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Adolescent Psychology
Chapter 1
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Brief Outline of Chapter 1
Historical Perspective Today’s Adolescents The Nature of Development Understanding Adolscence Careers in Adolescent Development Summary
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Historical Perspective
Early History The 20th Century Stereotyping adolscents
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Early History Plato thought young children should do sports and music while, at adolescence, study of science and math should proceed Aristotle: self-determination occurs at adolescence; egocentrism Middle ages children and adolescents as adults; short life span
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Early History Plato identified 3 aspects of human development: desire, spirit, and reason Plato emphasized the onset of rational thought in adolescence requires a change in educational curriculum Plato believed character should be developed during early childhood years
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Early History The debate about importance of early years in character building persists until even now Aristotle argued adolescence was a time of learning to make choices; establishing self-determination and self-control Importance of “natural consequences”
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Early History During middle ages children of all ages were treated with strict, harsh discipline Children could be killed for stealing bread There was no special status given to children or adolescents; all were adults Lifespan was short/Black Plague years
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Early History During the 18th century the view of childhood and adolescence began to emerge with the French romanticist philosopher John Jaques Rousseau Rousseau did more than any other to forward this “enlightened” view Rousseau argued treating children as adults was harmful
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Early History Rousseau forwarded a view of “developmental stages”
Stage: Infancy - the first 4 or 5 years of the child’s life Stage: Savage - between 5 to 12 years of age Stage: Sage - between 12 to 15; self-consciousness, curiosity, exploration
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Early History Stage: Philosopher - age 15 to 20; emotional maturity; altruism, virtues and morals appear Between schools were more available but still not common; apprenticeships beginning at age 12 Some children left home at age 8 to become servants
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Early History : economic gap between classes widened; an industrial revolution; children who were in school stayed longer and some pursued college Delayed gratification became important; success = conformity became important social maxim.
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The 20th Century and teens
Concept of adolescence emerged during Industrial revolution Establishment of labor unions End of child labor Increased education Increased wealth Decreased agrarian society/urbanization
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The 20th Century G. Stanley Hall wrote a book in 1904 in which the notion of adolescence was first extended Hall had been influenced by Darwin and British evolutionary science and genetics studies Hall concerned about influence of genetics and environment
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The 20th Century For Hall, adolescence was a logic outgrowth of both the changing socioeconomic conditions in industrialized society but also that of environment/heredity interactions in individuals. Hall was influenced by the German romanticists in his thinking
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The 20th Century Hall’s view of adolescence was that of the “Sturm und Drang” (Goeth and Schiller: both German romanticists) Concept was that adolescence was a turbulent time charged with emotional mood swings and conflict Hall believed adolescence was a difficult, trying time for individuals
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The 20th Century Hall’s Strum-und-drang theory influenced his thinking
He believed that civility, scientific thinking, and morality should be taught intensively AFTER the age of 15 Hall began adolescent theorizing, systematizing, and science in the study of teenagers.
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The 20th Century G. Stanley Hall is a landmark figure in the history of adolescent psychology Margaret Mead is another individual that has had influence in the development of the science of study of adolescents. Mead’s Sociocultural view of adolescence
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The 20th Century Margaret Mead concluded the nature of adolescence is not biological but is, rather, sociocultural Mead said culture provides a smooth transition from childhood to adulthood She argued adolescence was a time of practicing adulthood without having major consequences
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The 20th Century Mead argued that in cultures where teens are not allowed to practice being adults and/or where they are punished then the child is under stress Her work was based on field studies in American Somoa. In 1983 her works were severely criticized
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The 20th Century Controversy exists as to the effect of culture on adolescent stress. The Bible says, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” It also says, “Spare the rod and spoil the child” What is the influence of culture?
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The 20th Century During the early 20th century the views of states, nations, systems, and their structures as relating to influence on populations was considered; the development of sociology in the 20th century. “Adolescence” first really began to emerge in the 1920s
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The 20th Century Think of the American “roaring 20s”
Crowd-mentality; emergence of conflicts between peer pressure and societal norms The “Great Depression”; political activism In the 1940s teens went to war
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The 20th Century 1950s: The “silent generation” of adolescents… notable exceptions, James Dean 1960s: The Woodstock/Free love generation 1970s: The drug rebellion generation “everybody must get stoned.” 1980s: Material-girl generation
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The 20th Century 1990s: Generation X? (What does this mean?)
2000s: Politically correct, working 2 jobs, flirting with the 1970s hippie appearance… but exceptionally concerned about status, clothing, and materialistic things. What are today’s teenagers?
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Stereotyping Adolescents
What is a stereotype? What are some stereotypes concerning modern American teens? Adelson rightly indicates that it is dangerous to make generalizations about teens; all are different
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Stereotyping Adolescents
Stereotypes are premised on a very small, perhaps non-representative, sample. Yankelovich found in his research that teens subscribe to parents beliefs with the possible exception of religious beliefs. Do you believe this?
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Stereotyping Adolescents
Offer opined that the “Sturm-und-drang” of adolescence is not true; most teens are doing “just fine” and moving toward productive adult lives How does the media portray teens? Leave it to Beaver or 90210?
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Today’s Adolescents
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Current Status of Teens
Demands, expectations, risks, and temptations are greater now than ever before American teens are, generally, doing a good job of dealing with all these new stresses
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Stereotyping Adolescents
Think of teens this way… Adultoids Norms Advanc
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Today’s Adolescents Shirley Feldman and Glenn Elliot conclude today’s teens are sent mixed messages by our culture autonomy vs immaturity sexually active vs chastity no smoking, no drinking… go to war and kill people get a good education but make millions playing basketball
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Today’s Adolescents What is the truth for American adolescents? What is the chaff? Clearly teens are exposed to all kinds of conflicting information: church vs heavy metal satanic rock AIDS will kill you: “Babe Watch” (Bay watch) What’s a cult? What’s occult?
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Models of Adolescence Clearly no one single model can account for a complete developmental explanation for all teens single development models are too narrow a good development model (one you create yourself for yourself) is usually an ecclectic approach. Take the best ideas from everyone
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Models of Adolescence Some theories of development include Urie Bronfenbrenner’s systems approach microsystem mesosystem macrosystem boundaries between these systems systems influence teens
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Models of Adolescence Cross-cultural studies
to what extent are teens influenced by their culture? Are teens different in different cultures of the world? Nature vs Nurture? Which one is more important?
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Social policies and teen development
How does a society treat its teens? Minimum wage? Drinking laws? Military conscription? Who pays for social security? Who will get social security? Short and long term social policy
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The Nature of Development
Development: pattern of change that begins at conception and continues throughout the life span Development: biological development, cognitive development, and socioemotional development Periods of development?
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Development Can you explain when adolescence begins and when does it end? Is it possible to be 26 and still be a teenager? Careers List of carrer opportunities in adolescent development what education is required?
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