Adolescence Ch. 9

What is adolescence? Adolescence – the transition period between childhood and adulthood Different in all societies – bar mitzvah’s, graduation, weddings Some societies don’t even acknowledge adolescence – simply go from childhood to adulthood

Theories of Adolescence Contradictory views of adolescence ever since 1904, when G. Stanley Hall presented his pioneering theory Adolescence represented by a transitional stage in our evolution from beast to human “fully grown animal in a cage” – sees freedom but doesn’t know how to handle it yet Marked by storm and stress

Theories of Adolescence Margaret Mead – found that adolescence is a highly enjoyable time of life in some cultures, not at all marked by storm and stress

Theories of Adolescence Robert Havighurst Every adolescent faces challenges, development tasks that must be mastered Accepting ones’ physical make-up & acquiring a masculine or feminine sex role Developing appropriate relations with age-mates of both sexes Becoming emotionally independent of parents and other adults Achieving the assurance that one will become economically independent

Theories of Adolescence Deciding on, preparing for, and entering a vocation Developing the cognitive skills and concepts necessary for social competence Understanding and achieving socially responsible behavior Preparing for marriage and family Acquiring values that are harmonious with an appropriate scientific world picture

Personal Development Becoming an adult involves much more than becoming physically mature. Transition from childhood-adulthood involves: Changes in patterns of Reasoning Moral thinking Personality Sexual behavior

Personal Development Many physical changes occur during adolescence Puberty – sexual maturation; the biological event that marks the end of childhood Asynchrony – condition during adolescence of uneven growth or maturation of body parts Ex: feet or hands may be too large/too small for the rest of their body

Reactions to Growth Adolescents want to be accepted by their peers. A study done by Haas in 1979, he found attributes that boys and girls were seeking in each other. Girls want: 1. Intelligence 2.Attractiveness 3. Ability to hold conversation

Reaction to Growth Guys want: 1. Attractiveness 2. Friendliness 3. Intelligence

Moral Development in Adolescence Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Psychologists agree that a person’s moral development depends on many factors, especially the kind of relationship the individual has with parents Changes in college – WHY?

Erikson’s Theory of Identity Crisis According to Erikson, building an identity is a task that is unique to adolescence. Children are aware of what other people think and feel about them. (What stage of his Psychosocial Theory is this?) Most adolescents must go through what Erikson called an identity crisis Identity Crisis: A time of storm and stress during which they worry intensely about who they are Factors Physiological changes Cognitive developments Sexual drives See future as a reality

Erikson & Marcia A psychologist named James Marcia thought Erikson was correct in pointing out the existence of a adolescent identity crisis. Crisis arises because individuals must make commitments on such important matters as occupation, religion, and political orientation. Marcia points out 4 adolescent personality types

Marcia’s Adolescent Personality Types Identity moratorium adolescents: Who have not experiences a crisis or made a commitment on any of the important matters facing them Identity foreclosure adolescents: Who have not had a crisis but have made a commitment based not on their own choice, but on the suggestion of others

Marcia’s Adolescent Personality Types Identity confused adolescents: Who are in a continual search for meaning, commitment, and self-definition, and thus experience life as a series of ongoing crises Identity achievement adolescents: Who have experiences crises, considered many possibilities, and freely committed themselves to occupations and other life matter

Parenting Styles Diana Baumrind (1971,1973) Observed and interviews nursery school children and their parents. She observed and questioned both how the children interacted with their parents, and what the parents did Follow-up observations when the children were 8 or 9 led to several conclusions about the impact of three distinct parenting styles on children.

Parenting Styles Authoritarian families: Parents are the bosses Do not feel they have to explain their actions or demands Parents may feel the child has no right to question parental decisions Children raised in authoritative families Resent all authority Rebel without a cause

Parenting Styles Democratic or authoritative families: Adolescents participate in decisions affecting their lives Great deal of discussion & negotiation Parents listen to their children’s reasons for wanting to go somewhere, do something, and make an effort to explain their rules & expectations Adolescents make many decisions for themselves, but parents retain the right to veto plans they disapprove

Parenting Styles Studies suggest children raised in democratic or authoritative families are: More confident, more likely to make their own decisions 3 reasons Child able to assume responsibility gradually, not given too much responsibility too soon Child more likely to identify with parents who love and respect them than parents who treat them bad Through behavior or child, parents present a model of responsible, cooperative independence for the growing person to imitate

Parenting Styles Permissive or Laissez-faire families Children have the final say Parents attempt to guide, but give in when children insist on having their way Parents may give up their child-rearing responsibilities Setting no rules about behavior Making no demands Voicing no expectations Virtually ignoring young people in their house

Parenting Styles Children raised in permissive families Tend to feel unwanted Doubt their own self-worth Often do not trust themselves Tend to be more aggressive Low self-esteem Poor control over impulsive behavior

Parenting Styles Maccoby & Martin (1983) Later identified a fourth parenting style Uninvolved parents were typically very self-centered in their child rearing Seemed uncommitted to their role Distant from their child

Parenting Styles Research says that authoritative parenting yields the best results Why? Establishment of limits on the child Responding to the child with warmth and support Are parents solely responsible for how their children turn out? What other factors are there?