Ch 12 Social and Personality Development in Adolescence

Increased differentiation of self-concept - combine how they describe themselves and how others see them

How does self-concept develop in adolescence?

Girls have lower self esteem due to concern about physical appearance
Boys are more casual
Race identity helps minority groups have a good self esteem
High socioeconomic status

Self-esteem in adolescence

Identity-vs-role-diffusion stage

the period during which teenagers seek to determine what is unique and distinctive about themselves

1. Adolescence try on different roles
2. Success=awareness of uniqueness of self and knowledge of roles
3. Failure= the inability to identity to appropriate roles
4. Dependence on peers increases
5. Psychological moratorium

What are some characteristics identity-vs-role-diffusion stage?

Psychological moratorium (Identity-vs-role-diffusion)

a period of time taken off from impending responsibilities of adulthood and explore various roles and possibilities

Diffuse (Identity-vs-role-diffusion)

Failing to organize around a central, unified core identity

Carol Gilligan

suggested women develop identity through the establishment of relationship - key component of women's identity is building of caring between herself and others

Marcia's Approach to Identity Development

suggests that identity is seen in terms of two characteristics - crisis and commitment - and whether they are present

Crisis (Marcia)

a period of identity development in which the adolescent consciously chooses between various alternatives and make decisions

Commitment (Marcia)

psychological investment in a course of action or an ideology

Identity achievement
Identity foreclosure
Moratorium
Identity Diffusion

What are the four characteristics of Marcia's identity theory?

Identity achievement (Marcia)

teens successfully explore, thought through and identified who they are and what they want to do (both crisis and commitment present)

Identity foreclosure (Marcia)

teens do not explore; accepted others decisions about what was best for them (commitment present)

Moratorium

teens explored various options but have not committed themselves to an identity (crisis present)

Identity diffusion

neither explore or commit toward an identity; lack of commitment may impair ability to form close relationships

Erickson identity-vs-role-diffusion
Carol Gilligan
Marcia's Crisis and Commitment

What are the theories for identity development in adolescence?

late teens and early 20's

When does identity in teens gel?

25-40% of girls
Conflicting demands in traditional female role
Difference in how they cope with stress

What are some reasons for depression in girl adolescence?

Major depression

A full blown psychological disorder in which depression is severe and lingers for longs periods (3% experience in adolescence)

Accidents
Homicide
Suicide

Three most common cause of death in 14-24 year old age group

Biological factors (genetics and neurotransmitters)
Environment factors
Gender, ethnic, and racial differences

What are factors of depression?

Family problems, peer relationships, and lack of self-esteem

What are the most mentioned problems leading to suicide?

Autonomy

independence and a sense of control over one's life

Generation gap

a divide between parents and adolescents in attitudes, values, aspirations, etc. - narrower than we imagine - children are usually in sync with parents

Social comparison

adolescences have a compulsive need to communicate with friends - peers become more important and adolescence increase in comparing with others

Reference group

groups of people with whom one compares oneself- present a set of norms or standards against which the adolescent can judge their abilites

Cliques

2-12 people whose members have frequent social interactions with each other

Crowds

larger groups of individuals who share particular characteristics but who may not interact with one another - ex, "jocks" and "nerds"

Sex cleavage

as children enter adolescence, their groups of friends become composed almost universally of same-sex individuals

Talking activates pleasure centers in a girls brain - dopamine and oxytocin rush

How do females make connections?

Oxytocin

a neurohormone that triggers and is triggered by intimacy

decreases talking as well as interest in socializing

Effects of testosterone on adolescent males

Controversial adolescence

children who are liked by some peers and disliked by others

Rejected adolescents

children who are actively disliked and whose peers may react to them in an obviously negative manner

Neglected adolescents

children who receive relatively little attention from their peers in the form of either positive or negative interactions

Conformity

teenagers turn to those they see as experts on a given dimensions - peers for social norms and adults for career guidance, problem solving, etc.

Adolescents are more likely to commit crimes than any other age group - 16% of crimes are committed by adolescents

What does crime look like in adolescence?

Undersocialized delinquents

Raised with little discipline or with harsh, uncaring parental supervision - aggressive, rejected, ADD, less intelligent, and antisocial personality

Social delinquents

know and subscribe to norms of society and who are fairly normal psychologically - engage in some petty crimes, but do not continue lawbreaking into adulthood

Entertainment
Develop one's own identity
Prestige

Functions of dating

Permissiveness with affection

Premarital intercourse is viewed as permissible for both men and women if it occurs in the context of long-term, committed, or loving relationship

6% of teens became pregnant in 2010

Teenage pregnancy rate