Case Study

of a child age 17
Cecilia Gonzalez EDU 220 - 1004 - 1005

 Abstract
Physical Development
 Emotional Development
 Cognitive/Intellectual

01 ● Physical maturity/
 02 ● Psychiatric disorders tend 03 Development

puberty
 to become apparent
 ● Increasingly engaging in
● Some adolescents ● Lack of self-esteem can formal thought

reach ultimate height lead to depression, ● Political thinking is more
(mainly girls)
 anxiety, eating disorders, knowledgeable/abstract

● Growing sex drive etc.
 ● Function at astable
due to hormones
 ● More interest in sexual & operational level

● Sexual activity is romantic relationships
 ● Form hypotheses, sort
common
 ● Growing independence out solutions mentally, &

 from parents
 systemically test them

Psychosocial/Social Moral/Character/Philosophical
04 Development
 05 Development

● Making long-term life goals
 ● Conventional morality

● Values and morals are likely ● Tend to abide by social norms,
influenced by parents
 want to be seen as a good/nice
● Immediate status is likely person

influenced by peers
 ● To maintain peace, rules must
● Many adolescents are be established and followed

employed after-school
 ● Authority must be respected

Physical
Snowman
 Typical Development of Child Age 17

Most teenagers are physically mature by the age of 17, either close to
●
finishing puberty or fully developed.

(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

● Physical maturity includes reaching maximum height, gaining a healthy
amount of weight, some people develop breasts, and virtually all
adolescents will have adult patterns of body hair in identical areas
regardless of sex, besides males with facial hair.

(U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021)

● Physical features are more defined/shaped (bone structure).

(University of Washington, 1993)





 According to
Typical Development Level Snowman

● Some adolescents get acne due to glandular changes.


(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.101)

● Many teenagers become sexually active, which could lead
to possible STDs or pregnancies.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, pp.101-102)



 Observed Development Level
Developmental Milestones Met:

(Since most of these milestones couldn’t be observed, to get the full
answer I had to directly ask the child age 17 and she agreed to answer.)



● The 17-year old I observed is going through puberty
and physically maturing at the expected level.

● Overall consistent menstrual cycle.

● She has natural body hair growth.

● She has had some acne but it is not an ongoing problem.

● She has been sexually active safely, with no STDs or
pregnancies.

 Recommendations for
Continued Development
Since by this age, most adolescents have reached full physical maturity these recommendations are about how to stay physically healthy.


Recognize physical
Encourage physical health
01 Teenagers should strive to be
02 maturity
Don’t make your child feel bad about
physically active for at least 30-60 the natural changes happening to
minutes a day, eat a well rounded their body. You should recognize and
diet, and maintain good hygiene.
 compliment their physical maturity. 


Get enough sleep Provide accurate information

03 On average, teenagers need
04 Be honest with your teenagers
around 9 hours of sleep every about the possible consequences
night. This impacts not only their of sexual activity, STD’s/STI’s,
physical health but their mental how to have safe sex, consent,
health as well.
 etc.

(University of Washington, 1993)




Emotional
Snowman
Typical Behaviors of Children Age 17
● Overthinking and worrying about potential failure.

(University of Washington, 1993)

● Conflicting feelings about independence/dependence from parents.

(University of Washington, 1993)

● May be moody, lonely, angry, selfish, stubborn, confused, etc.

(University of Washington, 1993)

● More interest in romantic relationships.

(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

● Growing capacity for caring and wanting more intimate relationships.

(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

 According to
Typical Development Level Snowman

● Psychiatric disorders can become apparent during

adolescence.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.104)

● Eating disorders specifically are more common with
females 

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.104)

● The most common emotional disorder during this age is
depression.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.104)



 ¿?
Observed Development Level

Developmental Milestones Met:


● Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar II, and Bulimia

● A lot of interest in romantic relationships, and was in one long term
relationship.

● A very compassionate person, emotionally intelligent and cares deeply for
her friends.

● Lots of stress and anxiety about the future. Worrying about going to
college, not wanting to fail, making parents proud.

● Gaining more independence from parents. Has gotten her driver’s license
and is saving up money to move out once she graduates.

 Recommendations for
Continued Development
Parents should be available Accept your child
01 Both physically and emotionally, 02 Don’t overreact to their emotions
parents should be there to and accept their growing
comfort their children about any independence. Establish
worries and anxieties they have appropriate boundaries, don’t
about failing.
 treat them like children.


Avoid ridicule for inconsistency

03 Instead of adding to your child’s
inner turmoil, accept their need
for separation from you and
understand that they are also
confused about their changing
independence. 

(University of Washington, 1993)




Cognitive/Intellectual
Piaget
Youand Vygotsky
can enter a subtitle
here if you need it

Formal Operational Stage

 Typical Behaviors of Children Age 17
● More abstract and knowledgeable political beliefs, “freedom of speech,
equal justice under law, and the concept of community; a decline in
authoritarian views; and increase in the ability to imagine the
consequences of current actions; and an increase in political
knowledge.”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.107)

● “Increasingly capable of engaging in formal thought, but they may not
use this capacity”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.106)

● May lack self-assurance/confidence about personal skills and
intelligence

(University of Washington, 1993)



 Piaget &
Typical Development Level Vygotsky
Formal Operational Stage


● “Able to generalize and engage in mental trial and error

by thinking up hypotheses and testing them in their
heads,”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.43)

● “Can understand and use complex language forms:
proverbs, metaphors, sarcasm, and satire.”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.43)

● “Theoretical learning … using psychological tools to learn
scientific concepts.” 

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.43)

 ¿?
Observed Development Level

Developmental Milestones Met:


● Has developed more liberal beliefs throughout her education. Used to be
indifferent about politics and now aligns more with the Democratic party.

● Able to understand abstract concepts, actively participates in classroom
discussions, and adds thoughtful insight.

● She is her Senior Class President and Assembly Commissioner. In these
positions, she shows that she is able to communicate and collaborate
intellectually and problem solves at advanced levels.

 Recommendations for
Continued Development
Facilitate meetings with Encourage them to plan
01 school counselors 02 Once students start planning for
School counselors can help their goals they are setting
students with their lack of themselves up to keep expanding
confidence and can even help them their knowledge and continue
start planning for their future. 
 their growth.


Support their decisions

03 Children this age are going to
make their own decisions about
their future and if they want to
continue in school or get a job. It
is not your place to judge them but
to support them to the best of
your abilities.

(University of Washington, 1993)




Psychosocial/
Social
Erikson
Identity Versus Role Confusion

 Typical Behaviors of Children Age 17
● Parents/trusted adults influence long-term plans while peers influence
immediate status.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.103)

● Relationship with parents can vary from friendly to hostile.

(University of Washington, 1993)

● It’s common to have lots of friends and “few confidants”. Active dating,
ranging grately in maturity.

(University of Washington, 1993)

● Girls tend to experience more anxiety regarding friendships than boys.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.103)

● Many high school students have part-time jobs after school.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.103)



Typical Development Level
According to
Erikson
Identity Versus Role Confusion


● The goal at this stage is to develop the roles/skills that

will prepare adolescents to have a meaningful role in
society.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.30)

● Role confusion can happen if they are “unable to
establish a sense of stability in various aspects of their
lives”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.30)

● If they succeed in “integrating roles in different
situations to the point of experiencing continuity in their
perception of self, identity develops.”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.30)



 ¿?
Observed Development Level

Developmental Milestones Met:


● Cares a lot about what her friends think but also doesn’t want to
disappoint her parents.

● When having problems in her relationships/friendships she does tend to get
very anxious and depressed.

● Has established stable roles in different social situations, at school in her
friend group, in her student council, in her dance class, and at home.

● Her excellence in school and student council is preparing her by giving her
the tools she will need for her role in adult society.

 Recommendations for
Continued Development
Try to maintain a healthy Respect their privacy
01 relationship 02 It’s good to check-in and make
sure that your child is okay but
Teenagers need their parents to
don’t overwhelm them, they will
help guide them and to support
come to you when they want to
them as they grow into their own
talk. Prying can make them feel
person. Try to be kind and
bombarded and less likely to open
understand your child.

up.


Avoid disapproval
03 Whether it’s friendships or
relationships. Discuss with your
children about the healthy aspects
of a relationship and the needs
and expectations.

(University of Washington, 1993)




Moral/Character/Philosophical
Kohlberg
You can enter a subtitle
here if you need it

Conventional Morality

 Typical Behaviors of Children Age 17
Often disappointed/confused about discrepancies between what family
●
and friends “stated values and actual behaviors”

(University of Washington, 1993)

● Can be interested in sex as a way to participate in the adult world and
due to physical/emotional urges (this does not mean the adolescent is
emotionally mature)

(University of Washington, 1993)

● Begin to question the absolute authority of parents, teachers, even the
government, and this can lead to a power struggle.

(U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021)





Typical Development Level
According to
Kohlberg
Conventional Morality


“Good boy-nice girl orientation” The correct thing to do

●
is what will please or impress others

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.61)

● “Law-and-order orientation” To maintain peace and
social order rules must be put in place and obeyed. There
has to be respect for authority.

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.61)

● “Most nine-to twenty-year-olds conform to the
conventions of society because they are the rules of a
society.”

(Snowman & McCown, 2015, p.61)





 ¿?
Observed Development Level
(Since some of these milestones couldn’t be observed, to get the full answer I had
to directly ask the child age 17 and she agreed to answer.)




Conventional Morality Milestones Met:


● Constant conflict with family about discrepancies in what they say and how
they act which causes lots of frustration and disappointment.

● She doesn’t blindly trust authority. Questions her teachers and parents
about decisions when she disagrees.

● Abides by most of society’s rules, she rebels a little but that is an example
of her testing her boundaries.

Post-Conventional Morality Milestones Met:

(Conventional Morality was surpassed)

● In her own words, “I feel like I know right from wrong and I have my sets
of morals. Nothing is going to move me away from doing what I think is
right even if it does go against a rule.”

 Recommendations for
Continued Development
Be sensitive Don’t moralize
01 Allow your child to express their 02 Sexual experimentation is normal,
thoughts and feelings with you, and moralizing it will not make
free of judgment. Make sure they them less likely to partake in
know that you are open and want sexual activity. Instead, explain
to understand them.
 the importance of safe, consensual
sex and explain the risks of STDs.


Communicate honestly
03 Whether you’re talking about a
healthy sex life or the political
state of the world, always be
honest with them and ensure they
know they can trust and be honest
with you too.

(University of Washington, 1993)




 References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 22). Adolescence (15-17 years old). Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence2.html.
Snowman, J. & McCown, R. (2015). Psychology applied to teaching, 14th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

University of Washington. (1993). Child development: Using the child development guide. Retrieved November 5,
2021, from http://depts.washington.edu/allcwe2/fosterparents/training/chidev/cd06.htm

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021). Adolescent development: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia.
MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002003.htm.



This concludes
the case study
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