Adolescent Psychology

Chapter 1

Brief Outline of Chapter 1

Historical Perspective
Todays Adolescents
The Nature of Development
Understanding Adolscence
Careers in Adolescent Development
Summary

Historical Perspective

Early History
The 20th Century
Stereotyping adolscents

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

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

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

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

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

Early History

Rousseau forwarded a view of

developmental stages
Stage: Infancy - the first 4 or 5 years of
the childs life
Stage: Savage - between 5 to 12 years of
age
Stage: Sage - between 12 to 15; selfconsciousness, curiosity, exploration

Early History

Stage: Philosopher - age 15 to 20;

emotional maturity; altruism, virtues and
morals appear
Between 1790-1840 schools were more
available but still not common;
apprenticeships beginning at age 12
Some children left home at age 8 to
become servants

Early History

1840-1900: 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.

The 20th Century and teens

Concept of adolescence emerged during

1890-1920
Industrial revolution
Establishment of labor unions
End of child labor
Increased education
Increased wealth
Decreased agrarian society/urbanization

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

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

The 20th Century

Halls 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

The 20th Century

Halls 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.

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.
Meads Sociocultural view of adolescence

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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 todays teenagers?

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

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?

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?

Todays Adolescents

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

Stereotyping Adolescents

Think of teens this way

Adultoids

Norms

Advanc

Todays Adolescents

Shirley Feldman and Glenn Elliot conclude

todays 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

Todays 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)
Whats a cult? Whats occult?

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

Models of Adolescence

Some theories of development include

Urie Bronfenbrenners systems
approach
microsystem
mesosystem
macrosystem
boundaries between these systems
systems influence teens

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?

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

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?

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?