Sociology: Chapter 5-1 The Adolescent in Society “Adolescence in Society” Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.11, 5.4

Adolescence in Society: See p. 110 Concept of Adolescence: Present creation: Creation of Industrial Society Adolescence: Period between normal onset of Puberty and beginning of adulthood Puberty: Physical maturing that makes someone capable of reproduction *Ages 12 to 19 Has become phenomenon in past 40-50 years Three Factors: 1. Education 2. Exclusion of youth from labor force 3. Development of Judicial System

Characteristics of Adolescence 1. Biological Growth (80% develop Acne) 2. Undefined Status (not a child; not an adult) Read p. 122 “Blurring of Adolescence) 3. Increased decision making (College?) 4. Increased Pressure (Peers vs. Parents) 5. Search for Self (Prepare for future) -Who am I… Really? -Anticipatory Socialization: Learning rights, obligations, and expectations of a role in preparing for assuming that role at a future date -Dating, Part-time job, and school Culture can also have a huge impact

Societies with no concept of adolescence Ndembu of Zambia Go straight from childhood to adulthood Puberty Rite: ceremonies that mark the transition from childhood to adulthood -Demonstrations of Strength -Filing of the Teeth -Tatooing of skin Age 13/14: Can marry Carry Households

“Teenagers and Dating” Sociology: Chapter 5-2 “Teenagers and Dating”

Teenagers and Dating Well known in U.S. -Not a universal phenomenon Ex: Arranged marriages *Very recent phenomenon (Post WWI) Pre-Dating in the U.S. -Courtship: Express purpose is eventual marriage -very formal and structured -supervised by adults 100% of the time Past: Marriage: Timed by age at which a man acquired property necessary to support family

Industrial Revolution Casual Dating emerged at the same time as the Industrial Revolution -People move to city -Child Labor Laws -Free Public Education -Technology: Telephone *Young people had more time and were put into situations where they began to come into contact with other young people of the opposite sex

Why Date? Homogamy: Tendency for individuals to marry people who have social characteristics similar to their own (Penn State Fraternity/Sorority Study) Willer Waller: Dating was a form of recreation that has little to do with mate selection 1. Mate selection 2. Recreation: (Waller) 3. Mechanism of Socialization 4. Psychological Needs Conversation, Companionship, Understanding *Attain Status

Dating Patterns Traditional: -Responsibility fell to male (Ask parents; Money) -Ritualized -Structured rules -Set Activities (Movies…etc) -Began Casually -Moves to “Going Steady”

Dating Patterns Contemporary: Present -Teenagers more spontaneous -Male and female initiate dates -Relationships based on “group” Exception: -Court at 16: Boys -14 Girls -No Amish divorces yet

Sociology: Chapter 5 Sec 3 “Challenges of Adolescence” Standards: 7.1- 7.6

Some Problems 1. Identity Crisis 2. Plan for Future 3. Becoming more independent 4. Developing close relationships *Most achieve w/o major problems *Some feel overwhelmed 1980’s-90’s: Teenage studies took off 1. Teenage Sexual Behavior 2. Drug Abuse 3. Suicide

Teenage Sexual Behavior Norms vary from society to society -Small pre-industrial societies South Pacific: Trobrianders Sexual Experimentation Encouraged as preparation for marriage West: Strict norms against pre-marital sex U.S. Stems from Puritan tradition

Sexual Activity 1960’s-70’s -Birth Control Pill, Counterculture, and Feminism -Norms began to change -later consequences Rate of Teenage Sexual Activity: Females: age 15-19 1970: 29% Active/ 22 Births per 1,000 unmarried teens 1995: 50% Active/ 43 Births “ “ 1995-2005: Higher or lower? What do you think? Influences on Sexual Activity: Income level Parental Marital Status Religion Subculture beliefs

Consequences of Sexual Activity 1. Babies have lower birth weights 2. Death during childbirth more likely 3. Less likely to finish high school 4. Lower Lifetime earnings 5. Children have learning disabilities 6. Babies have higher risks of being teenage parents 7. Emotional Stress without “mature” coping skills 8. STD: 4,000,000 teens contract STDs each year **CDC: 1 in 4 Females between 14-19 have either HPV, Chlamydia, and Genital Herpes

Teenage Drug Use Drug: any substance that changes mood, behavior, or consciousness Rates: 20% High school smokers 80% have tried alcohol Influences -Peers -Social/Academic adjustment problems -Hostile family setting Attitudes: 1979: 42% Teenagers thought that Marijuana was dangerous 2007: 55% Violence: 1990’s/ 1000 drug homicides/ year/Crack Cocaine main reasom

Drug Use 2005: 589 Drug Homicides 1998: 200,000 Juveniles Arrested for Drug Abuse Violations: 86% Increase from 1990 See Chart on Page: 125

Teen Suicide Rate has doubled in past three decades -Third leading cause of death (age 5-24) * Bigger problem with elderly Girls; Try it more Boys; More successful…why? 2006: 8% of high school students attempted suicide 17% Seriously considered

Suicide Emile Durkheim: Suicide Social Integration -The degree of attachment that people have to social groups or to society as a whole * People put the needs of the group over the needs of the individual * Eskimos *Japan

Predictors of Suicide 1. Alcohol/Drug use 2. Triggering event 3. Age 4. Sex 5. Population Density (Social Isolation) 6. Family Relations 7. Cluster Effect (Copy Cat) Read Page 129