins are unable to recognize themselves in photographs. At age 6 the twins begin to notice differences between them. At school, they have separate identities.

Diabetic Child in School (03:58)
Jamie, at age 6, believes that all people should be alike--an unusual concept for most children. At age 4, Jamie is diagnosed with diabetes. His condition is something the whole family must adjust to. At school, he and his classmates accept his condition.

Children and Compassion (04:33)
In a test to check Jamie's tolerance for diversity in others, he demonstrates compassion and acceptance for all differences. Helen, raised without friends or siblings, wants to exclude everyone who is different.

Solitary Childhood: Increased Imagination (02:17)
Helena, born 4 months premature, spent her childhood apart from other children, until she entered school. She plays by herself, taking on different fantasy roles. Helena's imagination is better than most children, but her social skills are unpolished.

Sibling Rivalry: What Happens When a New Baby Arrives (04:08)
Het, raised in both the Indian and white community, has the undivided attention of her parents--until baby brother arrives. Het feels rejected and becomes withdrawn. She has difficulties at school and is no longer the social butterfly she once was.

Non-Conformist Parent (06:06)
Parents give their opinions about wanting to stand out or to conform. The only non-conformist among the parents is Alison, who was born without arms and very short legs. She and her 7-year-old son endure ten days of media coverage.

Sibling as Teacher and Guide (03:44)
Jamie, diagnosed with diabetes at age 4, has followed and copied his older brother since he was a toddler. Brother Robert takes it upon himself to teach Jamie how to play sports, how to make things, and generally guides him through life.

Peer Pressure and Self-Confidence (03:03)
Het, who has become less confident since her baby brother's arrival, now accompanies her father as he campaigns for a council seat. Het shows more confidence and leadership qualities, and shows that she is willing to speak her mind.

Only Child in Social Settings (03:52)
Helena, raised with no other children around, may choose to conform because of her poor eyesight. She is also less confident about how to behave in groups. She is leaning how to deal with boys in her class.

Identical Twins/Different Natures (03:55)
Identical twins Alex and Ivo play differently. Alex only does things with his male friends. Ivo is less particular and plays with children of different ages and gender. He also displays more nurturing behavior than Alex.

Testosterone: Can It Explain Behavioral Differences? (01:45)
Identical twins Alex and Ivo display different behavior in terms of aggression and nurturing. They are tested for testosterone levels in their blood. They may be in different hormonal stages.

A Boy's Need to Conform (02:33)
Paris, son of a disabled mother, displays conformist behavior around his friends. His non-conformist mother wants to encourage him to be more of himself, to accept himself without the need for group approval.

Identical Twins: Different Behaviors (01:34)
Laboratory test results on identical twins who display different behavior towards traditionally male and female roles, have exactly the same amount of testosterone levels. They will find their way into expanding groups of children as they separate from each other.

Adjusting to Family Dynamics (02:38)
Het is coming to terms with her new baby brother. After 4 months of special attention from her father, she seems less shy and more self-confident in the new family dynamics.

Social Life at School (02:32)
Helena, raised without other children around her, has learned to temper her individuality to fit in better with her social group at school. She has also made a best friend.