THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 1 CHAPTER 6 The Adolescent in Society Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society Section 2: Teenagers and Dating Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 2 Objectives:  Explain how adolescence developed as a distinct stage of the life cycle in the United States.  Identify the five general characteristics of adolescence. Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 3 How Adolescence Developed as a Stage of the Life Cycle  Through Education – children stay in school longer; extended period of dependence  Through Work – laws restricted child labor, also increasing length of dependence  Through Courts – juvenile-justice system legally distinguished between youth and adults Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 4 Five General Characteristics of Adolescence  Biological Growth and Development – various biological changes such as changes in body proportions and acne  Undefined Status – adolescent expectations are often vague  Increased Decision Making – must make some of their own decisions Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 5 Five General Characteristics of Adolescence  Increased Pressure – adolescents are faced with pressure from many sources  The Search for Self – deciding what is really important Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society (continued)

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 6 Objectives:  Summarize how dating developed as a form of social interaction.  Describe the functions that dating fulfills. Section 2: Teenagers and Dating

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 7 Development of Dating  Industrial Revolution – people moved from the farms to the cities where young adults could gain more economic freedom and their own home. As a result, parental control over young adults and courtship decreased.  Public Education – by the 1900s most secondary school students attended coeducational public schools which increased interaction between boys and girls Section 2: Teenagers and Dating

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 8 Development of Dating  Automobile – young adults had more freedom of movement away from parents  Telephone – young adults could more easily talk to members of the opposite sex  Equality of Women – more women entered the workforce and took on more active community roles which increased the interaction between single adult men and women Section 2: Teenagers and Dating (continued)

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 9 Functions of Dating  Serves as a form of entertainment  Is a means of socialization that teaches people about the opposite sex  Fills psychological needs such as companionship  Helps individuals attain status as people are judged in part by whom they date  Aids in spouse selection Section 2: Teenagers and Dating

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 10 Objectives:  Identify some of the social problems facing contemporary teenagers.  Trace the causes and consequences of these problems. Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 11 Social Problems of Contemporary Teenagers  Teenage Sexual Behavior  Teenage Drug Use  Teenage Suicide Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 12 Causes and Consequences of Contemporary Problems – Sexual Behavior  Cause – loosening of norms concerning sexuality; low-income, one-parent families  Consequence – teenage pregnancy; exposure to or acquiring STDs such as syphilis or AIDS Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 13 Causes and Consequences of Contemporary Problems – Drug Use  Cause – dropping out of school; having friends who use drugs; social and academic adjustment problems; hostile and rejecting family setting  Consequence – increase in the use of some drugs among teens; increase in drug-related violence Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 14 Causes and Consequences of Contemporary Problems – Suicide  Cause – alcohol or drug use; triggering events such as a family crisis or other trials of adolescence; being female; social isolation, living in an underpopulated area, bad family environment; cluster effect from publicized suicides  Consequence – death; possible cluster effects leading to other teenage suicides; rise in U.S. teenage suicide rate; teen suicide rate now exceeds that for adults Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence