CHAPTER 4

THE CHALLENGES
OF
M I D D L E A N D L AT E A D O L E S C E N C E
LESSON 1:

THE
SIGNIFICANT
OTHERS
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

The first known use of the phrase ‘significant other’ is by

American psychiatrist Harry Stack Sullivan in his book, The
Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry, published posthumously in 1953.

Nowadays, the term is used to refer to all people who are of

sufficient importance in a person’s life or well-being.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Some of their common responsibilities and roles are to:
1. Provide a secure, safe, and loving home environment for the
family.
2. Create an atmosphere of truthfulness, kindness, mutual trust,
and respect.
3. Form a culture of open communication.
4. Allow age-appropriate independence and confidence among
children.
5. Teach accountability and responsibility.
6. Teach industriousness and obligation.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

7. Teach the importance of accepting and respecting limitations.

8. Teach prudence and judiciousness.
9. Teach obedience to authority, morality, and spirituality.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

SIBLINGS
A sibling is one’s brother or sister.These are individuals who
share a common parent.
Siblings’ extensive contact and companionship provide ample
opportunity for them to form one another’s behavior and
socioemotional development.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

FRIENDS
A friend is a person whom one knows with and with whom one
has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or
family relations.
In other words, they are someone whom you know well, trust,
and enjoy being with.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

TEACHERS
A teacher may also act as a guide, counselor, adviser, guardian, and
even as a parent.
As all types of changes take place during the adolescence stage,
teachers can do a lot of help for youngsters to develop a balanced
personality. As educators, they help students to progress cognitively
and academically.Teachers may also inspire them by acting as models
or ideal persons.
LESSON 1:
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

COMMUNITY LEADERS
Community leaders represent a community of common interest,
purpose or practice.
It can be individual or group, voluntary or paid. Some may also
be the spiritual leaders of the dominant religion in a certain
community.
LESSON 2:

ON
AFFIRMATIONS
LESSON 2:
ON AFFIRMATIONS

Affirmations are declarations or courageous statements aimed

at creating change in the person stating them.

These self-statements can also serve as inspiration and

reminder to individuals to focus on their purposes.
 LESSON 2:
ON AFFIRMATIONS
In the 1920’s, French psychologist Emile Coue first popularized
these self-affirmations.
These were initially intended to help alcoholics and drug users to
surmount their destructive habits.

Positive self-statements, if frequently written and stated, are

believed to persuade individuals into thinking that they are true, and
consequently enhance the person’s self-worth.
LESSON 2:
ON AFFIRMATIONS
1. I know myself.
2. I love myself.
3. I conquer myself.
4. I am honestly myself.
5. I don’t underestimate myself.
6. I am content with what I have.
7. I am content with what I have.
8. I am special.
LESSON 2:
ON AFFIRMATIONS

9. I contribute in making the world a better place.

10. I listen to the sound of my voice.
11. I surround myself with good people.
12. I never settle for less than I deserve.