A Virtual Field Trip Through the World of the Adolescent VIRTUAL TEENAGER A Virtual Field Trip Through the World of the Adolescent

OBJECTIVES To identify, define, and discuss milestones of adolescent development in each of the three domains. To reflect on personal milestones from this stage, and compare and contrast experiences with relevant information from the text. To accurately apply information from the text to observed behaviors. To analyze the ways in which culture, gender, and other environmental factors affect development at this stage.

THE BIOSOCIAL WORLD OF THE TEENAGER One of the major dilemmas faced by adolescents is the struggle with body image. Three factors tend to influence how the teenager feels about her/his body: Pubertal changes Peer acceptance Media images Visit the KidsHealth website to read up on these influences: http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/body_image.html Then check out this TLC video: http://youtu.be/g2gy1Evb1Kg Think back on your own time as a teenager. What body image issues do you remember facing? How did you handle them? How would you advise a teen who came to you with those same issues today?

THE COGNITIVE WORLD OF THE TEENAGER The egocentrism of early childhood is revisited in adolescence. There are two major hallmarks of adolescent egocentrism—”invincibility fable” and “imaginary audience”. Read through the info on this page: http://www4.semo.edu/sebby/Z_PY222class/protected/zImaginary_audience.htm How does this information compare to what you have learned in the text regarding these concepts? Do you remember ever feeling like this? http://youtu.be/Mn37ns89j3w What the $%!* is the teenager thinking? A TED talk http://youtu.be/LWUkW4s3XxY

THE PSYCHOSOCIAL WORLD OF THE TEENGAGER Identity vs. Role Confusion is Erikson’s fifth stage of psychosocial development. This is the stage adolescents must navigate, and several factors are at play. You can read a brief summary of them here: http://www.uiowa.edu/~c07p075a/class1/Classhandouts/identityvsconfusion.htm In this scene from the movie “Pariah”, a young girl is considering her “identity” within the context of her friendship: http://movieclips.com/EB7W-pariah-movie-down-for-whatever/ And in this scene, the same character is exploring her sexual identity: http://movieclips.com/Y7sKZ-pariah-movie-do-you-want-to-spend-the-night/ What other arenas of identity do adolescents struggle with, according to the text? What does “successful” navigation of this stage look like? What are some components of role confusion, moratorium, foreclosure?

YOUR TASK After exploring the text and the information here, reflect on your own experiences as an adolescent. Discuss significant experiences from this time in your own life, and apply what you have learned from the text about the milestones of adolescent development to your own experiences. Share your text-based analysis of your adolescent behaviors with your critical friends to see if you have correctly applied the info from the text. Remember that all three domains should be covered.