Adolescence: Sturm und Drang?

What is “adolescence”?• Broadly speaking, it refers to the period between the onset of puberty & adult independence – it’s

getting longer

• Is it a time of “storm & stress”? The work of Margaret Mead &

others suggests otherwise

AdolescencePhysical Changes• Growth spurts (around 10 in females, 12 in males)

• Pubescence & Puberty Pubescence: secondary sex

characteristics Puberty: primary sex

characteristics (menarche in women)

Pace can have positive or negative effects on self-imageo “Early” males adapt besto “Early” females or “late”

males may struggle

Cognitive Changes• Piaget: Formal Operations

• David Elkind “Imaginary Audience” “Personal Fable”

• G. Stanley Hall (“storm & stress”) v. Margaret Mead (easy)

Adolescence

Adolescence Critical Element: Identity• James Marcia & the “Identity Crisis” – Crisis & Commitment

Identity Achievement Identity Foreclosure Identity Moratorium Identity DiffusionCommitment No

Commitment

Crisis Achievement Moratorium

No Crisis

Foreclosure Diffusion

AdulthoodRemember Erickson!• Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adulthood)

• Generativity vs. Self-Absorption (or Stagnation)

The mid-life crisis?

Parenting / Child-Rearing Style

Authoritarian• Impose rules• Expect complete obedience• “Because I said so”

Authoritative• Demanding but

responsive• Rules w/ reasons

Permissive• Few demands made• Child’s “friend”

Rejecting/Neglecting• Disengaged, little effort• Expect little, invest little

Myths of Old Age

Intelligence declines with age

Senility is inevitable as one ages

Most old people are isolated, withdrawn, or

lonesome

Old people are not active

It only gets worse

Use it or lose it

Sound body = sound mind

You can’t teach an old dogs new tricks

Older people are less productive than young

peopleStress is more prevalent among the elderly than

other age groups

Old people receive better health care

People become more rigid & inflexible as

they age

The 5 Stages of Dying/Grief

1.Denial2.Anger3.Bargaining4.Depression5.Acceptance