Adolescence

Section 1Every society has their own opinions of what

adolescence should be.

Initiation rites: rites of passage-mark admission into adulthood..birthdays, voting, drinking, drivers license, graduation from high school, college, weddings

Theories of adolescence:

1. G. Stanley Hall- “Storm and Stress”

2. Margaret Mead-adolescence can be a highly enjoyable time in life. She said that storm and stress was a by-product of an industrialized society. Evidence to support that she was right. Only 11 percent of adolescents encounter serious difficulties.

3 Robert Havighurst: pointed out that there is great physical, mental and emotional changes that occur during adolescence and that there are developmental tasks that must be mastered:accepting one’s physical makeupdeveloping appropriate relations with age-mates of

both sexes.Becoming economically independentDeciding on, preparing for and entering a vocationDevelop social competenceUnderstanding and achieving socially responsible

behaviorAcquiring values that are harmonious

Physical Development: Puberty: Rapid increase in weight and height. Peak is

age 12 for girls and 14 for boys

*Girls: Menarche (menstrual period starts between 10- 17)

*Boys: Spermarche (first ejaculation) puberty begins 24-27 months later than girls and lasts 3 years longer

Mid-adolescence: nearly all boys perform better than the best of the girls at running speed, broad jump, throwing distance

*Asynchrony- uneven growth

Early Maturing BoysRecent research confirms that during

adolescence, it is advantageous to be an early-maturing rather than late-maturing boy.

Early maturing boys appear to perceive themselves more positively and have more successful peer relations than their late-maturing counterparts.

Early Maturation Tougher for Girls

Recent findings suggest that early-maturing girls experience more problems in school.

They also experience more independence and popularity with boys.

In 6th grade, early-maturing girls show greater satisfaction with their figures, but by tenth grade, late-maturing girls are more satisfied.

Brain Growthhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPMP68QP698

The greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for self-control, judgment, emotions, organization and planning occur between puberty and adulthood.

Teenage Brains and Riskactivity -have to decide consequences or we‘ll

behave impulsively.

evaluating consequences –must think through the potential outcomes

frontal lobe is not always functioning fully in teenagers

Therefore, teens are more impulsive, because they're not worried about negative consequences

Sexual Attitudes:

Have not changed in young people since the early 1970’s, but teens know more about sex and are more sexually active.- 870,000 pregnancies

Moral Development:

 

Creator: Lawrance Kohlberg

Stage 1: Egocentric/ avoid punishment

Stage 2: Golden rule- evaluate in terms of consequences

Stage 3: social approval

Stage 4: law and order

Stage 5: Law is fair and just- laws change as world changes

Stage 6: approval of ethical principles- moral laws apply to everyone- see a situation from another’s viewpoint

Identity DevelopmentCreator: Erik Erikson

Erikson said that establishing identity is key to development- that you must go through an identity crisis if you want to achieve a sense of yourself

Identity formation v. Identity Confusion- unique individual with a valued sense of self in society

Section 3 ½ of all marriages end in divorce, more than ½ of all

women are in the workforce.

Role of Peers: use peers to define yourself most schools contain easily recognizable and well-defined

groups- rigid hierarchy popularity is defined by personal characteristics and athletic

ability. Clique- a group within a group-define and establish an identity Issues involving marriage, religion, educational plans-

adolescents accept their parents’ beliefs and follow their advice.

Difficulties during Adolescence

Time of transition- every stage of life is unique

-Troubled adolescents usually do not outgrow their troubles. They carry them into adulthood unless they get help.

- Depression- depressed teenagers appear intensely hyperactive and frantic, traits that are frequently mistaken for normal behavior in teenagers. Can appear to engage in rebellious behavior such as truancy, running away, drinking, using drugs, or being sexually promiscuous.

-Eating disorders

-Anorexia Nervosa- refusing to eat and not maintaining weight. Intense fear of gaining weight. Distorted body image.

-Bulimia Nervosa- binge eating/purging- laxatives, rigorous diet. Concerned about body shape/weight

Section 4

Gender identity: one’s physical and biological makeup. It is your awareness of being male/female.

Gender role: defined partly by genetic makeup but mainly by the society and culture in which the individual lives. Supposed to behave. Gender roles vary from society to society

Gender stereotypes: oversimplified or prejudiced opinions and attitudes concerning the way men or women should behave.  

Androgynous roles- flexible combination of traditionally male and female characteristics.

Gender Differences:

Personality:

Males are more confident than females in academic areas or on tasks that are more masculine. Confidence for women goes up when they perform tasks that receive direct and clear feedback.

Aggressiveness is more pronounced verbally with women and physically with men.

Aggression- Serotonin

Men talk more than women and interrupt more. Women talk more when they have power in a relationship. Females use hedges… “kind of” or “you know”… also use disclaimers… “I may be wrong” or “I am not sure” and use more tag questions.. “Okay?”