Social Transitions Social Transitions Historically Common Practices in Social Redefinition Process Separation Transition Re-incorporation Rites of Passage Changes in Clarity & Continuity Contemporary Adolescence

Socialization is… Socialization Outcomes The process by which people acquire the behaviors and beliefs of their culture Socialization Outcomes Self-regulation – ability to comply with social norms Role preparation – for roles in work, gender, institutions such as marriage, parenthood Cultivation of sources of meaning – “what’s important?” “What’s to be lived for?”

Adolescence as a Social Invention Adolescence defined primarily by being distinct from childhood or adulthood, not by cognitive and biological changes Inventionists stress that because we perceive adolescence as distinct, it exists as a distinct period of the lifespan Relative to other cultures and historical periods Problems experienced during adolescence may be due to society’s definition of adolescence, not cognitive or biological changes The inventionist view is an entirely different view than that espoused by writers such as G. Stanley Hall, for example, who saw the psychological changes of adolescence as driven by puberty and, as a result, by biological destiny. Page 100 Changes in the broader environment, therefore, can change the very nature of adolescence.

Adolescence as a Social Invention Roots in the Industrial Revolution Young people excluded from labor force Economic dependence on elders Formal schooling is lengthened New Terminology Teenager Youth Emerging adulthood Food for Thought: What are your predictions for how adolescence will change in the twenty-first century? Page 102.

Emerging Adulthood Arnett’s (1998) term for ages 18-25 caught between adolescence and adulthood, characterized by: Exploring possible identities before making enduring choices Unstable work, romantic relationships, and living situations Focus on oneself and independent functioning Subjective feeling of being caught between adolescence and adulthood Subjective feeling that life holds many possibilities

Social Redefinition A time of change in social roles and status How society defines adolescence Contemporary society vs. traditional cultures Implications for development Identity, autonomy, responsibility, intimacy, sexuality, achievement

Social Redefinition and Psychosocial Development Identity Attainment of adult status causes adolescent to feel more adult-like Autonomy Adult status leads to shifts in responsibility, independence, and freedom Intimacy, dating and marriage Need for new decisions about sexual activity Achievement Becoming a full-time employee; leave school of their own volition

The Process of Social Redefinition Contemporary America: Movement through a series of status transitions with a cohort over a period of years Driving, purchasing alcohol, etc. Generally begins at age 15 or 16 Permission to drive, work, leave school Voting, age 18 Purchasing alcoholic beverages, age 21 Timetable is affected by economics, politics, and culture

The Process… Three themes: Separation Transition Reincorporation

The Process… Separation Extrusion: Real or symbolic separation from parents

Social Redefinition: Three Major Components Transition Separation of males and females Brother-sister avoidance Passing on of cultural, historical, and practical information from the adult generation to the newly inducted cohort of young people Food for Thought: Social redefinition in contemporary society is often so familiar that we overlook it. Can you think of examples of social definition practices within your own community that parallel practices in more traditional cultures? Page 108 Example: Scarification is the intentional creation of scars on some part of the body that is often done as a part of an initiation ceremony. That might seem odd to us. But we do begin to pierce more parts of our bodies at adolescence, scrape hair from legs and faces, put permanent decorations on skin in the form of tattoos and so on! Page 108 Example: Brother-sister avoidance - Brothers and sisters seek privacy changing and dressing once they reach puberty.

The Process of Social Redefinition Some societies mark social redefinition of the young person with a dramatic and elaborate initiation ceremony called a rite of passage This often marks the beginning of a long period of training Page 106 shows a picture of a formal initiation ceremony in a nonindustrialized society. Contemporary ceremonies: i.e. debutante balls or the quinceañera, or Bar or Bas Mitzvah for Jewish children at age 13. Page 107

Social Redefinition: Rites of Passage Cushion emotional disruption Anchoring Provides a sense of belonging to both individual and society Inform Individual and society Attempt to provide clarity Food for Thought: Social redefinition in contemporary society is often so familiar that we overlook it. Can you think of examples of social definition practices within your own community that parallel practices in more traditional cultures? Page 108 Example: Scarification is the intentional creation of scars on some part of the body that is often done as a part of an initiation ceremony. That might seem odd to us. But we do begin to pierce more parts of our bodies at adolescence, scrape hair from legs and faces, put permanent decorations on skin in the form of tattoos and so on! Page 108 Example: Brother-sister avoidance - Brothers and sisters seek privacy changing and dressing once they reach puberty.

Social Redefinition Reciprocity Change in status Privileges and rights in exchange for good conduct Change in status Interpersonal Political Economic Legal

Changes in Status Two-sided alteration in status Given privileges/rights reserved for society’s adults Increased expectations for self-management personal responsibility social participation Increased expectations for self-management, personal responsibility, and social participation, i.e. taking care of and setting a good example for the younger members of the family. These would be examples that would be responsibilities of interpersonal status.

Four Major Changes in Status Interpersonal Political Economic Legal Increased expectations for self-management, personal responsibility, and social participation, i.e. taking care of and setting a good example for the younger members of the family. These would be examples that would be responsibilities of interpersonal status.

