Human Development Adolescence 13 – 17 years
Physical Growth Growth spurt Girls 9-10; slow down at 15 Boys Boys—voice deepens; adds muscle with a decline of body fat. Motor performance increases dramatically Girls adds more body fat than muscle; motor performance decreases Onset of puberty Early/late bloomers Early maturation
Changes in Brain Structure Trimming of the pre-frontal lobe of the brain Mood swings Unreasonable and unpredictable behavior Rising depression among youth Increase of teenage suicide Youth need greater demonstration of love, yet they are often unlovable
Changes in Brain Structure The “ring of fire” At-risk Youth
Mental Growth Formal operational reasoning Long-term knowledge base continues to expand Develops more complex rules for problem solving Becomes less self-conscious and self-focused Becomes better at planning and decision making
Emotional Growth Develops self-concept & self-esteem Starts dating Searches for an identity Experiences mood swings Overall exhibits better self-control if properly disciplined in the earlier years
The Adolescent Developmental Tasks Search for identity Gaining emotional independence from parents and other adults Achieving assurance of economic independence
Factors that complicate growth Home influences mixed with many others Explosion of information (internet) Varied career options Rapidly changing environment and the need for continuous learning Expectations of marriage and parenthood revised (divorce & remarriage) Delay in economic and emotional independence when youth are physically and sexually mature
The increased moratorium between childhood and adult responsibility resulting in delayed independence is one of the chief sources of youth- parent conflicts. — William Rogers
Relationship between adolescent rebelliousness & search for identity Lack of emotional maturity; dependence on parents for financial support; therefore, unable to set up own home or enter into a career, youth seeks to make a statement of independence by rejecting parents’ values.
Issues Peer pressure & influence Drugs, smoking, alcohol Premarital sex Teen pregnancies 500,000 births per year in the U.S. 400,000 teenage pregnancies end in abortion U.S. girls younger than 15 are 5 times more likely to give birth than are girls from any other developed country Between 1973 and 1987, pregnancy among teens between 10 and 14 increased 23%
Teen Pregnancy Physical, psychological and financial costs are high Millions of adolescents are sexually active but ignorant about the consequences.
Moral development Likely to have a conventional moral orientation Youth either find meaning in church or apostasize
Adolescent heresy “We have noted that in certain instances of parent-youth conflict, displaced aggression toward the parent may be directed against the church, resulting in a characteristic type of adolescent heresy.”-- Ausubel
Rejection of Parental Values A time when critical faculties are developed; they begin to think for themselves. Notice the flaws in the adult value system. Adults talk their values, but fail to do them. Therefore, results in the adolescent withdrawal from religion and church.
Adolescent Heresy “It is because so many parents and teachers profess to believe the Word of God while their lives deny its power, that the teaching of Scripture has no greater effect upon the youth.” Ed 259
Reasons from Teens on Leaving the Church NOT because of doctrine but confusion over the walk and the talk Cold churches and unfriendly Irrelevance (boring) Intolerance Convenience Rejected because of premarital pregnancy or other “sins” Interpersonal conflicts
PREVENTION & HEALING for Adolescent Heresy Listen and understand Facilitate gradual independence Give responsibility and hold them responsible Guide in value formation Teach decision making from principles Allow unwise decisions—learn from mistakes Don’t battle your teens; show unconditional love Model attractive & satisfying religion. Roger Dudley, Why Adventist Youth Leave the Church, pp