I am going to analyse the behaviour of a young person who attends the North Avenue Youth Centre (NAYC). The young person is male and is twelve years of age;

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Introduction In this assignment I am going to analyse the behaviour of a young person who attends the North Avenue Youth Centre (NAYC).  The young person is male and is twelve years of age; he is also a twin.  My plan for this essay is to critically analyse two theorists, Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson who are experts in the field human development.  As I will be exploring adolescent young person I will be examining his behaviour under four main headings that a person will develop in. The four main areas of development are; 1. Physical: which is seen as biological and genetic and is moderated by things like food and health. 2.  Cognitive, which includes communication and brain development. 3. Emotional and psychological, which includes the effects of physical and cognitive changes.   4. Sociological, which includes the influence of the media and peer groups. For the purpose of this assignment and to keep the name anonymous I will call the young person Lynden. Young Person’s Profile. The young person that I will observe throughout this assignment attends the NAYC regularly on a Tuesday evening.  He is a white male and is twelve years of age.  His parents are still together although his Dad does not always sleep at home.  His only sibling is a twin brother.  The twins are very close and play together most of the time.  They both look out for each other but Lynden tends to think things through whereas his brother tends to use his fists before he thinks.  Because of this Lynden tends to pull his brother away from trouble and often tells him to ‘calm down’ or ‘don’t do that’.  I believe he is a curious and active young person who’s curiosity sometimes gets him into trouble. For instance he has broken bones falling out of trees and suffered deep cuts to his knee falling off his bike.  I have been told that he does not respond well at school and he is always getting into trouble although he does not get into much trouble at the club. My Analyses of my Description Although my description I see as fair, honest and factual, I can not be completely sure about some of the facts I have written.  For instance I know Lynden’s father drives heavy goods vehicles for a job but I am not completely sure if he this is the reason that he does not always sleep at home.  I am also aware that I only spend three hours a week with this young person and the behaviour I see may be just in the informal environment of the NAYC  However, I only see this young lad on a weekly basis. Adolescence. Over roughly a 10 year period between the ages of 12 to around 22 the life stage of Adolescence occurs.  ‘Adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth and development, more so then any other period exept early infancy.  Babies, though are not aware (as far as we know) of the changes in their bodies, while adolescents most certainly are.’ (Bee & Mitchell 1939) Because of this, growing up can be a really testing time for a young person, as he or she moves from childhood into being an adolescent teenager and from primary school to secondary school.  With new strains on their body, minds and peer groups it makes this change very dramatic for the young person. Erikson’s basic idea is that development over the life span is made up of a series of stages, each of which involves a central task or dilemma.  The nature of each task is determined partly by biological changes, such as puberty, and partly by changing social demands placed on the individual. (Bee & Mitchell 1939) Erikson’s also teaches us that though, it is the question of ‘who am I’ that is important during the life stage of adolescence.  And this becomes this becomes absolutely central for the developing young peron. Physical Changes Lynden over the last few months has undergone not that many noticeable physical changes.  He remains quite short while the rest of his peers are starting to grow.  Growth of bones, muscles and the nervous system all influence with the way that a young person will change and develop.  This change is brought on by puberty.  I feel that young people are more aware now about puberty now then in previous years.  The reason I think this is because schools these day are more open about the subject of developing young people.  I understand that as informal educators it is our with in our self’s to explore these subjects with young people in an open and liberal way, but with young people attend the youth felicities by choice, some young people are bound to miss the opportunity of our input in to their life’s.   With young people made to attend some for of education either in school or during home tuition, Although young people are taught about them self’s, and how there body will develop I can see that this will still be a very worrying time for a young person.  For young ladies the physical development of breasts may mean that some young people fell more self consurse then others. Cognitive Changes Lynden’s cognitive development is maturing well for a young lad of his age although I still feel he lets him self down sometimes.  Unlike is twin brother he is able to think through situations and even develops his own ideas.  An example of this was when he was playing Kwik Cricket in the Sports Hall at the NAYC.  He disagreed with a decision and starting having an argument with a volunteer.   Lynden stopped him self from arguing with the volunteer and even said sorry.  I believe he did this because he could see the volunteer getting upset and realised that he might be asked to leave the Sports Hall.  By Lynden thinking the situation through and engaging other people’s reactions he was able to remain in the game.   The brain is still growing and maturing during adolescence. (Beckman 2004, www.sciencemag.org). The frontal lobes, located at the front of the skull are responsible for rational behaviour and judgement. Rebellious actions of teenagers like Lynden were once dismissed as hormone changes linked to puberty.  There is evidence to suggest now that this may be due to functional differences in their brains. (Powell,2006,http://serendip.brynmawr.edu). The impulsive behaviour of these young people it is thought is due to the reliance on the instinctive part of the brain, while these frontal lobes continue to develop; hence they may over react.  This research helps us to understand why cognitive functions of planning, reasoning and impulse control may be different in teenagers.  Recent studies confirm that the teenage brain is very complicated and dynamic and is not easily understood (http://www.nimh.nih.gov. 2001). It is however a natural process. As it matures the adolescent brain slowly reorganises how it integrates information. Adult brains have more potential to learn from experience and appreciate the consequences of their actions.  I believe this to be why Lynden still sometimes does the odd silly thing. Communication is a big part of adult life, now with more way of communicating effetely then ever before being an adolescence is an exciting time for a young person.   Emotional and psychological Changes The effects of physical and cognitive changes impact on young persons emotional well being.  With all the pursuers that life can throw at a young person.   The sexuality of a young person is also determined at this time with young people realising feelings for other young people Sociological Changes As people got older their friend tend to change.  Personal I have not got the same group of friend as I had when I went to school although I do meet them time to time for a conversation and to catch up on one and others life.  Lynden’s friend group will start to change as well, going to secondary school at the end of the year academic year he will meet an exchange of new people from different backgrounds and it is here that he will need to communicate affectedly to meet new friends that share the same interests as him.   Media Pressure is also a big factor on young people, they see there idols on television and want to act and dress like them.  Also adverts the young people can see in paper and magazines have a big impact in young people lives and what they would like and also what they have. Being a Twin I believe it must be hard for Lynden being an twin.  Through conversations I think that he wants his own independency and although he cares for his brother and sticks up for him, they do sometimes fight.  Studies about Twins such as the one Susan Farber held in 1981 have shown that ‘intelligence is inherited.’  So with monozygitic (identical) twins looking the same the studies by Susan Farber also show they know the same.  With Lynden and his brother growing up in the same environment going to the same school and having the same friends I believe it is only now at the adolescent stage of his life that he will start 9pushing the boundaries’, going to places by himself and developing his own sense of identity.  I believe this will be good for his brother as well because they are at the same life stage, so he will also be looking to form and shape his own identity as well.     Conclusion During the writing of this assignment I have realised that being an adolescent is a traumatic time for a young person.  I have also realised that they do not realise that they are going through it.  In a way they just have to cope until the development is over.  I believe it is my job to understand this and to accommodate young peoples needs during this time, also be open and willing to discuss these changes with them.  This is especially important if there is not much support at home.  The four areas of development happen at different times for each individual and I have also learnt there is no set way for this to happen.   The knowledge I have gained during this assignment has and will influence my practice.  I am going to work with integrity and it has also given me an insight into young people’s behaviour of this age which deserves careful consideration when I am dealing with them. References Beckman, M. 2004, www.sciencemag.org, vol 305,596-599. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/Publicat/teenbrain.cfm 2001. Powell 2006, http://serendip.brynmawr.edu.   /