Adolescence Emotional and Social Development Flashcards
Development of Identity
•Hall’s Portrayal
“Storm and Stress” •G. Stanley Hall (1904) depicted adolescence as a period of “storm and stress.” •Inevitable turmoil •Maladjustment •Tension •Rebellion •Dependency •Conflicts •Exaggerated peer-group conformity
Sullivan’s Interpersonal Theory of Development
•Explains human development as being social; positive peer relations are crucial
- Preadolescence, “Tween”
- Begins with powerful need for an intimate relationship with a same-sex playmate (BFF)
- Ends with desire for genital sexuality
Early adolescence
•Begins with onset of puberty and genital maturation
•Merging need for sexual intimacy challenges same-sex friendship of preadolescence
•Need to be seen as socially acceptable by potential sexual partners
Late adolescence
•Begins with the individual establishing a method of satisfying sexual needs
- Ends with the establishment of a relationship that is both sexually and personally intimate
- There are various ways to be intimate
Erikson: The “Crisis”
of Adolescence
- His work focused on the struggle of adolescents to develop and clarify their identity.
- Adolescents must synthesize a variety of new roles in order to come to terms with themselves and their environment.
Erikson believes that adolescents are at risk of:
1) identity diffusion- lack of ability to commit
oneself to an occupational or ideological position
and assume a recognizable station in life
2) negative identity- debased self-image and social role
3) deviant identities- a lifestyle that is at odds with,
or least not supported by, the values and
expectations of society
James E. Marcia
- Studied the development of ego identity
- Through interviews with college students, identified four types of identity formation:1) identity diffusion: lack of a core, don’t know who they are
2) identity foreclosure: based on other’s expectations
3) identity moratorium: delay in order to “find oneself”
4) identity achievement: inner stability that corresponds with others’ perceptions
Cultural Aspects of Identity Formation
- Many non-Western societies make the period of adolescence easier by providing puberty rites.
- Initiation ceremonies that symbolize the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Most contemporary researchers have concluded that adolescence is
NOT a period of storm and stress:
- The average teenager merely bickers with parents
- Adolescence is not a uniquely stressful period
- The overall self-esteem of most individuals increases with age across the adolescent years.
Carol Gilligan: Female Adolescents and Self Esteem
•Adolescence is a time when girls begin to
doubt themselves as a result of socialization
pressures.
•Self esteem and confidence drops from
elementary school to high school.
•Begin to doubt the authority of own inner
voices, strive to be “perfect” and “nice” girls
Gurian: Male Identity Formation
- Hormonal and structural brain differences between males and females
- Learn best by imitation and practice
- Male role models: family, mentors, and support from school and community
The Adolescent Peer Group
•Western societies, by prolonging the transition to adulthood by segregating their youth, have given rise to a kind of institutionalized adolescence or youth culture.
The most obvious features of the youth culture revolve around various peer-group trademarks which facilitate a consciousness of oneness:
•Preferred music
•Approved personal adornment and hair styles
•Distinctive jargon and slang
•Consciousness of oneness
Importance of clique membership seems to take on a growing significance for many sixth-, seventh-, and eighth- graders
•Diminishes as the individuals aspects of social relationships take on greater importance.
Adolescents and Their Families
- Today’s adolescents see their attitudes toward drugs, education, work, sex, and most other matters as closer to their parents’ views than adolescents did in the 1970s.
- The relative influence of the family and the peer group varies with the issue involved.
When the issues pertain to finances, education, and career plans, adolescents seek advice and counsel from adults, particularly parents.
•When issues involve the specifics of social life-matters of dress, dating, musical tastes- they are more attuned to the opinions and standards of the peer group.
- Contrary to some psychoanalytic formulations, adolescents do not seem to develop autonomy and identity by severing ties with parents.
- Connected, supportive, authoritative parenting seems to benefit adolescents more than other parenting styles.
Overall, parent-child and peer relations fulfill fundamentally different functions for adolescents.
Courtship, Love, and Sexuality
- One of the most difficult adjustments that adolescents must make revolves around their developing sexuality.
- Youth vary a great deal in the age at which they first experience intercourse.
Among both males and females, early onset of sexual intercourse is associated with
- delinquent behavior
- poor prospects for higher education
- low levels of parental monitoring
- smoking, alcohol, and drug use
Courtship
- Dating has traditionally been the principal vehicle for fostering and developing romantic relations.
- In the 60’s and early 70’s traditional “dates” were replaced with “hanging out”
Sexual Orientation
- More than 25% of boys and girls enter adolescence unsure of their sexual orientation.
- By age 18, 5% are still unsure of their orientation.
- Very little research has been conducted on homosexuality in teenagers, but is increasing.
