ED5390 – Psychology of Adolescents Trinity Graduate School Mary McClure, Ed.D., LPC, NCC

As we get started… About our perspective About your instructor About our class time Overview of syllabus and assignments So much material – so little time! About our perspective Seek to understand Maintain agape…. Really? Yep – it is scientifically proven to be helpful 12/7/2018

assignments Weekly Papers 1 – 4 Cement grasp on text content material Reflect on how issues covered may have impacted you at earlier stages of development 12/7/2018

Assignments Presentation – given 5/10 Student selects topic of interest, with approval 15-20 minutes, supported by PowerPoint Min. 10 references from professional journals or sites Sample topics from prior classes: Bullying Social media Skill building areas: emotional regulation, decision making Educational strategies for adolescents 12/7/2018

Assignments Reflection paper: Your 5 – 10 most meaningful ‘take-aways’ from the course, Not a summary of course material, but of areas that may have been an ‘ah-ha’ for you in one way or another 5 – 7 page written reflections on these 12/7/2018

Topical Agenda Introduction & Background Interpersonal Neurobiology Mindfulness Gender & Sexuality Child & Adolescent Career Development 12/7/2018

Introduction & Background

Early History In the Middle Ages – In the 18th century – children and adolescents were viewed as miniature adults – considered like property In the 18th century – French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduced the belief that being a child or an adolescent is not the same as being an adult Child Guidance Movement 1920’s Progressive reform movement was based on belief that society could be changed by changing / controlling child development Reliance on scientific findings to direct child development in juvenile justice, parenting, education, mental and physical health 12/7/2018

Different views… G. Stanley Hall’s Storm-and-Stress View – expect conflict Margaret Mead’s Sociocultural View – we create the conflict The Inventionist View – ‘modern’ world created this stage of development ‘cohorts’ continue to be different are generations facing the same issues with different packaging? 12/7/2018

Stereotyping of Adolescents Stereotypes of adolescents are plentiful - negative “They are all lazy” “All they think about sex” “They are so self-centered” Compared to what??? What stereotypes do we have about adolescents??? 12/7/2018

So what? the youth of every generation have seemed radical, unnerving, and different from adults – ‘what goes on here’ depends on the eye of the beholder… We want to have an informed ‘eye’ Be aware of… Bio-psycho-social-spiritual developmental stages – Attachment theory – physical vs. conceptual secure base Learning theories – how we come to know things Scientific work on interpersonal neurobiology 12/7/2018

Child – Adolescent - Adult The transition from childhood to adolescence begins with more biologically based changed in the onset of pubertal maturation The transition from adolescence to adulthood is determined by cultural standards and experiences Education / career Personal identity / roles Financial and physical independence 12/7/2018

Positive Psychology The “Five Cs” of PYD Competence (sense of agency, self-efficacy) Confidence (self-esteem) Connection (meaningful relationship) Character (identity) Caring/compassion (social interest, empathy) To develop these characteristics, youth need access to positive social contexts and competent people —such as caring teachers, community leaders, and mentors Shaping vs. controlling – moving toward something rather than away from something 12/7/2018

?????? Do you see movements toward a more ‘Positive Psychology’ approach… In your educational experience? In the media coverage? Efforts in military? Troubled youth? 12/7/2018

Emerging Adulthood ( Arnett, 2006) Identity exploration, especially in love and work. Instability. Residential changes peak during emerging adulthood, also is often instability in love, work, and education. Self-focused. Few obligations, duties and commitment to others. Feeling in-between. The age of possibilities, a time when individuals have an opportunity to transform their lives. 12/7/2018

Classic Developmental Topics Resilience – Adapting positively and achieving successful outcomes in the face of significant risks and adverse circumstances temperament or learned? Consider emotional intelligence, divergent thinking, positive psychology Nature / Nurture Debate - whether development is primarily influenced by nature (biological inheritance) or nurture (environmental experiences) Timing of changes? Direction or changes?... Epigenetic principle, culture Continuity vs. Change - the extent to which development involves gradual, cumulative change (continuity) or distinct stages (discontinuity) Early vs Later experience - the degree to which early experiences (especially early in childhood) or later experiences are the key determinants of development 12/7/2018

Interpersonal Neurobiology

Basic Brainstorm concepts… (Siegel,2013) Attachment shift… peers become critical Brain Remodeling Pruning – use it or lose it Myelin – ‘practice lays down myelin to enable a skill’ Hyper-rational thinking – ‘accentuate the positive’ Impulsivity – emotion unchecked by cognition

How might we leverage these toward positive growth??? ESSENCE Emotional Spark- intense, vital, moody, erratic Social Engagement peer relationships, morality Novelty new and exciting experiences Creative Exploration adaptivity, innovation, change

“Consilience … finding truths that are common and derived from independent ways of knowing. “ (Siegel, 2009, 140)

Themes in adolescent development… (or any stage of development…) Bio-psycho-social-spiritual growth Integration … AKA reflection, critical thinking, holism Emotional Intelligence Attachment – seen, safe, soothed, secure Relationship goals unconditional love, intimacy, grace, empowerment … genuineness, empathy, Pattern formation.. thought, emotion, behavior Mindfulness

Exercise: Leveraging ‘ESSENCE’ How might our planning of learning experiences leverage the adolescent ‘brain changes’ ? Design an exercise or assignment that engages the characteristics that can be seen as so challenging! Work with a partner,,, 15 minutes 12/7/2018

How might we leverage these toward positive growth??? ESSENCE Emotional Spark- intense, vital, moody, erratic Social Engagement peer relationships, morality Novelty new and exciting experiences Creative Exploration adaptivity, innovation, change

Whew… that was a lot of stuff to absorb Consider – we have great ability to be aware of and in control of ourselves… these are learnable skills…

Mindsight (Siegel, 2013) Ability to ‘see’ or ‘know’ the mind 3 basic skills: Insight: sense your own inner life Empathy: sense the inner life of others Integration: link different parts into an interconnected whole The key is intentional awareness of our internal world

Exercise 1: SIFT Close your eyes and focus your attention and awareness toward your inner mental experiences … use one or more of these areas… Sensing – what are you sensing in your body? Imaging – what images, situations or memories? Feelings – what emotions are you experiencing? Thoughts – what thoughts are in your mind

Exercise 2: Mindsight Map Look at a person around you. You may perceive them on a physical level, but also may imagine what they are experiencing in their minds. Take some time to imagine what the ‘map’ of their inner mental experience may reflect.

