Chapter 16 Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development

Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development Truth or Fiction? Adolescents imitate their peers’ clothing, speech, hairstyles, and ideals. American adolescent males are more concerned about occupational choices than American adolescent females are.

Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development Truth or Fiction? Adolescents are in a constant state of rebellion against their parents. Most adolescents’ friends are “bad influences.”

Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development Truth or Fiction? About 800,000 American teenagers become pregnant each year. Only a minority of American adolescents engage in delinquent behavior.

Adolescence: Social and Emotional Development Truth or Fiction? Suicide is the leading cause of death among American adolescents. Adolescents reach adulthood at age 21.

Development of Identity and the Self-Concept “Who Am I?” (And Who Else?)

What Does Erikson Have to Say About the Development of Identity During Adolescence? Identity versus Identity diffusion Primary task: develop ego integrity Psychological moratorium Experimental period Identity Crisis Successful resolution is understanding who you are and what you stand for

What Are Marcia’s “Identity Statuses”? Four statues based on two dimensions Exploration – active questioning alternatives in search of goals Commitment – stable investment in goals Identity diffusion Low exploration and commitment Foreclosure Low exploration; high commitment Moratorium High exploration; low commitment Identity achievement High exploration and commitment

Ethnicity and Development of Identity Development of self-identity is more complex for ethnic minorities Need to assimilate two sets of values – dominant and minority Prejudice and discrimination Scarcity of role models Stages of ethnic identity development Unexamined ethnic identity (foreclosed state) Ethnic identity search (moratorium state) Achieved ethnic identity

Gender Roles and Development of Identity Erikson concluded Career matters were more important to men Relationships were more important to women As a result men developed identity before intimacy while women developed intimacy before identity Research contradicts this and suggests men and women are equally concerned about career Women continue to integrate family and career plans

How Does Self-Concept Develop During Adolescence? Self-descriptions As children, focus on physical characteristics and actions As adolescence, incorporate distinct and enduring personality traits Self-descriptions become more differentiated With formal-operational skills, able to integrate contradictory elements

What Happens to Self-Esteem During Adolescence? In early adolescence, self-esteem declines Disparity between ideal and real self From age 13, self-esteem gradually improves May adjust ideas about ideal self May become less self-critical Emotional support from family and peers is important Initially, family support more important By late adolescence, peer support more important

Developing in a World of Diversity Ethnicity, Gender Roles, and Self-Esteem

Relationships with Parents and Peers

How Do Relationships With One’s Parents and Peers Change During the Course of the Teenage Years? Relationship with parents Time spent with family decreases during adolescence Boys tend to spend more time alone Girls tend to spend more time with friends More time spent with mother More conflicts but also more support Remaining close to family More self-reliant and independence, higher self-esteem and better school performance Conflicts are more frequent Based on issues of control

How Do Relationships With One’s Parents and Peers Change During the Course of the Teenage Years? Parenting Styles Authoritative parenting Teens show more competent behavior than other groups More self-reliant, do better in school Better mental health, lowest incidence of problems and misconduct

How Do Relationships With One’s Parents and Peers Change During the Course of the Teenage Years? Relationship with peers Role of peers increases throughout adolescence Friendships More friends than younger children One of two “best friends” Based on acceptance, intimate self-disclosure and mutual understanding Typically same age, race, and sex Friendship contributes to Positive self-concept and psychological adjustment

Ethnicity, Sex and Adolescent Friendships Children choose friends from their ethnic group European American female teens report support from friends African American, male and female, both report support from friends Ethnic stressors may push minority teens to seek support Intimacy and closeness more central to girls’ friendships Adolescent girls report friendships as more important than boys do Girls’ friendship networks are smaller and more exclusive Girls tend to participate in unstructured activities Boys engage in organized group activities

What Kind of Adolescent Peer Groups Are There? Cliques 5 to 10 people who hang around together Shared activities and confidences Crowds Larger groups who do not spend much time together Defined by activity or attitude of group Adolescent peer groups Spend considerable time together Function with little or no adult control May include teens of other sex

When Do Romantic Relationships Develop? Begin in early to middle adolescence Sequence of dating Putting oneself in situations with peers of other sex Group activities that include peers of other sex Group dating Two-person dating Dating in early adolescence Casual and short-lived Dating in later adolescence More stable and committed

How Much Influence Do Peers Have On Each Other? Peer pressure peaks during mid-adolescence Peers provide standard for behaviors Peers provide support Adolescents are influenced by both parents and peers Peer influence styles and taste Parent influence moral principles and future goals

When? What? (How?) Who? Where? and Why? – Not to Mention, “Should I?” Sexuality When? What? (How?) Who? Where? and Why? – Not to Mention, “Should I?”

