1. Chapter 9: Development in Adolescence

2. Development Milestones
From 10 or 12 years to 18 or 22 years
Physical Development:
Puberty – Rapid physical and sexual development accompanied by hormonal, emotional, and other changes
Primary and Secondary sex characteristics are developed
In industrialized countries, a secular trend has emerged as youth have begun to start puberty earlier than in past generations
Hormones, and their imbalance, may impact behavior

3. Development Milestones
Cognitive Development:
Teen’s cognitive skills become more complex and sophisticated – begin to think hypothetically and about abstract ideas
Meta-thought – The ability to think about thinking
Personality and emotional developments continue
Youth begin to establish more “adult-like” identities
Will be negatively influenced with use of drugs or alcohol
Moral Development:
Kohlber’s Theory of Moral Development
Level 1: Pre-conventiaonal Reasoning
Level 2: Conventional Reasoning
Level 3: Post-conventional Reasoning

4. Development Milestones
Moral Development:
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level 1: Pre-conventional Reasoning
Stage 1: Punishment and obedience orientation
Stage 2: Naïve instrumental hedonism
Level 2: Conventional Reasoning
Stage 3: Good boy/girl mentality
Stage 4: Authority-maintaining morality
Level 3: Post-conventional Reasoning
Stage 5: Morality of contract, of individual rights, and of democratically accepted law
Stage 6: Morality of individual principles and conscience

5. Development Milestones
Moral Development:
Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Development
Level 1: Orientation to personal survival
Transition1: From personal selfishness to responsibility
Level 2: Goodness as a Self-Sacrifice
Transition 2: From goodness to reality
Level 3: The morality of nonviolent responsibility

6. The Individual Maturation:
Large variability of development in adolescents
Early or late maturation may have both positive and negative impacts on adolescents
May be impacted by peers, family, the culture, individual personality, and advances in development
Self-Esteem:
Overall evaluation of the self
Peer/family relationships, body image, media messages, social norms, expectations, and many other variables may impact self-esteem

7. The Individual Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa
Disorder characterized by a restriction of food intake, excessive exercise, and vomiting or consumption of laxatives
Effects:
Anxiety
Depression
Dry skin
Stunted growth
Sensitivity to cold
Fine hair on body
Effective treatments include anti-depressant medications, family-based and psychodynamic therapies
Flat Affect
Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
Reduced bone density
Irregular or loss of menstruation
Cardiac problems
Death

8. The Individual Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa:
Eating disorder characterized by a binge eating and purging pattern. Extreme exercise, vomiting, and laxative use are typical.
Distorted body image
May experience depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and substance abuse
Effects:
Dehydration
Dizziness
Cardiac problems
Effective treatments include anti-depressant medications, family-based and cognitive-behavioral therapies
Electrolyte imbalances
Tooth enamel erosion

9. The Individual Sexuality: Sexual development
Sexual Identity – Individuals sexual orientation, and beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to sexuality
Sexually active teens face teen pregnancy; STDs and STIs; and financial, social, and academic difficulties
Homosexual and bi-sexual teens may face additional identity crisis while determining their sexual identity, compared to their heterosexual peers
Negative connotations
Societal views and expectations
Social workers must explore their beliefs on homosexuality, and come to terms with their beliefs to ensure the beliefs do not interfere with their work with homosexual clients
Sexually active teens are more likely to face concerns with STIs, HIV, and AIDS

10. The Individual Queer Theory: Late 1980s, early 1990s
Any socially constructed labels, categories, and relationships that are considered binary in nature by the dominate social group should be examined and critiqued
Examines the faults of the term “normal”
A society’s definition of all that is normal effectively excludes, and even pathologizes, all that is not normal
Often used as a lens through which to view sexual orientation and the LGBT community, as well as other social “problems”

11. The Individual Substance Abuse:
Trends in teen drug and alcohol use change over time
Factors:
Stressful life events
Stressful relationships
Effects:
Higher rates of violence, accidents, teen pregnancies, STIs
Early sexual intercourse
Disrupted development
Poor academic achievement
Family history of alcohol/drug abuse
Long and short term health problems
Lower financial success

12. The Individual Suicide: Increasing problem in the U.S.
Females are more likely to attempt suicide, while males are more likely to die from suicide attempts
Stressful life events contribute to a high risk of suicide
Abuse
Alcohol or drug use
Depression, or feelings of hopelessness
Teen pregnancy
Lack of strong family supports or other relationships
Academic problems
Discrimination due to sexual orientation

13. The Individual Suicide: Suicide Assessment (pg. 247) SAD PERSONS Sex
Age
Depression
Previous Attempt
Ethanol Abuse
Rational Thinking Loss
Social Support Loss
Organized Plan
No Spouse
Sickness

14. The Individual Learning:
Teens may learn better through a variety of learning styles
Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning - Active engagement in a four-step process advances learning
Hands-on learning
Subjective, personal reflection
Engage in abstract conceptualization
Practice learning in more complex learning environments

15. The Family and Immediate Environment
Positive support systems and close relationships may help teens resist peer pressure
Youth with secure attachments with parents are more like to create healthy, supportive attachments in peer relationships
Teens may be highly influenced by peers
Teen pregnancy may impact the entire family
Many young grandparents take on parenting roles, as many teens are emotionally and financially unable to parent alone

16. The Larger Social Environment
Runaway and homeless teens may use shelters and other short-term programs
Rates of violence among teens are increasing
May impact neighborhoods, schools, local stores and agencies
Poverty may promote teen violence, poor education, and rates of pregnancy or STIs
Sex education curriculum is a controversial topic
Youth interest in sex may be peaked by learning about sex
Lack of knowledge may increase teen risk for pregnancy and STIs
Heterosexism – Favoritism of heterosexuals that leads to prejudice or discrimination against homosexual and bisexual individuals and groups
Homophobia – Type of prejudice involving a fear, anger, disgust, or discomfort with homosexuals