1. Sociology: The study of human relationships
Chapter 6
The Adolescent in Society
Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society
Section 2: Teenagers and Dating
Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence

2. Section 1: Adolescence in Our Society
Objectives:
Explain how adolescence developed as a distinct stage of the life cycle in the United States
Identify the five general characteristics of adolescence

3. How Adolescence Developed as a Stage of the Life Cycle
Through Education – children stay in school longer; extended period of dependence
Through Work – laws restricted child labor, also increasing length of dep3endence
Through Courts – juvenile-justice system legally distinguished between youth and adults

4. Five General Characteristics of Adolescence
Biological Growth and Development – various biological changes such as changes in body proportions and acne
Undefined Status – adolescent expectations are often vague
Increased Decision Making – must make some of their own decisions

5. Five General Characteristics of Adolescence
Increased Pressure – adolescents are faced with pressure from many sources
The Search for self – deciding what is really important

6. Section 2: Teenagers and Dating
Objectives:
Summarize how dating developed as a form of social interaction
Describe the functions that dating fulfills

7. Development of Dating
Industrial Revolution – people moved from the farms to the cities where young adults could gain more economic freedom and their own home. As a result, parental control over young adults and courtship decreased.
Public Education – by the 1900’s most secondary school students attended coeducational public schools which increased interaction between boys and girls.

8. Development of Dating
Automobile – young adults had more freedom of movement away from parents
Telephone – young adults could more easily talk to members of the opposite sex
Equality of Women – more women entered the workforce and took on more active community roles which increased the interaction between single adult men and women

9. Functions of Dating Serves as a form of entertainment
Is a means of socialization that teaches people about the opposite sex
Fills psychological needs such as companionship
Helps individuals attain status as people are judged in part by whom they date
Aids in spouse selection

10. Section 3: Challenges of Adolescence
Objectives:
Identify some of the social problems facing contemporary teenagers.
Trace the causes and consequences of these problems

11. Social Problems of Contemporary Teenagers
Teenage Sexual Behavior
Teenage Drug Use
Teenage Suicide

12. Causes and consequences of contemporary Problems – Sexual Behavior
Cause – loosening of norms concerning sexuality; low-income, one-parent families
Consequence – teenage pregnancy; exposure to or acquiring STD’s such as syphilis or AIDS

13. Causes an Consequences of Contemporary Problems – Drug Use
Cause – dropping out of school; having friends who use drugs; social and academic adjustment problems; hostile and rejecting family setting
Consequence – increase in the use of some drugs among teens; increase in drug-related violence

14. Causes and consequences of Contemporary Problems - Suicide
Cause – alcohol or drug use; triggering events such as a family crisis or other trials of adolescence; being female; social isolation, living in an under populated area, bad family environment; cluster effect from publicized suicides
Consequence – death; possible cluster effects leading to other teenage suicides; rise in U.S. teenage suicide rate; teen suicide rate now exceeds that for adults