Chapter 4Chapter 4

AdolescenceAdolescence

Physical and Sexual Development

• Adolescence - period between childhood and adulthood (varies from culture to culture)

• US -- preparation for adulthood• African nations (developing) -- child to adult , no

transition• Initiation rites - ceremonies or rituals admitting you

to a new status ex - b-days (16,18, 21)• G. Stanley Hall - 1904• “storm and stress” - see freedom but haven’t

obtained it

Sect. 1 cont.• Later theorists say the transition is much

smoother• Margaret Mead - stated that adolescence

is an enjoyable time and 57% say it was positive

• Robert Havighurst challenges in adolescence (p. 95), some examples include - gender roles, relationships, emotional independence

Physical development• Puberty - sexual maturation - marks an end to

childhood • girls 8-10, boys 9-16• 12-13 menarche - 1st menstrual cycle, can get

pregnant within 12 to 18 months pregnancy can occur

• 12-13 spermarche - males achieve 1st ejaculation

• Growth spurt lasts 3 months longer for boys

End of sect.1• Asynchrony - growth of body parts uneven -

out of proportion • Boys who mature early - looked at more

positive• Girls who mature early - can be negative• Surprisingly sexual activity has increased but

other sexual behavior is similar to that of the 70’s

Personal Development• The transition from childhood to adulthood involves

changes in patterns of reasoning and moral thinking, as well as the development of one’s identity

• COGNITIVE development for adolescence

• Jean Piaget - from 11-12, most people’s thinking become more abstract, problem solving.

• Rationalization - adolescence deal with emotional feelings that may be unpleasant by preserving their own self-esteem BLAME

Cognitive dev. Cont.• Changes in thinking will change personality - they may be

too idealistic or rebellious • Messiah complex - believe they can save the world from evil• David Elkind’s problems of adolescnece• 1. Find fault with authority• 2. Argue• 3. Indecisive - can’t make a decision• 4. Hypocrisy - have ideals but won’t act• 5. Self- consciousness• 6. Invulnerability - don’t have to live by the same rules

Moral development• Start to have changes in relationships and

changes in dev. - college years• Identity dev. - personality changes• Erik Erickson - key to adolescence is identity• “identity crisis” - inner conflict in which they

worry about themselves, resolving this achieves a sense of self

• Kids have many roles and this can lead to role confusion

More on sect. 2• James Marcia work (1996)• 4 groups trying to achieve identity• 1. Identity moratorium adolescence - considering

issues, no commitment• 2. Identity foreclosure adolescence - firm

commitment on issues with others involvement• 3. Identity confuses or diffused - no serious

thoughts to making any decisions• 4. Identity achievement - considered many identities

and have made choices/commitments

More on identity• AC Peterson - crisis not normal, when there

is crisis there are outside influences• Albert Bandura - human development is a

process, develops by interacting with others SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

• Margaret Mead - Social environment and identity is a continuous process

Social Development• Changes in adolescence social relationships, more

influence from peers• Role of the family - main task is to become

independent of their families - build an identity• Role of peers - give acceptance• Clique - small exclusive group within a large group• - closeness, defining identity, confidence,

values and eventual independence from family• However it can be negative - Conformity

Difficulties during adolescence

• Suicide increases, illusion of invulnerability, acts of juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, underachievement

• Causes of teenage depression: Loss of loved one, break down of family, not feeling accepted

by peersForms depression takes: anger, rebellion, hyperactivity, with drawl from friendsEating disorders Anorexia Nervosa - refusing to eatBulimia - binge eating and purging

Section 4 - Gender Roles• Gender identity - one’s physical and biological

make-up• Gender role - the set of behaviors that society

considers appropriate for each sex. Roles vary by society and over time

• Gender stereotypes - oversimplified or distorted generalization of male and female

• Androgynous - combining or blending traditionally male or female characteristics

Gender differences• Personality - males more confident than females in tasks

stereotyped as masculine. • Females more confident when given feedback• Aggression - females more verbally aggressive and males more

physical• Why? Society expectation and lower levels of serotonin• Communication styles - men talk more, woman hedge ( kind of),

woman use disclaimers (I’m not sure), woman use tag questions (Okay?)

• Nonverbal - female submission and warmth• Male - dominance and status• Females more sensitive to nonverbal cues