Chapter 9 - Autonomy Flashcards
What is the difference between independence and autonomy?
independence = capacity to behave on one’s own
autonomy is broader, deals with various areas of self-governing
What are the 3 main dimensions of autonomy?
emotional
- gaining emotional independence in relationships with others, especially parents
behavioural
- making independent decisions and following through on them
cognitive aka value
- developing an independent set of beliefs and principles, separate from peer and parental pressures
do not occur simultaneously and do not occur in a fixed order
- leads to confusion, paradoxical situations, and differing opinions between youth and adults
What is really happening when teens are “rebelling”?
not rebelling or rejection/disconnection from the family
instead the process of self-regulation has begun but the boundaries are unclear and not mutually agreed upon
How does autonomy appear in toddlerhood?
“terrible twos”
key in development in the sense of self
assert self as an individual with needs separate from parents/others
preparation for later development in adolescence
In what ways does emotional autonomy develop during adolescence?
change in parent-child relationship (power, expression, interaction)
become less emotionally dependent on their parents
detachment (psychoanalytic view)
- natural way to force adolescent from family, implies breaking off of relationships/connection to family
emotional autonomy achieved through individuation
What is individuation?
long, gradual process
begin to let go of dependency on parents and adopt a more mature, responsible relationships with them
take increasing responsibility for the self
begin to turn less dependent relationships (peers and others)
not about severing parent-child relationships, but about transforming it
What are 4 characteristics of the transformation in parent-child relationship?
non-dependency
- no longer turn to parents for every concern, develop personal coping mechanisms
de-idealization of parents
- no longer considered to be experts in every area
people outside the family take up considerable emotional energy
begin to interact with parents as people not just parental figures
What are some barriers to emotional autonomy?
youth expect autonomy earlier than parents
may be anxious without safety net
parents may feel rejected and view non-compliance as rejection
How does parenting style impact emotional autonomy?
authoritative promotes independence and positive adjustment
authoritarian decreases overall well-being and increases problem behaviour leads to becoming a “follower”
- helicopter parents smother youth, can’t experience individuation
indifferent/permissive leads to pseudo-independence, over-reliance on peer advice
- detached or has no boundaries
What are some traits of toxic parenting?
excessive psychological/physical control
abusive
mental illness
manipulative, controlling, demanding
react to the disruption in family equilibrium by increasing chaos
What are some examples of maladaptive parenting?
treating older adolescent as a child
requiring all decisions to be approved
using guilt to create pressure to follow parental direction
creating fear so adolescents will not disagree
manipulating through possible withdrawal of love, affection, financial help, place to live, etc.
What are some traits of behavioural autonomy?
does not make fully independent decisions!
turn to others for advice when appropriate
weight different solutions or courses of actions using others’ and own judgement
and THEN reach an independent decision about how to act/behave
What are the 3 domains of behavioural autonomy?
changes in decision making ability
changes in susceptibility to influence of others
changes in feelings of self-reliance
What are some changes in decision making that occur when achieving behavioural autonomy?
be more aware of possible risks
consider future consequences of alternatives
turn to independent specialists as consultants
realize when advice givers have vested interests
be cautious about accepting biased advice
due to changes in cognitive development
How does self-regulation improve with age?
decisions less influenced by rewards
- risks and rewards more equally balanced
better at controlling their impulses
- by late adolescence, reasoning about rewards and impulse control have matured, decisions and actions are more planful and deliberate
Why are early adolescents especially susceptible to advice/influence of peers?
orientation towards peer group has increased
more dependent on peers as autonomy from parents increases
- peers provide bridge to autonomy
susceptibility greatest in early teen years and then declines
What causes the change in susceptibility to peer reactions?
teens follow each other because their brains derive more pleasure from social acceptance than adults
being liked by others activate more reward centres in adolescence
emotion centres well developed but reasoning centres not yet, more susceptible to peer pressure
What is positive peer pressure?
peer pressure can also encourage positive social behaviours
studying, training for sports, overcoming a fear, trying something new
What is perceived autonomy?
judgements about how autonomous adolescents think they are
subjective feelings of autonomy increase steadily throughout adolescence
What is cognitive autonomy?
development of independent beliefs, morals, and values
beliefs become more grounded in abstract principles and less tied to dictates of authority
develop guiding principles rather than doing what is told or following established rules
What is Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning?
actual decision is less important than the reasoning behind it
answer to WHY determines level of moral reasoning
3 stages
- pre-conventional
- conventional
- post-conventional
What is pre-conventional moral reasoning?
decisions based on whether action leads to reward or punishment
external and tangible outcomes
stage dominates childhood
What is conventional moral reasoning?
late childhood and early adolescence
focus on how they will be judged by others
emphasis on roles, expectations, rules, conventions
look for approval and maintain social order
rule-bound and conforming
What is post-conventional/principled moral reasoning?
emerges during adolescence
rules seen as relative and subjective
conventions can be questioned when more important principles take precedence
potential - not everyone reaches this level
What is the result of increased ability to think hypothetically?
increased interest in ideological/philosophical issues
exploration of different value systems, personal ethics and beliefs systems
What results from the onset of idealism?
re-evaluation of right and wrong
rejection of rules that now seem arbitrary
independent decisions apart from social approval
What is the most common level of moral reasoning used in adolescence?
conventional
How can parents foster moral development in adolescents?
encourage participation in family discussions
allow reasonable disagreement
model higher level reasoning
How can peers affect moral development in adolescents?
teens adopt parental values where parent is expert but peer values in areas of acceptance and status
since peer groups comprised of individuals with similar values, may not influence development of values but rather reinforce ones that already exist
What are the 2 theories as to what triggers individuation?
puberty
cognitive development
Which gender is less susceptible to peer pressure? Which race?
males > females
other groups > black adolescents
What is moral disengagement?
rationalizing immoral behaviour as legitimate as a way of justifying one’s own bad acts
more likely to engage in risky behaviour when they see it as a matter of personal taste rather than right and wrong
How does parenting affect moral and prosocial reasoning?
authoritative parenting helps contribute to its development
helps develop sympathy, empathy, and emotion regulation
What gender scores higher on prosocial moral reasoning methods?
girls
girls and boys with more feminine traits
What is one of the most obvious ways to engage in prosocial behaviour?
civic engagement/service learning
debate around if volunteering is good for adolescents’ psychology
How does thinking become more political?
more abstract
less authoritarian and rigid
develop a roughly coherent and consistent set of attitudes (sort of ideology) based on a set of overarching principles
- concerning civil liberties, freedom of speech, social equality, etc.
How do attributions of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness change with class?
higher classes attribute these things to societal factors
lower classes attribute these things to individual factors
How do religious beliefs change over adolescence?
become more orientated towards spiritual and ideological matters and less towards rituals, practices, and strict observance of religious customs
more emphasis on internal aspects than external manifestations
What is religiosity?
degree to which one engages in religious practices
may be important for identity development since it involves identification with a particular group
What is spirituality?
degree to which one places importance on the quest for answers to questions about God and the meaning of life
may be important to development of cognitive autonomy since it involves self-awareness and development of personal meaning systems and values
What are effects of religious involvement on the youth?
better adjusted and less depressed, less likely to have premarital sex, less likely to use drugs/engages in delinquency
especially positive effect for inner-city youth
may be due to more positive role models but being religious in and of itself appears to have these effects as well
