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 • However puberty and
distinct life stage that acceptance into
was created in modern adulthood occur at
industrial society. different times for
• No all societies have different people.
an adolescent stage.
• When do you think
• In American societies
this stage generally adolescence ends and
occurs between the adulthood begins?
ages of 12 to 19.
 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 • Education
did not exist before the
Civil War, children were
simply seen as little • Exclusion of youth
adults. from the workforce
• Three factors have been
important in the
development of • Development of the
adolescence in the U.S. 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 • Example
of children are clear as – In some states you can
marry at 16 with
are those of adults. parental consent but in
• Expectations of all states you cannot
adolescents are often vote until you are 18.
unclear. – Adults are often critical
of youth clothing,
• Some adults treat you music, and behavior,
as children some treat while some adults
adopt these trends.
you as adults.
 Increased Decision Making
• Young children have • There is no end to the
most decisions made decisions that must be
for them. made.
• When they reach • Some of these
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 • Peer Pressure
– Students are expected – The greatest pressure
to attend class, for teens.
complete assignments, – Teenagers want to be
pass tests, participate accepted as part of the
in clubs, develop in crowd.
friendships and more. – If their friends have
– What are some cars teenagers are
pressures teenagers pressured to have a car
face? of their own.
– What factors might
affect these pressures?
 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 • They establish personal
mature enough to norms that guide their
behavior.
think about themselves
and about what what • They can set priorities for
themselves.
they want out of life.
• This is important.
• Most teens can sort • When people know who
through their values they are, what they want
and decide what things out of life, and which
are really important to values serve them they are
them. better prepared for
adulthood.
• What is important to
you?
 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 • For example, economic
status, family
time to adulthood is composition, and place of
fast approaching. residence can affect life
• Adolescents do not during adolescence.
• Also, race, ethnicity,
live solely in an religion and cultural
adolescent subculture. 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