Socioemotional Development in Adolescence

Course Outline and Feedback

  • The session encompasses various key points:

    1. Course Feedback

    2. ICA #7.1 (Scheduled for 15 minutes)

    3. Socioemotional Development during Adolescence

      • Identity

      • Families

      • Peers, Friends, and Romantic Relationships

    4. ICA #7.2

Course Feedback Suggestions

  • Applying course content to personal experiences

  • Interactive elements:

    • Use of videos, Think-Pair-Share (TPS), and ICAs with focus on pairs for increased understanding and engagement

    • More engaging experiences such as iClickers and increased discussions with classmates, alongside opportunities for reflections during class sessions

    • Suggestions for pacing:

    • More notes to be included within slides

Introduction to Socioemotional Development

  • Instructor: Lucía G. Medina, MA.

  • Course Code: HDFS 2400

ICA #7.1 (15 min)

Identity in Adolescence

  • Definition of Identity:

    • Vocational/Career Identity

    • Political Identity

    • Religious Identity

    • Relationship Identity

    • Achievement/Intellectual Identity

    • Sexual Identity

    • Cultural/Ethnic Identity

  • Interests, Personality, Physical Identity

  • Developmental Focus:

    • Adolescence (and early adulthood) involves exploration of different roles and identities

    • Reflection and selection of the most authentic self

    • The process of synthesizing identity leads to a unified self-concept

Erikson’s View on Identity Development

  • Stage: Identity vs. Identity Confusion (Ages 12-18)

  • Central Task: Developing a coherent sense of self.

  • Psychosocial Moratorium:

    • A period facilitating exploration between childhood security and adult autonomy

    • Adolescents engage in experimentation with various roles while searching for a stable identity.

    • Successful resolution leads to a stable identity while unsuccessful resolution results in confusion regarding roles and future direction

James Marcia's Four Statuses of Identity

  • Overview of Identity Statuses based on Crisis and Commitment & Position on Occupation and Ideology:

    1. Identity Diffusion

    2. Identity Foreclosure

    3. Identity Moratorium

    4. Identity Achievement

  • Visual representation of the statuses:

    • Identity Diffusion: Absent crisis and commitment

    • Identity Foreclosure: Absent crisis, present commitment

    • Identity Moratorium: Present crisis, absent commitment

    • Identity Achievement: Present crisis and commitment

Identity Diffusion Example

  • Example from Rue in "Euphoria":

    • Characteristics: Minimal exploration, disengaged from self-reflection, diverse experiences including substance use and emotional turmoil

    • Lack of Commitment: A clear sense of self is not demonstrated

Identity Foreclosure Example

  • Example from Devi in "Never Have I Ever":

    • Characteristics: Early commitment to cultural heritage and academic expectations without prior exploration

Identity Moratorium Example

  • Example from Maeve in "Sex Education":

    • Characteristics: Exploration involves future careers, friendships, and personal relationships

    • Commitment: Not fully decided on long-term goals

Identity Achievement Example

  • Example from Rachel in "Glee":

    • Characteristics: Exploration of varied styles and roles

    • Commitment: Firm commitments to her identity, including career goals in musical theater and performing arts

Parental Monitoring and the Managerial Role of Parenting

  • Importance of Parental Monitoring:

    • Involves oversight in social settings and academic endeavors

    • Benefits include later initiation of sexual activity, increased condom use, lower tobacco and marijuana use, and healthier behaviors during adolescence and college years

    • Key Aspect: Adolescent disclosure is associated with authoritative parenting styles

Circle of Security in Parenting

  • High Levels of Support:

    • Supporting Exploration

    • Secure Base

    • Safe Haven

    • Parents provide protection, comfort, and acceptance of feelings

    • Watching over and enjoying things together

Authoritative vs. Authoritarian vs. Permissive Parenting Styles

  • Authoritative

    • High, realistic expectations aligned with child's development

    • Warm, responsive demeanor

    • Flexible with clear boundaries

    • Democratic listening style

    • Understands misbehavior as communication

  • Authoritarian

    • High, often unrealistic expectations

    • Emotionally distant parents

    • Use of punishments and rewards to control behavior

    • Children expected to be independent emotionally

  • Permissive

    • Low expectations for both child and parenting authority

    • Avoids confrontation or child distress

    • Non-directive and indulgent approach

  • Neglectful

    • Absence and lack of interest

    • Prioritizes personal needs over child’s

    • Passive approach with scant time dedicated to the child

Autonomy and Monitoring

  • Balance between Autonomy and Control:

    • Guidance while allowing age-appropriate choices

  • Adolescent Preferences:

    • Desire for decision-making and peer interaction

    • Supportive adult reactions enhance autonomy, fostering independence and stronger relationships

Peer Pressure During Adolescence

  • Conformity to peer standards increases compared to children

  • Peer pressure is stronger with uncertain social identities and influenced by peers of perceived higher status

  • Adolescents with limited friendship groups are more susceptible to peer influence

Social Media Influence on Peers

  1. Enhanced connectivity among teens, allowing instant communication

  2. Emotions, achievements, and conflicts become more intense online

  3. Changes in interaction styles indicated by texts, posts, likes, and emojis

  4. Social media compensates for offline challenges in relationships

  5. Introduction of online-specific behaviors such as cyberbullying and viral trends

Dating and Romantic Relationships

  • Querying personal experiences:

    • Age of first crush

    • Initial dating experiences or interests

    • Transition to meaningful romantic bonds

Stages of Romantic Relationship Development

  1. Entry into romantic attractions and affiliations (11-13 years)

    • Early crushes and formation of “liking” relationships

  2. Exploration of romantic relationships (14-16 years)

    • Group dating and experimentation with relationship roles

  3. Consolidation of dyadic romantic bonds (17-19 years)

    • Development of serious, one-on-one relationships

Early vs. Late Bloomers in Romantic Relationships

  • Early Bloomers:

    • 15-20% of 11-13-year-olds report being in a romantic relationship

    • 35% have prior romantic experiences

  • Late Bloomers:

    • Approximately 10% of 17-19-year-olds have no romantic experience

    • 15% have never had a relationship lasting longer than 4 months

Characteristics of Adolescent Relationships

  • Healthy Relationships:

    • Mutual respect, support of goals and friendships, effective communication, balanced autonomy, and safe, consensual interactions

  • Unhealthy Relationships:

    • Control or manipulation, discouragement of independence, frequent conflict or jealousy, pressure for risky behaviors, emotional or physical harm

Dating and Adjustment Impact

  • Positive Outcomes:

    • Increases in social acceptance, improvement in friendship competence and romantic skills, provides a buffer against stress from other areas

  • Potential Risks:

    • Multiple or unstable relationships leading to substance use and delinquency, increased sexual activity, higher risks of depression and pregnancy in girls

Socioemotional Analysis in Adolescence

  • Reference to Jamie Miller's analysis in the video titled "Adolescence in 3 Minutes or Less"

ICA #7.2