CHAPTER 4: ADOLESCENCE Teenagers! Gross.

INITIATION RITES In our society, adolescence is a time of preparation for adulthood There are many initiation rites Def: ceremonies or rituals in which an individual is admitted to new status or accepted into a new position

THEORIES OF ADOLESCENCE G. Stanley Hall---adolescence is a period of storm and stress Margaret Mead---storm and stress is a byproduct of industrialized societies---culture plays a role in development Robert Havighurst---every adolescent faces developmental tasks that must be mastered

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT PUBERTY: sexual maturation; the end of childhood and the point when reproduction is first possible Triggered by hormones Begins with a growth spurt (rapid increase in height and weight) Usually lasts 2 years

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Females Girls: breasts, hips, and pubic hair develop Menarche: first menstrual period Usually between 12 and 13 Another 12-18 months before they become regular and conception is possible

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT MALES C. 12: pubic hair and larger genitals Spermarche: period during which males achieve first ejaculation Growth spurt lasts 3 years longer than females Acquire more muscle tissue and larger lungs and heart Body hair Both sexes can experience Asynchrony: condition in which the growth or maturation of bodily parts is uneven

REACTIONS TO GROWTH Can become self-conscious Conform to ideals of how males and females their age should act, dress, and look Early male maturing: more self- confident and independent Late male maturing: withdrawn, rebellious Early female maturing: awkward at first, more favorable self-image Late female maturing: friendly with peers

SEXUAL ATTITUDES Varies based on society Some shelter children, some are open Sexually transmitted diseases affect views on sex Some choose abstinence

SECTION 2: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT The transition from childhood to adulthood involves changes in patterns of reasoning and moral thinking, as well as the development of one’s identity… SECTION 2: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Piaget’s formal operations Thinking becomes more abstract Rationalization: a process by which an individual seeks to explain an often unpleasant emotion or behavior in a way that will preserve his/her self-esteem Change in thinking brings changes in personality

PERSONALITY CHANGES Dr. David Elkind Problems that result from immaturity and abstract thought: 1) Finding fault with authority figures 2) Argumentativeness 3) Indecisiveness 4) Apparent hypocrisy: have difficulty understanding an ideal and living up to it 5) Self-consciousness 6) Invulnerability and “messiah complex”

ERIKSON’S THEORY OF THE IDENTITY CRISIS Erik Erikson Identity Crisis: a period of inner conflict during which adolescents worry intensely about who they are Conflict mostly from intense desire to be unique coupled with desire to fit in Role confusion is normal

JAMES MARCIA’S IDENTITY statuses Identified 4 attempts to achieve a sense of identity: 1) Identity moratorium adolescents: seriously considering issues; made no commitments 2) Identity foreclosure adolescents: firm commitment to issues based on expectations of others 3) Identity diffused adolescents: no serious thought to issues, no clear identity; unaware of choices 4) Identity achievement adolescents: committed to important life matters

SOCIAL LEARNING VIEW Proposed by Albert Bandura Social Learning Theory: emphasizes interaction Our development depends on other’s reactions to our behavior Our peers also serve as models for behavior

SECTION 3: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Adolescents undergo many changes in their social relationships, adjusting to new relationships with parents and the influence of peers… SECTION 3: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ROLE OF THE FAMILY Principle adolescent task involves becoming independent of families Parents can help or hinder Teens long for freedom but are concerned with failing This conflict can result in “adolescent rebellion”

ROLE OF PEERS Clique: a small, exclusive group of people within a larger group Fulfills need for belonging and helps define identity, builds self- confidence, develops sense of independence, clarifies values Conformity: acting in accordance with some specified authority Peers influence: fashion, music, school related issues Parents influence: marriage, religion, educational plans

TEENAGE DEPRESSION Depression in teens appears mostly as anger They can appear frantic and intensely hyperactive Withdrawal and rebellion are common clues Communication is the best solution Be attentive, be sensitive, be responsive

EATING DISORDERS Anorexia nervosa: disorder characterized by a fear of gaining weight that results in prolonged self-starvation and dramatic weight loss Miss menstrual cycles Treatment: focus on encouraging weight gain and therapy Bulimia nervosa: disorder characterized by compulsive overeating usually followed by self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives Excessively concerned with weight and body shape Treatment: therapy and antidepressants

SECTION 4: GENDER ROLES AND DIFFERENCES

Gender IDENTITY AND roles Gender Identity: the sex group to which an individual biologically belongs Identity learned around age 2-3 Gender Role: the set of behaviors that society considers appropriate for each sex Roles give social meaning to identity

Gender stereotypes Def: an oversimplified or distorted generalization about the characteristics of men and women What society sees as masculine or feminine New ideas in recent time Androgynous: combining or blending traditionally male and female characteristics Bem Sex Role Inventory Sandra Bem argues androgyny should be a goal

GENDER DIFFERENCE IN PERSONALITY Males more confident in science and math Males are more aggressive physically Females are more verbally aggressive Reason: males have lower levels of serotonin Women talk more than men Females use more “hedges” (kind of, you know) Females use disclaimers (I may be wrong, I’m not sure) They use tag questions (Okay?) Women display warmth, men display dominance Women more sensitive to nonverbal cues

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE ABILITIES High school males tend to be better at problem solving (changing) Males perform better on spatial ability Women are better at tracking objects There are very few cognitive differences

ORIGINS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES

Biological theory Emphasizes role of anatomy, hormones, and brain organization Gender roles come from early men and women Certain genetic traits evolved specific to males and females

PSYCHOANALYTICAL THEORY Gender identity comes from identifying with the same sex parent Between ages 3 and 5

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY Emphasized the role of social and cognitive processes on how we perceive, organize, and use info We learn gender roles through observation

COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY Gender roles acquired through interaction with the environment and thinking about those experiences Child must identify as male or female Then behavior is organized around that schema Gender schema: a set of behaviors organized around how either a male or female should think and behave