Transcript The Adolescent in Society

The Adolescent in Society
Chapter 6
Pgs. 118-146
The Adolescent in Society
• Explain how adolescence developed as a distinct stage of
the life cycle in the U.S.
• Identify the five general characteristics of adolescence.
• Summarize how dating developed as a form of social
interaction.
• Describe the functions that dating fulfills.
• Identify some of the social problems facing contemporary
teenagers.
• Trace the causes and consequences of these problems.
Adolescence in our Society
• Adolescents are caught between two
worlds, they are no longer children, but not
yet adult.
• Adolescence is defined as the period
between the normal onset of puberty and the
beginning of adulthood.
– Puberty: the physical maturing that makes an
individual capable of sexual reproduction.
Adolescence in our Society
• Adolescence is a
distinct life stage that
was created in modern
industrial society.
• No all societies have
an adolescent stage.
• In American societies
this stage generally
occurs between the
ages of 12 to 19.
• However puberty and
acceptance into
adulthood occur at
different times for
different people.
• When do you think
adolescence ends and
adulthood begins?
The Concept of Adolescence
• In many pre-industrial societies young people go
directly from childhood to adulthood by taking
part in what is known as puberty rites.
• These generally take place at age 13 or 14.
– Common rites: demonstrations of strength or
endurance, filing of teeth, tattooing or scarring of
strength.
– If these children pass the rites they immediately become
adults and take on adult roles and responsibility.
The Concept of Adolescence
• In the U.S. Adolescence
did not exist before the
Civil War, children were
simply seen as little
adults.
• Three factors have been
important in the
development of
adolescence in the U.S.
• Education
• Exclusion of youth
from the workforce
• Development of the
Juvenile Justice
System
Education
• State laws make education mandatory up to the
age of 16.
• College takes young people through to their early
twenties.
• Education extends the period of adolescence
because many students are dependent on others for
financial support.
• While in school most students do not take on other
roles of adulthood such as spouse, parent, or
provider.
Exclusion of Youth from the
Workforce
• In most states, child labor laws prevent
people from working until the age of 16.
• When they do start working, most young
people lack the training to compete for all
but the most routine jobs.
• Working adolescents do not typically have
full time jobs, most work part time while
they are attending school.
Juvenile Justice System
• By distinguishing between juvenile and
adult offenders, American society has
created a separate legal status for young
people.
– Do you think adolescents should be tried as
adults for major crimes such as murder, battery,
or other crimes?
– At what age are you old enough to pay for your
crimes?
Characteristics of Adolescence
• Five characteristics generally apply to all
adolescents.
• These five characteristics are biological
growth and development, an undefined
status, increased decision making, increased
pressures and the search for self.
Biological Growth and
Development
• Puberty is one aspect of
adolescence that is found
in every society because it
is biological rather than
cultural.
• The brain and the
endocrine system-a group
of glands that produce
various hormones –
control biological
development.
• During early adolescence
youth undergo growth in
height, weight, and body
proportions.
• Many often suffer
complexion problems.
• These changes can cause
anxiety and
embarrassment, which is
especially true when the
growth is ahead or behind
others of the same age.
Undefined Status
• Society’s expectations
of children are clear as
are those of adults.
• Expectations of
adolescents are often
unclear.
• Some adults treat you
as children some treat
you as adults.
• Example
– In some states you can
marry at 16 with
parental consent but in
all states you cannot
vote until you are 18.
– Adults are often critical
of youth clothing,
music, and behavior,
while some adults
adopt these trends.
Increased Decision Making
• There is no end to the
• Young children have
decisions that must be
most decisions made
made.
for them.
• Some of these
• When they reach
decisions have no long
adolescence they
term importance,
begin to make many of
while others such as
their own decisions.
choosing a career have
– Give examples
far reaching
consequences.
Increased Pressure
• Adolescents are faced with pressure from
many sources.
– Parents give adolescents rules to follow such as
when to be home, whom they can see, and
where they can go.
– But parents also want children to develop
friendships and have a social life.
– Adolescents must find a balance between
parental wishes and peer pressure.
Increased Pressure
• School
– Students are expected
to attend class,
complete assignments,
pass tests, participate
in clubs, develop
friendships and more.
– What are some
pressures teenagers
face?
– What factors might
affect these pressures?
• Peer Pressure
– The greatest pressure
for teens.
– Teenagers want to be
accepted as part of the
in crowd.
– If their friends have
cars teenagers are
pressured to have a car
of their own.
Peer Pressure
• Teenagers also face pressure with fads and
fashion.
• Some teenagers face job related pressures
– Making time for school, family, friends, work,
and social activities.
– Various teenagers roles such as daughter,
employee, student, athlete, club member, and
friend can often cause conflict.
The Search for Self
• Adolescents are
mature enough to
think about themselves
and about what what
they want out of life.
• Most teens can sort
through their values
and decide what things
are really important to
them.
• What is important to
you?
• They establish personal
norms that guide their
behavior.
• They can set priorities for
themselves.
• This is important.
• When people know who
they are, what they want
out of life, and which
values serve them they are
better prepared for
adulthood.
The Search for Self
• Preparing for future roles is one aspect of
finding oneself.
• Anticipatory Socialization: involves
learning the rights, obligations, and
expectations of a role to prepare for
assuming that role in the future.
– Playing house as a child is a form of
anticipatory socialization. Other examples??
The Search for Self
• As an adolescent the
time to adulthood is
fast approaching.
• Adolescents do not
live solely in an
adolescent subculture.
• For example, economic
status, family
composition, and place of
residence can affect life
during adolescence.
• Also, race, ethnicity,
religion and cultural
heritage cam make a
difference in the kinds of
adolescent experiences a
person has.
Section Review
• Write 1-2 paragraphs explaining how the
experience of adolescence might differ from
teenager to teenager because of individual
circumstances. (around 10 sentences with
examples to back up your argument)
– Consider
•
•
•
•
Economic Status
Cultural background
Family Structure
Region of residence