1. Chapter 13: Socioemotional Development in Adolescence McGraw-Hill © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. The Self and Emotional Development

3. Adolescence –Emotional development is characterized by Increased interest in self-protrayal Search for an identity Emotional swings –Girls’ self-esteem declines due to puberty –Boys’ self-esteem increases –Identity confusion is gap between the security of childhood and autonomy of adulthood

4. Gender Comparisons of Adolescents’ Self-Images Vocational/educational aspirations Morals Familial self Adjustment Psychological problems Social relationships Body image Impulse control Sexual self Mastery of the world Educational tone Category of self-esteem +.4+.20-.4-.2 Statistical score BoysGirls

5. Identity is a self-portrait of many parts: –Desired career path –Religious beliefs –Social and intimate relationships –Sexual and gender identity –Cultural or ethnic identity –Personality traits –Physical body image Identity formation occurs gradually over time, occurring before and continuing after adolescence

6. Identity formation –Adolescence is a time of exploration –Four identity statuses that involve commitment: Diffusion Foreclosure Moratorium Achievement –Adolescents also show a Need for confidence in parental support Need for a developed sense of industry Gain in self-reflective view of their future

7. Fig. 13.1 Position on occupation and ideology Identity status Identity diffusion Identity foreclosure Identity moratorium Identity achievement CrisisAbsent Present CommitmentAbsentPresentAbsentPresent Marcia’s Four Statuses of Identity

8. Adolescents’ identity development affected by –Individuality (self-assertion, separateness) –Connectedness (mutuality, open to other views) –Ethnic and cultural group membership –Gender (may be more complex for females) Male identity formation may precede intimacy stage Female intimacy may precede identity formation

9. Emotional development in adolescence –State of “storm and stress” is not constant –But emotional highs and lows increase –From 5th to 9th grades, both sexes experience some moodiness and decreased happiness It is normal to be moody Moodiness may be affected more by environmental experiences than hormonal changes –Pubertal changes are associated with an increase in negative emotions

10. Fig. 13.2 Self-Reported Extremes of Emotion by Adolescents, Mothers, and Fathers Using the Experience-Sampling Method 15 5 20 25 30 10 Very happy Very unhappy Mothers Adolescents Fathers Percentage of self-reports

11. Families

12. Adolescent desires for autonomy and responsibility occur through appropriate adult reactions Heated emotional exchanges may occur as parents feel a child is slipping away from their control or discarding their advice and views Examination of gender differences show boys being given more independence than girls Cross-culturally, U.S. adolescents seek autonomy earlier than Japanese adolescents

13. Adolescent–parent attachments are moderately correlated to adolescent outcomes Many parents see the child change from compliant to oppositional and resistant to parental standards Unwise parental reactions include demanding immediate compliance or giving no supervision at all Everyday conflicts in parent–adolescent relationships may serve a positive developmental function

14. Parents are important attachment figures and support systems as adolescents explore a complex social world In most families, parent–adolescent conflict is moderate and minor disputes are normal Prolonged, intense conflict at home is associated with a number of adolescent problems In some cultures, there is less parent–adolescent conflict than in others

15. Peers

16. Peer relations –Are very important in adolescent lives –Most teens prefer a smaller number of peer contacts and more intimacy –Teens form cliques that shape their social lives –Teens seek reassurance of worth and companionship from friends –Teens with superficial or no friendships are lonely and depressed with lower self-esteem Quality of adolescent friendships may be a predictor of self-worth in early adulthood

17. Fig. 13.4 College2nd5th7th10th 3 1 4 2 Self-disclosure in conversation score Grade Parent Friend Developmental Changes in Self-Disclosing Conversations

18. Peer pressure in adolescence –Conformity can be negative or positive –Pressure appears strongest for conforming to antisocial standards –Cross-culturally, there is more peer pressure in the U.S. than in Japan to resist parents –Cliques are based on friendship, common interests Crowds are –Larger groups with reputations for what they do –Less personal than cliques

19. Adolescents spend considerable time either dating or thinking about it Dating can function as a source of –Recreation –Status and achievement –Learning about close relationships –Mate selection –Strong emotional relationships Girls’ early romantic involvement is linked to lower grades, less school participation, and more problems

20. Fig. 13.5 Age at Onset of Romantic Activity 100 60 40 20 0 80 5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th4th Grade Had an exclusive relationship for more than 2 mo. Planned an engagement or a marriage Went out with same person 3 or more times Announced “I like someone” Percentage of students

21. Adolescent romantic relationships –Many adolescents seek attachment or sex after acquiring basic competencies to interact romantically –Cyberdating is very popular among middle school children as young as 10 years of age –High school dating is more traditional –Most gay and lesbian youth do little same-sex dating due to social disapproval and other factors –Romantic relationships are usually described in terms of interpersonal qualities by girls and physical attraction by boys

22. Culture and Adolescent Development

23. Cross-culturally –Two-thirds of Asian Indian adolescents accept marriages arranged by their parents –Female adolescents in the Philippines sacrifice their futures to work and send money home –Street youth in Kenya survive economically by delinquency or prostitution –In the Middle East, many adolescents are segregated by sex, even in school –Russian youth are marrying earlier, while U.S. youth are marrying later than past generations

24. Rapid global change presents adolescents with more opportunities and challenges to health and well-being Globally, adolescent experiences are affected by their gender, family, schools, and peers –Fewer die from infectious diseases or malnutrition than in the past –Risky adolescent behaviors, especially illicit drug use and unprotected sex, are increasing

25. Globally –Female and male adolescent experiences continue to be quite different and gap is not lessening –Some families remain closely knit with extensive extended kin networks, while others do not –Some trends have increased family mobility and reduced family resource abilities –Some cultures encourage stronger peer roles in adolescence and the need for formal education (others may not – some based on gender bias)

26. Rites of passage for adolescents –Vary among cultures –May be more influenced by social and religious groups in Western societies Ethnic minorities in American society –Are overrepresented in the lower SES levels –Economic disadvantage still affects minority youth from middle-income backgrounds –Japanese Americans, often seen as “model minority,” still have ethnic minority status stress –Ethnic minorities differ among themselves socially, historically, and economically

27. Adolescent Problems

28. Juvenile delinquency –Is a broad concept that includes many actions from minor infractions to murder –More likely to be committed by males –Involvement by females is increasing –More males than females are arrested –Property offenses are committed more than any other crime, by both sexes –Rates are disproportionately higher for minority and lower SES youth –Minorities are judged delinquent more than Whites

29. Explanations for causes of delinquency –Heredity –Identity problems –Community influences –Family experiences –Lower class culture –Antisocial peer groups and gangs –Status given for antisocial behavior –Male “high-status” traits nurtured –High crime areas have criminal role models –Community resources are inadequate

30. Youth crime –A high concern in the United States –Feelings of helplessness, alienation, and depression can lead to violence and suicide –Rates are highest in poverty-infested areas –Prevention efforts should include Developmentally appropriate schools Supportive families Positive youth and community organizations Depression is highest in adolescence – highest in girls

31. Adolescents and suicide: –Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-olds in U.S. –Females are more likely to attempt suicide –Males are more likely to commit suicide –Males use more lethal means than females –Homosexual youths may be 3 to 7 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youths –Suicide is affected by genetic and emotional factors

32. The End