ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
“Adolescence” derives for a word for “to grow into adulthood.”
We examine all the transitions inherent to this period of life.
Adolescence is a 10 year period marked by phases
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Early (10 - 13) middle school
Middle (14 - 17) high school
Late (18 - 21) college years
Emerging adulthood (early – mid-20s) controversial, as many
in this stage are fully independent
Transitions
• Biological- pubertal changes in the body
• Cognitive- changes in memory & problem solving
• Social- changes in rights, privileges, & responsibilities/ cultural rites of passage
Bronfenbrenner Ecological Systems Theory
Key contexts that affect adolescents
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Families
Peer groups
Schools
Work, leisure and mass media
Psychosocial development
• Identity- understanding differences in self & others
• Autonomy- healthy independence
• Intimacy- forming close relationships
• Sexuality- enjoying sexual feelings
• Achievement – becoming successful
Nature vs. Nurture
• Nature is the idea that who we are is a result of genetics, our traits are inborn
– Original sin
– Innate goodness
• Nurture is the idea that who we are is a result of our environment, life
experiences.
– Tabula rasa
Biosocial- G. Stanley Hall’s Theory of Recapitulation
Human development paralleled species development: infancy equates to our primitive
past; Adolescence is when we moved into civilization
• Development was instinctual, driven by internal forces, rarely
affected by the environment
• Storm and stress was inevitable (disproven today)
• He predated our understanding of brain/ hormonal/ sleep differences due to
physiological maturation
Organismic Theories
• Biological, but take into account environmental influences
• Sigmund Freud- psychosexual conflicts come up especially during adolescence
because of early experiences
• Erik Erikson- psychosocial crises during each stage- identity crisis will
determine adult outcome
• Jean Piaget- qualitative differences in thinking
Learning Theories
• Environment is everything
• Behaviorism- reinforcement & punishment
– B.F. Skinner
• Social Learning – modeling & observational learning
– Bandura
Sociological theories
• Group influences: age, gender, ethnicity, SES
• Adolescent Marginality- teens experience frustration due to having less influence
– SES class makes a difference
• Intergenerational Conflict- teen/parent differences in attitudes, beliefs
– Modern society changes so rapidly there is an inevitable generation gap
(Family Ties sitcom)
Historical/Anthropological theories
• Adolescence differs in different societies- as a period it is a social invention of the
Industrial Revolution
• Social invention due to compulsory education/ today the concept of emerging
adulthood
• Anthropological theories- Margaret Mead/ Ruth Benedict examined how
societies’ nature is reflected in adolescent transition
– Continuous vs. discontinuous societies
Stereotyping Adolescents leads to misunderstanding
• Hall’s theories developed from Rousseau- the idea that this period encompasses
violent change and adults must tightly control teens. People still believe this in
spite of evidence to the contrary.
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Adolescent generalization gap- we exaggerate any differences we notice,
particularly if it is to adult’s advantage (during recession, depicting teens as
irresponsible, unemployable)
Today’s adolescents are viewed negatively & the stereotypes are emphasized by
media
Social policy regarding adolescents is determined by what is good for adults!