Changes in Interpersonal Status Addressed with adult titles Maintain new types of social relationships with Parents and elders Younger individuals whose status has not yet changed New interpersonal obligations Taking care of and setting example for younger members of family

Changes in Political Status More extensive participation in the community’s decision making Voting (U.S. citizens) Ceremonial life (Navajo people - formal initiation ceremony) Expected to serve their communities in emergency and train for warfare Page 103

Changes in Economic Status May own property and maintain control over their income Until age 16, belongs to parents Until 18, cannot enter into legal contract like a car lease Age is a prerequisite for employment in certain occupations Child labor laws in the United States Expected to pay taxes

Changes in Legal Status Ability to participate in activities typically reserved for adults Gambling Purchasing alcohol, smoking Driving, voting Expected to take increased responsibility for self-management and social participation Even certain crimes, when committed by a minor, are adjudicated in a separate juvenile justice system, which operates under different rules and principles from the criminal justice system that applies to adults. Page 103 Status offense – a behavior that is a problem because of the person’s juvenile status, such as leaving home without telling others. Page 103 In general, legal decisions have tended to restrict the behavior of adolescents when the behavior in question is viewed as potentially damaging to the young person (buying cigarettes, for example) but have supported adolescent autonomy when the behavior is viewed as having potential benefit (using contraceptives). Page 105 Food for Thought: At what age do you think we should draw the line between legal adolescence and legal adulthood? Should this age be the same for all decisions, or should different decisions have different age boundaries? Page 105

Types of transitions I Clarity – explicit markers of beginning and end of adolescence Traditional cultures – ceremonies, initiations Contemporary culture Less of an emphasis on attainment of roles Arnett (1998) – what defines adulthood? Accept responsibility for consequences of actions Financially independent

Social Transitions: The Importance of Clarity Lewin’s “Marginal man” caught between two cultural systems and feel alienated by one or both . threats to identity may lead to higher levels of deviance, excessive anxiety and psychiatric instability Contemporary trends in status according to Arnett: Less emphasis on attaining a specific role and more emphasis on self-reliance Decline in importance of family roles Similar criteria for males and females, fewer gender-typed role expectations Kurt Lewin: marginal man The term was introduced in 1948 to describe the transitional period of adolescence – not a child and not an adult.

Social Transitions: Clarity in Industrialized Societies Given the absence of clarity People of the same chronological age may feel more mature or less mature than age-mates No clear indication of when adult responsibilities and privileges begin How adolescents view themselves today Less emphasis on attainment of specific roles Less emphasis on importance of family roles Fewer gender role differences

Social Transitions: Clarity in Traditional Cultures Social redefinition is clearly recognized Formal initiation ceremony Boys: timing of ceremony varies Girls: timing usually linked to menarche Physical appearance is often changed (clothing, circumcision) Adults clearly differentiated from children

Social Transitions: Clarity in Previous Eras Baby boom generation (1950s-1960s) Finishing school, moving out, getting married all occurred early and within narrow timeframe Transition in the early 19th century was more disorderly and prolonged (like today) School – viewed as children Work – viewed as adults Timetable depended on household/family needs U.S. transition to adulthood in the early 19th century was more disorderly. Page 112 A century ago, the passage into adulthood may have been more prolonged than today. Figure 3.4 on page 113.

Types of transitions II Continuity – smoothness of passage into adulthood Continuous Gradual transitions, in which the adolescent assumes the roles and status of adulthood bit by bit Assume new roles a bit at a time with lots of preparation and training Discontinuous Sudden transitions, in which the adolescent’s entrance into adulthood is more abrupt, with little or no training Thrust into new roles with little preparation

Continuity and Discontinuity Modern society is very discontinuous Little preparation for roles of worker, parent, citizen Call to improve “school-to-work transition” Youth apprenticeship model Options for non-college-bound high school students Make transition more like traditional cultures & previous eras With regard to the roles of worker, parent, and citizen, we find that adolescents in contemporary society receive little preparation. Food for Thought: In light of the nature of adult roles in contemporary society is it really possible to make the transition more continuous than it currently is? Page 119

Discontinuity Socializing of adolescents for adult roles (worker, parent) – adequate? Contributes to psychological and behavioral problems Benedict – creates stress Abrupt transitions Teenage parents School drop-outs Moving out of family home

The Transition into Adulthood in Contemporary Society Two trends are reshaping the transition The transition period is getting longer Puberty occurs earlier and schooling lasts longer. Success in the labor force is more dependent on formal schooling

Contemporary Transitions In all societies: Adolescence is a period of social transition The individual comes to be recognized as an adult The social transition is less explicit in contemporary U.S. society than in traditional cultures The social transition is less explicit in contemporary U.S. society than in traditional cultures, but this doesn’t mean that the passage is any less significant. Page 98 Osgood, Ruth, Eccles, Jacobs, & Barber (2005)

The Transition into Adulthood in Contemporary Society Adolescents are living at home longer than ever before 55% U.S. 20- to 22-year-olds May be a result of increased costs of housing and transportation