What Are Some Patterns of Sexual Behavior in Adolescence? Masturbation Most common sexual outlet for teens Nearly universal among male teens, less among female teens Sexual Orientation Sexually attracted to, and interested in forming a relationship with people of other sex – Heterosexual with people of same sex – Homosexual with people of either sex – Bisexual One may engage in sexual activity outside of sexual orientation

Homosexual Sexual Orientation Stages of sexual identity for gay and lesbians Attraction to members of same sex Self-labeling as gay or lesbian Sexual contact with members of same sex Disclosure of sexual orientation to others Coming out Accepting one’s homosexuality and declaring it to others Depression and suicide - higher among gay youth

What Do We Know About the Origins of Gay and Lesbian Sexual Orientation Learning theorists Reinforcement and observational learning Aware of sexual orientation before sexual contact experiences Societal condemnation provide few positive effects Genetic factors Sibling and twin studies Sex hormones May effect developing embryo and fetus Adults do not differ in levels of sex hormones (Gays – Heterosexuals)

Why Do Some Teenagers Initiate Sexual Activity at an Early Age, While Others Wait Until Later? High school students Since 90’s, gradual decline in %age engage in sexual intercourse Males more likely than girls to be sexually active Effects of puberty Early onset puberty – earlier sexual activity Parental influences Close relationship with parents – less early sexual activity Peer influences Predictor of sexual activity Sexual activity of best friend

Figure 16.1 Percentage of Students in Grades 9 – 12 Who Report Ever Having Had Sexual Intercourse. Despite a gradual decline in the incidence of sexual intercourse since the early 1990’s, the incidence of high school students who have engaged in sexual intercourse remains between 40% and 50%, with boys reporting a higher incidence than girls. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, and Child Trends Databank. “Less Sex, More Protection, Fewer Pregnancies.” (2004, March 7). The New York Times, p. N36. Figure 16.1 Percentage of Students in Grades 9-12 Who Report Ever Having Had Sexual Intercourse

Youth and Online Sexual Solicitation A Closer Look Youth and Online Sexual Solicitation

In This Cultural Setting, Why Do Teenage Girls Become Pregnant? Receive little advice about sexuality Failure to use contraception Use pregnancy to achieve intimacy, demonstrate rebellion Uneducated about reproduction and contraception Half of pregnant teens will get an abortion Most teen moms will be single moms

Figure 16.2 Percentage of Sexually Active Students in Grades 9 – 12 Who Report Using a Condom the Last Time They Had Sexual Intercourse. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, and Child Trends Databank. “Less Sex, More Protection, Fewer Pregnancies.” (2004, March 7) The New York Times, p. N36 Figure 16.2 Percentage of Sexually Active Students in Grades 9-12 Who Report Using a Condom the Last Time They Had Sexual Intercourse

Figure 16.3 Trends in Pregnancy and Birth Rates among Women Aged 15 – 19 in the United States and Other Developed Countries. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, and Child Trends Databank. “Less Sex, More Protection, Fewer Pregnancies.” (2004, March 7). The New York Times, p. N36 Figure 16.3 Trends in Pregnancy and Birthrates Among Women, Age 15-19, in the United States and Other Developed Nations

What Are the Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy? Consequences for pregnant teen More likely to experience medical complications Less likely to complete education Lower salaries Consequences for teen father Lower grades in school than peers Enter workforce at earlier age Consequences for children of teen mom Lower cognitive functions More behavioral, emotional problems More likely to become teen parent

Preventing Teenage Pregnancy Sex education programs Successful programs Increase knowledge about sexuality Delay onset of sexual activity

What Parents Want from Sex Education Courses A Closer Look What Parents Want from Sex Education Courses

Juvenile Delinquency

What Is Juvenile Delinquency? Illegal activities committed by child or adolescent Some activities are illegal only if committed by minors Status offenses Ethnicity Factors for overrepresentation of African American youth in juvenile justice system Racial bias Economic factors

What Are the Sex Differences in Delinquent Behavior? Boys more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors Boys commit more crimes of violence Girls commit more status offenses More girls are likely to be arrested for being runaways More runaways Double standard

Who Is Most Likely to Engage in Delinquent Behavior? Many risk factors and causality is not clear Poor school performance Delinquent friends, substance abuse Early aggressive or hyperactive behaviors Low verbal IQ, immature moral reasoning Low self-esteem and impulsivity Parents and/or siblings have been involved in antisocial behaviors Prevention and Treatment Focus on individual offender Focus on systems Early childhood intervention programs

When the Adolescent Has Everything to Lose Suicide When the Adolescent Has Everything to Lose

How Many Adolescents Commit Suicide? Why? Among older teens – suicide is 3rd or 4th leading cause of death Risk factors for suicide Depression and hopelessness Confusion about self, interpersonal problems Impulsiveness, emotional instability Stressful life events Origins of suicide Social problems Less capable of solving problems Genetics Suicide and psychological problems runs in families

Ethnicity, Sex, and Suicide Native Americans teens have highest suicide rate African Americans least likely to attempt suicide Sex 3 times more females attempt suicide Best predictor - depression 4 times more males succeed Best predictor – previous attempt

Warning Signs of Suicide A Closer Look Warning Signs of Suicide

Bridging Adolescence and the Life Beyond Emerging Adulthood Bridging Adolescence and the Life Beyond

How Do We Define Adulthood? Many different criterion for adulthood Historically – marriage Today – Independent from parents Financial and residence

How Do We Define Emerging Adulthood? Distinct period – straddles 18 through 25 Extended period for exploration Appear in affluent societies Erikson’s moratorium Extended search for identity