Adolescent Development
Latency
- age 7 to puberty
- Developmental Tasks
- Assimilation into the "world of kids": become part of larger world, not dependent on parents as much
- still think parents are cool; become aware of the "world of other kids"; realistically assess weaknesses/strengths
- Practice and mastery of skills
: energy is sublimated (put into other areas, i.e. to learn)
- develop interests and hobbies outside of school; start collections (i.e. coins, cards, beanie babies)
- Continued moral development, fairness and empathy
- become little philosophers when it comes to moral issues (no bending of the rules, must always follow the law/rules)
- become more able to empathize with other people
Theories of Development
Erickson "Industry vs. Inferiority"
Industry - very industrious, ready to learn; must have mastered the first stage of psychosocial development
Inferiority - not ready to master new material and feel inadequate; fall behind in school
Freud "Latency"
All their sexual energy is latent - not true; kids at this stage are asking questions about where babies come from and have homosexual fears; not mixing with kids of the opposite sex very often; develop crushes
Piaget "Concrete Operational Thought"
Kids can manipulate 2 or more variables at one time; better abstract thought, do long division in their head; can understand more abstract literature at this time; develop more elaborate play and fantasy games; artwork is incredibly imaginative; very judgmental of their artwork - doesn’t match up to what they picture in their head
Adolescent Development
Definitions
Physiological - Puberty to sexual maturity (1st menses around 11.5 yo); Physical growth to adult stature
Psychological - Begin to leave the nest
The developmental tasks of adolescence
Defining oneself - think to themselves - what kind of person am I? What do I want out of life?
Achieving separation - physically and psychologically; spend more time with peers and less time with family
Developing love relationships - begin to form very intense friendships; practice their capacity for love relationships; begin to become interested in people of the opposite sex; homosexuals begin to identify with their sexuality; able to have beginnings with people of the same or opposite sex (50% have sexual intercourse by end of adolescence)
Mastery over impulses, bodily functions, and capacities - well-regulated adults ready to enter the real world
Early Adolescence
- age 11-14; exact age depends on onset of puberty
- Physical growth
- hormonal changes, puberty; struggles to achieve body mastery
- Psychological changes
- recapitulation of early conflicts, specifically around separation and Oedipal issues. Use of "mature" defenses
- Sexual development
- struggles to control sexual impulses; masturbation is ubiquitous at this stage
- Cognitive development
-moving towards abstract thought (Piaget’s formal operations); most will begin to think abstractly
- Social development
-provocative rebellion against parents; become embarrassed of parents; begin to dress ridiculously
Middle Adolescence
- ages 14-16
- Physical development
- male and female progression to Tanner V; full adult stature - look like adult-babies
- Psychological changes
- beginning of focused sexual interest, less conflict with family and continued increased interests outside the family
- Sexual development
- fully developed (girls before boys)
- Cognitive development
- by age 14, ability to think abstractly usually present (Piaget’s stage of formal operations)
- Social development
- broaden their range of who they will be friends with; expand social horizons
- Altruism/Idealism
- can get philosophical and wrapped up in altruistic/idealistic issues (i.e. save the ozone); heated up debates with parents over social issues
Late Adolescence
- age 17-independence
- Sexual development
- adult body habitus; maturity to achievement of sexual aims
- Psychological development
- consolidation of personality, with gradual shift from self-preoccupation to greater concern of outside world; resolution of Erikson’s stage of identity vs. role confusion; moral development
- Identity
: know what kind of person they want to be; what their sexual preference will be; have a better idea of their self image; know who they are and behave and dress accordingly; resolution of this stage demands resolution of all the preceding stages beforehand
- role confusion
: no idea who they are; don’t know what they want to be in life or what their sexual preference is
- Cognitive changes
- cognitive styles differ between those seeking employment (full time) and pursuing higher education
- Social development
- comfortable with, yet distinct from, parents; tend to come back to the nest at this time; can enjoy their parents as individuals