Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. C H A P T E R Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 14 Adolescent Problems “They cannot scare me with their empty spaces. Between stars--on stars where no human race is. I have it in me so much nearer home. To scare myself with my own desert places.” — Robert Frost American Poet, 20 th Century “They cannot scare me with their empty spaces. Between stars--on stars where no human race is. I have it in me so much nearer home. To scare myself with my own desert places.” — Robert Frost American Poet, 20 th Century

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 2 The Biopsychosocial Approach Biological Factors –Malfunctioning of body –Brain & Genetics Psychological Factors –Behavioral –Cognitive –Social Cognitive Family and Peers Social Factors –SES, technology, religion, neighborhood quality

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 3 Alcohol: Multiple & Interactive Factors If one wishes to account for why persons continue in their use of drugs, then biomedical disciplines are probably best; in contrast; however, if one wishes to explain the initiation of drug using behavior, then social psychological explanations seem most pertinent. Sociological elements in combination with biomedical factors may be ideally suited to understand the escalation of drug use to drug abuse, while psychological and even political and economic elements are essential to an understanding of the cessation of use (Lettieri, 1985)

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 4 A Developmental Psychopathology Approach Developmental Pathways –Internalizing problems (IP): Occur when individuals turn problems inward Examples? Parenting Styles? –Externalizing problems (EP): Occur when individuals turn problems outward Examples? Parenting Styles? Research –Males IP child = Ip adult –Females IP & EP child = IP adult –Attachment Style (anxiety child = >% anxiety adult)

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Parenting Style & IP/EP Authoritative- Social Competence & Self Reliant Authoritarian- Social Incompetent & Dependent Neglectful- Social Incompetent with Lack of Self Control Indulgent- Social Incompetent with Lack of Self Control AuthoritativeAuthoritarianNeglectfulIndulgent Connection HighLow High Regulation (Bx Control) BalancedHighLow Autonomy ([-] Psy Control) HighLowHighLow

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 6 Characteristics of Adolescent Problems Vary by Developmental Level –Fears in Childhood –Unhappiness, Depression, School Problems in Adolescence Gender Differences –Males (EP) Females (IP) Short-lived vs. Persistent over years SES background differences Internal vs. External Assets –What are a few of them?

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 7 Resilience Vulnerability Stress Model (V + S = Problem) –V (biology, attachment, hx., etc) S (current stressor) –If V + S does not exceed your adaptive capacity it can serve as a protective factor as you learn to cope Individual Factors –Intelligence, problem solving, etc. Family Factors –Close relationships Extrafamilial Factors –Relationships outside family

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 8 Resilience Characteristics of Resilient Children and Adolescents Fig. 14.2

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 9 Internalized vs Externalized Problems Internalized –Depression & Suicide –Cutting –Anxiety Externalized –Alcohol and Drug Use –Conduct Disorder Go to Depression and Cutting Powerpoints

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 10 Drugs Use Why Do Adolescents Take Drugs? –Tolerance: The condition in which a greater amount of a drug is needed to produce the same effect as a smaller amount used to produce

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 11 Drugs Use Why Do Adolescents Take Drugs? –Multiple Interactive Factors Personality Family Peer –Physical dependence: Physical need for a drug that is accompanied by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 12 Drugs Use Multiple and Interactive Factors If one wishes to account for why persons continue in their use of drugs, then biomedical disciplines are probably best; in contrast; however, if one wishes to explain the initiation of drug using behavior, then social psychological explanations seem most pertinent. Sociological elements in combination with biomedical factors may be ideally suited to understand the escalation of drug use to drug abuse, while psychological and even political and economic elements are essential to an understanding of the cessation of use (Lettieri, 1985)

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 13 Drugs Use Why Do Adolescents Take Drugs? –Psychological dependence: Strong desire and craving to repeat the use of a drug for various emotional reasons, such as a feeling of well-being and reduction of distress

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 14 Trends In Drug Use by High-School Seniors Trends in Drug Use by U.S. 8 th -, 10 th -, and 12 th -Grade Students Fig. 14.3

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 15 Alcohol Effects Clip art copyright © Used with permission. Effects on Behavior and Brain Activity –Depressant –Damage to muscle and brain cells –Reduces inhibition Police involvement, unprotected sex –Alcoholism is third leading killer in U.S.

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 16 Alcohol Effects Clip art copyright © Used with permission. Alcohol Use in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood –Use in high school decreasing –Transition to college – critical time Binge-drinking

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 17 Alcohol Effects Binge Drinking in the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood Fig. 14.7

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 18 Alcohol Effects Clip art copyright © Used with permission. Risk Factors –Heredity Evidence exists for predisposition –Family Influences Unhappy homes –Peer Relations Peer use and pressure. Older friends. –Personality

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 19 Hallucinogens Drugs that alter perceptual experiences and produce hallucinations; also called psychedelic or mind-altering drugs –LSD –Marijuana Active ingredient is THC Clip art copyright © Used with permission.

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 20 Hallucinogens Trends in Marijuana Use by U.S. 8 th -, 10 th -, and 12 th - Graders: Use in the Past Year Fig. 14.4

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 21 Drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system Cigarette Smoking –Serious preventable health problem –Use is decreasing –Consequences Lung damage Emotional problems –Programs to prevent smoking Stimulants

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 22 Stimulants Trends in Cigarette Smoking by U.S. Secondary School Students Fig. 14.5

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 23 Cocaine –2.3% of adolescents use cocaine –Unpredictable risk Amphetamines –40% of todays females have used diet pills before they graduate from HS. Ecstasy Stimulants

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 24 Depressants Slow the central nervous system, bodily functions, and behavior –Barbiturates –Opiates Dangerous trend currently with prescription medications

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 25 Factors in Adolescent Drug Use Interference with competent coping skills and decision making By mid twenties – use decreases Parents, peers, and social support –“Hands-on” parenting Role of schools in preventing drug abuse

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 26 Index offenses: –Criminal acts at any age, such as robbery, rape, and homicide Status offenses: –Performed by youths under a specified age, not as serious as index offenses. Include drinking under age, truancy, sexual promiscuity What is Juvenile Delinquency?

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 27 Conduct Disorder The psychiatric diagnostic category used when multiple behaviors occur over a 6-month period Clip art copyright © Used with permission.

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 28 Conduct Disorder Their delinquent behaviors include: –Truancy –Running away –Physical cruelty to people & animals –Setting fires –Using drugs and alcohol

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 29 Antecedents of Juvenile Delinquency (Continued on next slide) Fig. 14.8

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 30 Antecedents of Juvenile Delinquency (Continued from previous slide)

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 31 Violence and Youth Male Feelings of powerlessness Poverty Clip art copyright © Used with permission.

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 32 Violence and Youth At-Risk Youth –Drugs and alcohol –Access to weapons –Antisocial, deviant peer group –Exposure to violence

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 33 Violence and Youth Recommendations for reducing violence –Recommit to raising children safely and effectively –Make prevention a reality –More support to schools –Forge partnerships

Copyright © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 34 Taking it to the Net For more information on material covered in this chapter, visit our Online Learning Center: