Adolescent Sexuality in ContextÂ
Sex is a “normal” part of adolescent developmentÂ
There are negative stereotypes about adolescent sexual behaviorsÂ
Majority of adolescentsÂ
-Have healthy sexual attitudesÂ
-Experience positive emotions related to sexualityÂ
-Engage in sexual behaviors that do not compromise their developmental trajectoryÂ
Various factors can impact adolescents' attitudes and sexual behaviorsÂ
-SocietyÂ
-cultureÂ
-politicsÂ
-religionÂ
-mediaÂ
-literature Â
-internetÂ
Sexual IdentityÂ
-how one thinks oneself in terms of romantic/sexual attractionÂ
-ALso learning to manage sexual feelings( e.g., arousal)Â
-Degrees of intamacy Â
-Skills to regulate sexual behavior and avoid potential conquences Â
Also influenced by...Â
-Physical factors (e.g,hormones)Â
Social norms Â
-E.g, extent to which peers are having sex, use of contraceptivesÂ
Sexual Scripts -Stereotyped patterns of behaviors for how individuals think they should behave in sexual contextsÂ
-Can cause problems and/or confusion for adolescentsÂ
Double standards in sexual normsÂ
-E.g.,-> females have more restrictions; males have more freedomÂ
Studying sexual activity during adolescence is a difficult endeavorÂ
-Increased ethical restrictionsÂ
-potentially awkward for some participantsÂ
-Sharing sensitive information with a strangerÂ
-Adolescents mau exaggerate and/or downplay their experiencesÂ
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Sex Education Strategies Â
-Controversial topic in the U.SÂ
-Many states teach abstinence-only programsÂ
-No evidence to suggest that these programs...Â
-Delay the initiation of sexual intercourseÂ
-Reduce HIV risk behaviorsÂ
-(denford et al,2017)Â
Other programs emphazize contraceptive knowledgeÂ
Such programs do not increase the rateÂ
Still other programs focus pm on inclusive educationÂ
-Gender idenityÂ
-Sexual orientationÂ
-ConsentÂ
Works to make sure all students (including LGBTQ+ youth)Â
Recieve medically accurate and unbiased information about sexual healthÂ
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HelpingÂ
What does it mean to help someone?Â
Not as simple as we thinkÂ
5 steps to helping (Darley & Latane)Â
-Notice the eventÂ
-Interpret the situation correctly Â
-Take responsibilityÂ
-Know what to doÂ
-Decide to helpÂ
Altruism:Â
-Helping another person without expecting anything in returnÂ
-Helping others at the cost of one's selfÂ
Are humans altruistic?Â
Considerable debate on the topic Â
No-> people help others for their own personal gainÂ
-Feel goodÂ
-Avoid guiltÂ
-ReciprocityÂ
-Survival of family genesÂ
Yes->people help even when it is not in their best interestÂ
Theories of Altruism Â
Evolution Theory Â
-Altruism is adaptive-InnateÂ
-Some debate on thisÂ
-Evolution theory focuses on survival of the fittest Â
-Why would we put ourselves at risk to protect someone else?Â
It makes more sense to help someone you are related to than to help a strangerÂ
Cognitive Theory Â
-Importance of prosocial behaviors become more apparent over timeÂ
-As children develop intellecrtually,they start to understand the importance of prosocial behaviorÂ
-Altruism develops over time Â
Age-Related trends in Altruism Â
2- to 3-year-olds try to comfort distressed playmates Â
             -Not as likely to make self-sacrificial behaviorsÂ
 4-to 6-year-olds start to perform more real helping actsÂ
Adolescents are sensitive to peer pressureÂ
-Likely to engage in prosocial behavior if deemed desirable by peersÂ
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What is morality?Â
Set of principles that...Â
-Cause us to experience pride/shame as we act on violate these standardsÂ
-Motivates us to act based on this distinction alllows us to determine right from wrongÂ
ABCs of morality Â
-Affect--> pride/shameÂ
-Behavior--> how we actÂ
-Cognitions-->how the think about whats right/wrongÂ
Discipline & MoralityÂ
Love withdrawal Â
-Withholding attention, approval, affectionÂ
-Creates anxietyÂ
Power assertionÂ
-Exerting authorityÂ
-Spanking, withdrawing privileges, physical restraintÂ
InductionÂ
-Explaining why a behavior is wrong and how/why it should be changedÂ
-focus on the consequences of wrongdoingÂ
Testing MoralityÂ
Imagine the following scenarioÂ
Heinz dilemma-his wife gets a rare disease, the cure was only from pharmacist but he charged to much, Heniz broke in and stole it to save his wifeÂ
Developing Moral Reasoning Â
Lawrence Kohlberg's Levels of Moral ReasoningÂ
Preconventional moraliry (up to age 9)Â
“follow the rules because if you dont, youll get in trouble;if you do, you mightt get a treat”Â
Conventional morality(early adolescence)Â
“follow the riles because we get along better if everyone does the right thing”Â
Postconvential Morality(late adolescence/adulthood)Â
“Sometimes riles need to be set aside to pursue higher principles”Â
Q&AÂ
Which level of moral reasoning is being use?Â
1.Looting is a problem if everyone did it there would be escalating chaos and greater damage to the economy.Â
ConventionalÂ
2. Looting is generally wrong yet morally right when your family's survival seems to depend on it Â
Post convectionalÂ
3. Looting is wrong because you might ger punished but if no one is punished thats a sign that its okay Â
Pre conventionalÂ
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Preconventional MoralityÂ
Stage 1: Punishment vs. ObedienceÂ
-The goodness or badness of the act depends on its consequences Â
Authority is outside the individualÂ
-Rules are fixedÂ
Stage 2: Individual InterestsÂ
-Person conforms to rules in order to accomplish a goal (e.g. reward)Â
-”You scratch my back and ill scratch yours”Â
Stage 3: Good boy or Good GirlÂ
-Laws are internalized but not questionedÂ
-uphold social norms Â
-Behave good to be seen as goodÂ
Stage 4: Maintaining Social OrderÂ
-Child becomes aware of society's lawsÂ
-Obey rules to uphold law and avoid guiltÂ
-Laws are meant to preserve social orderÂ
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What is Socialization?Â
Children/adolescents develop beliefs, values, and behaviors desired by society Â
Serves three specific purposesÂ
-Regulate behaviors(emotions)Â
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Establishes social orderÂ
-Properly socialized children will become productive/prosocial members of societyÂ
-Likely to appropriately socialize their own childrenÂ
Social SystemsÂ
-There are a number so social systems that impact socializationÂ
-ReligousÂ
-MediaÂ
-PeersÂ
-FamilyÂ
Revisiting the Ecological ModelÂ
The FamilyÂ
Two or more persons who have emotional ties and responsiblities to one another Â
-Individuals related by...Â
-BirthÂ
-MarriageÂ
-AdoptionÂ
-ChoiceÂ
Early research focused on mother--> child and nuclear familiesÂ
Modern perspective focus on family as a systemÂ
-Reciprocal relationshipsÂ
-Constantly evolving Â
Families are developing and embedded systemsÂ
The family is a holistic structureÂ
-Interrelated parts that affect one anotherÂ
Direct effects:Pair of fmaily memebers affect and are affected by each otherÂ
Indirect effects:Addition of a third party affects the pairÂ
Parenting Â
Recall attachment Â
-Secure vs. InsecureÂ
-Warm sensitive parents--> Secure attachment Â
-Children more likely to explore if they view their parent as a secure baseÂ
Around 2 years of age parents start to teach children how to (or not to) behaveÂ
Components of Good Parenting Â
Research on “good parenting” (Barber, 1997)Â
Connection Â
-Show love Â
-Listen Â
-Provide supportÂ
-Show respectÂ
-Talk about differencesÂ
-Be a role modelÂ
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Components of Good ParentingÂ
Research on “good parenting” (Barber 1997)Â
Autonomy Â
-Emotional Autonomy Â
-Adolescents are becoming Indvidual's Â
Behavioral/Decisional Autonomy Â
-Set limits Â
-give reasonable choicesÂ
-be open to negotiationÂ
-Independence in stagesÂ
-Help teens become future orientedÂ
-Guide>Control Â
-Let adolescents make mistakesÂ
Parenting & DevelopmentÂ
Also differences in parental controlÂ
-Can have lasting effects on developmentÂ
Behavioral Control Â
-Regulating adolescents behavior through reasonable discipline and monitoringÂ
-Well behave & less likely to engage in deviant activitesÂ
Psychological controlÂ
-Regulating adolescents behavior through manipulation,shame, and gulitÂ
-E.g., parent shaming Â
-Poor developmental outcomesÂ
-Poor academic performance Â
-Association with deviant peersÂ
-Antisocial conductsÂ
The Changing FamilyÂ
Families are developing and embedded systemsÂ
-Adoptive familiesÂ
-Postponed marriage Â
-Decreased childbearing Â
-Fewer stay at home parentsÂ
divorce ratesÂ
-SIngle paret familiesÂ
-Blended familiesÂ
-Same sex parentsÂ
-Donor Insemination familiesÂ
-Sestemenmoic statusÂ
Stress vs. Toxic StressÂ
StressÂ
-Some stress can be beneficial (i.e.,eustress)Â
-Teaches the child/adolescent how to respond to his/her/their enviorment Â
-Other stress can be detrimental (i.e., toxic stress)Â
-Natural disasters, abuse/neglect,chronic fearÂ
Toxic stress can alter a developing persons brain (Radley et at., 2004)Â
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)Â
Potentially Tramatic events that occur in childhood and adolescence Â
For example:Â
-Expereincing violence,abuse, or neglectÂ
-Witnessing violence in the home or communityÂ
-Having a family memeber attempt or die by suicideÂ
-Parent with a substance use problem Â
-Parent with mental health problems Â
Regulation
Parents are still needed to regulate adolescents behaviors
-Supervision
-appropriate limits
-discipline
Parenting Styles
Atuhoritarian-Imposing rules, expect obedience
Authoritative-Demanding of Responsive
-Set reasonable rules and enforce them
-Explain reasoning behind rules
Permissive
-Submit to childrens desires
-Few demands and little to no punishment
-Parents are indulgents
Uninvolved
-Few rules or demands
-Uninvovled in childs life
-Parents dont care OR dont have time
Demandingness
High
Authorive Parenting
Low
Permissive parenting
Responsivess
High
Authorive parenting
Low
Rejecting-Neglecting Parenting
This Just In….
Lawnmower Parents
-Go to whatever lenghts nessary to prevent their child from having to face adversity,struggle,or failure
Modern Parenting Labels (In popular culture)
Attachment Parenting
-Parent(typically the mother) os always around
-Maximal parental responsiveness
Heliocopter Parenting
-Make sure children are safe andsound at all times
-”Hover” to make sure eveything is oaky at all times
Free-Range Parenting
-Gives children considerable freedom
-Teach chlidren how the real world works by exposing them to potetial failure
Tiger Parenting
-Children follow strict rules and gave to meet extremely high expectations
-Children are pushed to be the best at everything they do
-Want children to grow up to be strong and fierce