Adolescent Psychology Chapter 8: Families Lecture 1

Today we will discuss… Family processes Parenting styles Parent-adolescent relationship

Family Parent - adolescent relationships vary considerably. Researchers are finding that for the most part, the relationships are: Very important aspects of development More positive than once thought.

How does a family work? Reciprocal Socialization: process by which children & adolescents socialize parents, just as parents socialize them Not a one-way process Family as a System Social system Constellation of subsystems (gender, role, generation) Each member is a participant in several subsystems Reciprocal causality Family as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts Interdependence

Family as a System dyadic (involving two people) Divisions of labor among family members define particular subunits & attachments define others. Subsystems dyadic (involving two people) polyadic (involving more than two people) father - adolescent -- dyadic subsystem mother - father (parental subsystem) dyadic mother - father - adolescent -- polyadic subsystem

Interaction Between Adolescents & Their Parents (Direct & Indirect Effects)

Does the Marital Relationship effect Parenting? Yes!!! Nothing in a system can operate in isolation All parts are connected, what affects one part will have an affect on all other parts of a system Studies show happily married parents are more Sensitive, responsive, warm, & affectionate with their children Supported as parents (by their partner) Marital satisfaction is related to good parenting!

Family Processes: How do we construct relationships? Psychoanalysts -- Freud Current explanations No longer include Freud’s psycho-sexual stages No longer are limited to the 1st 5 years of life. Developmental Construction Views These views share the belief that as individuals grow up they acquire modes of relating to others There are two main variations Continuity view: emphasizes the role of early parent-child relationships (Bowlby) Attachment research supports this view; quality and nature of relating Discontinuity view: changes in relationships over time; different types of relationships

Maturation…A Dual Process? Adolescent Changes Parental Changes Puberty expanded logical reasoning increased idealistic thought Idealistic parent… violated expectations changes in schooling peers, friendships Dating movement toward independence marital satisfaction economic burdens career reevaluation time perspective health & body concerns

Parental Maturation continued… Delayed childbearing allows for educational & occupational progress Marital relationship varies with timing of parenthood onset More egalitarian relationships, men participating in childcare & household tasks (30s) Older fathers: warmer, communicate better, encourage achievement, demand less, show less rejection with their children This is a sociohistorical change that has implications for developmental trajectories for many families. Multiple Developmental Trajectories: how they mesh is important

Parents as Managers & Guides Adolescents must develop the ability to make competent & independent decisions How do parents facilitate this development??? Managers of adolescents’ opportunities As monitors of adolescents’ social relationships As social initiators & arrangers (Parke & Buriel, 2006) Mothers are more likely than fathers to have a managerial role in parenting. Monitoring includes supervising adolescent’s choice of social settings, activities, & friends, as well as academic efforts. Linked with higher grades, lower sexual activity, less depression (2000). Voluntary disclosure (whereabouts, activities, friends) is linked to positive adjustment Older adolescent’s tend to disclose less and lie a bit more (Smetana & others, 2009) Willingness to disclose connected to responsive, positive parenting (authoritative)

Parenting Styles Parental competence Parents should not be punitive or aloof Parents must develop rules & be affectionate Consistency is of the utmost importance Parenting styles vary on dimensions… Accepting/responsive/ warm  rejecting/unresponsive/ cold Controlling/ demanding  undemanding Diana Baumrind (1971, 1991) Emphasized 4 styles of parenting: Authoritarian: restrictive & punitive; no room for discussion Often anxious about social comparison, socially incompetent, fail to initiate, poor communication skills Authoritative: encourages independence, yet sets limits & controls Socially competent Neglectful: parent is uninvolved, other parts of parents lives are more important Socially incompetent, associated with adolescent lack of self-control Indulgent: parents are highly involved, yet they place little or no demands or controls on them – warm with few restraints (myth)  creative & confident

Fourfold Scheme of Parenting Styles

Authoritative Parenting Style Best?? Appropriate balance between control & autonomy Allow adolescents to develop independence while providing guidance that adolescents need More likely to engage in verbal give-and-take; leading to development of social competencies Warmth & parental involvement make adolescent more receptive to parents

Criticism of “Parenting Styles” Parenting styles do not capture the important themes of reciprocal socialization & synchrony (Collins & Steinberg, 2006) Parenting style may vary by ethnicity Authoritarian parenting used more often by AA, Latino, and Asian Americans Most research indicates that authoritative produces higher levels of social competence across ethnicity Some indication that some aspects of authoritarian style within context can have positive outcomes Parents use a combination of techniques. One technique may be dominant. Concept of parenting style is too broad more research needed to “unpack” parenting styles by studying various components that comprise the styles (Maccoby, 2007; Vazsonyi, Hibbert, & Snider, 2004).

