Trends Related To The Life Cycle
Adolescence
Agenda
What is a life cycle?
What is Adolescence?
Adolescence as a Period of Transition
Adolescence in Pre-Industrialized Society
Factors That Influence Youth Culture
Psychological factors
Socialization
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Life Cycle: the different stages that an
individual may pass through from birth
to death
Stages include: Infancy, childhood,
adolescence, young adulthood,
marriage, parenthood, mid-life, and old
age.
Life Cycle
The term life cycle refers to the different stages that an individual may pass through from
birth to death:
Old ageInfancy
Mid-life
Childhood
Parenthood
Adolescence
Marriage adulthood
Adolescence
Adolescence
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The period between when sexual
maturation occurs and when
psychological, emotional and economic
maturity occurs
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A 13-year old male is sexual mature to
become a father, yet is not psychologically,
emotional or economically prepared for the
responsibility
Adolescence - Period of Transition
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Michael Boyes, a professor at the University of
Calgary goes further by claiming that
‘adolescence’ itself didn’t exist in industrialized
societies until the late 1890s, when it was
invented for economic reasons
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The labour force had to shrink as technological
innovations rendered jobs previously filled by teens.
These teens could not find work, and as a result,
ended up on the streets, sometimes getting into
trouble
In cases where adolescents did break the law, the
delinquents were sent to “juvenile” homes where
attempts to reform them were made
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In Canada - this thinking yielded the “Juvenile
Delinquent Act” in 1908
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This was later replaced by the “Young Offenders
Act”
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Teens under 16 were handed punishments that were
suppose to correct bad behaviour - the sentences
were chosen to fit the offender, not the crime.
Delayed adult justice for youth until 18, on the belief
that they could possibly be rehabilitated up to this
age.
In effect, both pieces of legislation entrenched
adolescence as a life cycle stage, separate from
childhood & adulthood
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Social scientists began to study the unique
characteristics of adolescents
1904 - Stanley Hall defined the teen years
as a distinct stage in life that begins at
puberty and is marked by inner turmoil.
Starting in the 1st decade of the 20th
century, youth were in their own
institutions: first high school, then college
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They developed the social skills expected of
adults, which in previous generations had
learned simply by being around adults
Adolescence in Pre-Industrial
Societies
Pre-industrialized Society
The period of adolescence differs form
society to society. For Canadians it can
last from 12 years of age to the end of the
teen years.
The San for example, consider a female a
woman once she has had her menarche
and has passed though a short coming of
age ceremony
Some societies require their children to
mature quickly so that they can take over
the roles of their parents.
Pre-industrialized= initiation rituals
passage to adulthood, keeping tradition
alive and connects past generations:
Symbolic death and rebirth, Isolation of
the initiate, Physical changes, Cleansing,
Test of endurance or bravery, Teaching
and learning, community of sharing of
food.
Where does the term come from?
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Adolescence has not always been legally and
politically recognized as a separate social
category in industrialized societies.
Even socially, the term “teenager” didn’t exist.
Previous to industrialized times, many people
went from being a child, to being in the work
force & treated like a young adult.
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The duration of adolescence varies from society
to society
In some hunting and gathering societies,
adolescence is often a relatively short period - if
it exists at all
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For example, the San people consider a female a
woman once she has reached Menarche (her first
menstruation) and has passed through a short
coming-of-age ceremony
Boys are considered men after they kill their first buck
and participate in a coming-of-age ritual that last a
few days
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Generally speaking, societies with a short
period of adolescence, or none at all are
required to mature more quickly so that
they can take over the roles of their
parents.
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The sooner each member of the society
accepts adult responsibility, the better for the
entire group
Coming of age ceremonies
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Both industrial and pre-industrial societies
commonly hold coming of age ceremonies
to mark the the passage of children to
adulthood.
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Sweet sixteen birthday parties, graduation,
engagement parties & marriage ceremonies
Legal milestones - drivers license, right to
vote, drink alcohol
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In many pre-industrial societies, these
ceremonies or initiation rituals are often
elaborate and mean as much to
community as they do to the individual.
Karen Liptak identifies a number of
common threads that exist in many of
these ceremonies
Socialization
Within the Home
Socialization refers to the process by which children are shaped
into responsible members of society. This involves acquiring the
norms and values of their culture, learning to control their
impulses and developing their self-concept.
In a child’s early years the family is the primary agent of
socialization.
Self-concept: Gender Identity (one’s concept of maleness or
femaleness)
*It is a central organizing principle in a persons
self-image and in the construction of his or her
social world.
*Gender identity is taught at home through parental
expectations and demands regarding household chores.
*Gender identity is a function of nurture in that it is
learned behaviour.
Case study: His name is Aurora
Socialization Con’t
Role of Television
Over time, peers, neighbours, school,
media and television have an important
impact on youth culture.
Canadian child watches 23 hours of
television a week and by graduation the
average teen has spent more time in front
of a television than in the classroom.
More exposure to violence, sexuality and
offensive language are more convincing
and have a great impact on youth as they
are more influenced and can always
discern fact form reality.
Takes away from other activities such as
reading and school work.