Exercise 3: Empathy Tune-in to ‘signals’ received from other people Verbal words, tone, volume, etc Non-verbals, such as body language and facial expression, are as much as 80% of communication Strengthen empathy skills…Watch a TV or movie with the sound off – imagine the content, intent, and perspective of communications between characters.

Exercise 4: Sensing the Harmony of Integration A state of harmony has qualities of being Flexible, Adaptive, Connected, Energized, Stable Consider your own state of mind, and whether your overall needs are being met in harmony or perhaps the relationship you have with another, and whether your relationship honors differences and cultivates compassionate communication A sense of chaos or rigidity indicates a lack of harmony.. Perhaps the need for repair

Exercise 5: Name it to tame it At times when we feel out of control, flooded and reactive to emotional burst without benefit of thoughtful consideration, it would be helpful to Build the habit of pausing for consideration Consider the type of chaos or rigidity we are feeling – name the emotion Consider the circumstance that triggered this Begin to integrate and repair Recall a time when you felt emotionally flooded

References Dobson, J. (1992). The new dare to discipline. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House. Gottman, J. (1997). Raising an emotionally intelligent child. New York: Simon & Schuster. Koonce, K. (2006). Parenting the way God parents: Refusing to recycle your parent’s mistakes. Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah. Siegel, D. J. (2003). Parenting from the inside out: How a deeper self-understanding can help you raise children that thrive. New York: Penguin. Siegel, D. J. (2009). Mindful awareness, mindsight, and neural integration. The Humanistic Psychologist, 37, 137-158. DOI: 10.1080/08873260902892220 Siegel, D. J. (2013). Brainstorm: The power and purpose of the teenage brain. New York: Penguin.

Mindfulness 12/7/2018

Habits of Mind… Habits of mind that support our survival – also create our suffering: Revisiting the past – worrying about the future – planning with goal to optimize pleasure Fearfulness of change – of loss or lack of optimal gain Extends to worry for those we love 12/7/2018

Habits of mind Judging ourselves harshly – comparing and ranking with others Worry, judging, planning makes us feel in control – as if we are doing something ‘now’ often doesn’t hit our radar unless extreme Auto-pilot – perpetually seeking more, better Avoiding what is painful – will numb with activity, substance, self-sooth Accept thoughts as real vs. facts 12/7/2018

Goals of mindfulness Awareness of mental processes now Acceptance / compassion Contemplation of activity that causes us pain Begin with 1… some stay there  12/7/2018

Mindfulness Informal vs Formal Mindfulness Practices = (examples) Benefits: Reduced anxiety, stress, frantic-ness Enhanced sense of self, coping, resilience, joy Greater insight, judgment, peace 12/7/2018

Gender & sexuality

Gender Gender: The typical characteristics of people as males and females Few aspects of adolescents’ lives are more central to their identity and to their social relationships than gender One aspect of gender bears special mention Gender role: A set of expectations that prescribes how females and males should think, act, and feel 12/7/2018

Gender Role Development Influence of… both nature and nurture attitudes and behaviors of educators mass media gender-role stereotypes for behavior, relationships 12/7/2018

What has changed from generation to generation??? Sexuality What has changed from generation to generation??? 12/7/2018

Sexuality What messages do adolescents really receive about how they feel, think, and act on their sexuality? 12/7/2018

Sexuality Discussions typically take a physical, problem oriented focus… Pregnancy, disease, rape Greater emphasis on Relational development? Emotional development? Decision making? 12/7/2018

Five layers of erotic life clarify normal sexual order and identify sexual disorders and dysfunction… Sexual identity – physical, genetic Sexual orientation – attraction to what sex? Sexual interest – what creates arousal? Sex role – what is displayed in public, closest to gender Sexual performance – activity with preferred person 12/7/2018

Facebook has 50 gender options to select from… Sex - physical, genetic characteristics at birth. (Intersex is atypical) Cannot be altered.  Gender – cultural roles, behaviors, attributes typically associated with one’s sex  Sexual identity – the sex one identifies as, typically matches their genetic characteristics  Gender Identity – the gender characteristics one identifies with, typically matches those expected for their sex within their culture  Sexual Orientation – nature of sexual attraction, such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual 12/7/2018

Facebook has 50 gender options to select from… Transsexual – Perceives self as being of sex opposite to genetic makeup. Transitions from one sex to another through use of hormones, surgery, etc. Cannot change genetics.  Transgender – identity or sense of self is not consistent with typical gender characteristics/rolr for their sex in terms of behavior, dress, etc. Such as cross-dressers, and other patterns that are non-conforming to norms.    12/7/2018

Facebook has 50 gender options to select from… Are sexual identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation More fluid than constant? On a continuum rather than a dichotomy? 12/7/2018

Child & Adolescent Career Development

Career Development? Lets talk about the key concepts you drew From these materials? 12/7/2018

Career Development What prompts this movement? What is your sense of awareness and energy about this? What are new concepts of ‘work’ and ‘career’ 12/7/2018