Gender, Parenting, & Co-parenting The Mother’s Role Benefits as well as limitations. “motherhood”: warm, selfless, dutiful, tolerant Low prestige (gender roles) One of the most meaningful experiences of their lives. Mainly responsible for childrearing Often more involved The Father’s Role Has undergone major changes (Parke & Buriel, 2006) U.S. fathers are spending more time… vs. mothers ? (Parke & Buriel, 2006; Pleck & Masciadrelli, 2004) 1/3 to ¾ as much time as mothers Gender difference in parenting involvement occurs cross- culturally in U.S.(Yeung & others, 2001). Connection with stable father figure increase likelihood of finding stable employment (AA males), overcoming difficult circumstances less likely to become unwed parents, go to jail, experience depression 10% of economically disadvantaged children have a stable father figure

Co-parenting: “Partners in Parenting” Increase in research on co-parenting in last 2 decades Conditions that place children & adolescents at developmental risk (McHale & others, 2002): poor coordination active undermining & disparagement of the other parent lack of cooperation & warmth disconnection by one parenting partner Conditions that show clear ties to children’s & adolescents’ prosocial behavior & competence in peer relations (McHale & others, 2002): Parental solidarity Cooperation Warmth

Parent – Adolescent Conflict?? Most adolescents & their parents have similar beliefs about the value of hard work, achievement & career aspirations Most adolescents & their parents often have similar religious & political beliefs. Early adolescence is a time when parent-adolescent conflict escalates More conflict with mother than anyone else 20 - 25% of families engage in prolonged, intense, repeated, unhealthy conflict 20 -25% of families (4-5 million) encounter serious, highly stressful parent-adolescent conflict. This prolonged, intense conflict is associated with: moving away from home juvenile delinquency school dropout rates pregnancy & early marriage membership in religious cults drug abuse (Brook & others, 1990). Internalizing and externalizing behaviors Conflict before adolescents – oppositional children higher negative emotionality in children with low warmth and positive affect in mothers

Autonomy & Attachment Autonomy: generally means…self-direction & independence Emotional autonomy: the capacity to relinquish child-like dependencies on parents De-idealize their parents Perceive them as people Less dependent for emotional support Gender & Cultural Differences Transitions & Autonomy Adolescent Runaways

Autonomy & Attachment Autonomy: push for independence, normal in adolescence, can create conflict Emotional autonomy: capacity to relinquish childlike dependence on parents Attachment (Bowlby & Ainsworth) Secure attachment Infants use caregiver as a secure base from which to explore the environment Foundation for psychological development later in childhood, adolescence, & adulthood. Insecure attachment Infants either avoid the caregiver or show considerable resistance or ambivalence toward the caregiver. Related to difficulties in relationships and problems in later development. Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Main, & Kaplan, 1984). Individuals are classified as secure-autonomous or as being in one of three insecure categories: Dismissing/avoidant attachment Individuals deemphasize the importance of attachment Associated with rejection by caregivers Preoccupied/ambivalent attachment Hypertuned to attachment experiences May occur because parents are inconsistently available Unresolved/disorganized attachment Unusually high level of fear Disoriented Can result from traumatic experiences such as abuse or parent’s death

Importance of attachment… Parent-adolescent conflict & Attachment Old model: mature, detach, move into world of autonomy Intense conflict throughout adolescence New model: parents as attachment figures, adolescent explores world Moderate conflict during early adolescence is common Attachment in Adulthood View of self & others Securely attached Relationship satisfaction (trust, commitment & longevity) Give & receive support; self-esteem, integrated self-concept Optimistic, resilient Cognitive representation of security Insecurely attached Unwanted yet consensual sexual experiences Relationship conflict Attachment is relatively stable; there is the capacity to change thinking/bx