Explain how our life stage developments parallel what society expects of us in terms of our relationships. Consider areas such as, friendships, companionship, intimate relationships, psychological needs, familial demands and maturity.
Explain how our life stage developments parallel what society
expects of us in terms of our relationships. Consider areas such
as, friendships, companionship, intimate relationships,
psychological needs, familial demands and maturity.
In this essay, I propose to examine the Adolescent stage in development, in order to
determine what is expected of the developing teenager, in regards to the rest of society. It
will critically investigate many aspects of an adolescents' life, in terms of relationships with
their peers, as well as how they view themselves. It will collaborate statements from
sociologists and psychologists alike, in order to establish how and why adolescence is a life
stage which conflicts with the expectations that society hold about them.
Throughout our lives we develop through various different stages of development, from
birth, right through to death, adolescence, however, is just one of these stages.
Adolescence is a period of our development that virtually no one passed through without
some degree of trauma, big or small. It is a time where we develop both mentally and
physically from a child, into an adult. The teenage years are fraught with pain, anguish,
uncertainty, confusion and self-image. It is a time when emotions run high and patience is
low, and the urge for freedom is confronted with parental restrictions. All in all, most people
emerge from adolescence fairly unscathed, and go on to lead normal lives.
"Adolescence is the age of the final establishment of a dominant positive ego
identity. It is then that a future within reach becomes part of the conscious
life plan." (Erikson, 63, p306)
Adolescence is a watershed, after which the future is redirected and confirmed. It would
seem reasonable that much thought would be given to how to use this critical period to
reinforce the positive self-image so important for growth and development. However, many
parents, teachers, and clergy are unprepared to help guide adolescents, forgetting that they
to were once that age.
Various researchers and scholars have marked adolescence as a critical period, if not the
most critical period in human development. Many, such as Erikson see it as the fork in the
road which forever shapes an individual's destiny. Indeed, social scientists argue that our
societies ultimately mirror the results of the adolescent development process. The
importance of adolescent development to society, especially, the tendency for societies to
operate without a central ethos, to "go with the flow". Erikson suggested that adolescents
are simply expected to adjust to overwhelming change; therefore, this makes this confusing
and challenging part of their lives more difficult.
Adolescence, accounts for the ages between 13 and eighteen years old, and is most
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road which forever shapes an individual's destiny. Indeed, social scientists argue that our
societies ultimately mirror the results of the adolescent development process. The
importance of adolescent development to society, especially, the tendency for societies to
operate without a central ethos, to "go with the flow". Erikson suggested that adolescents
are simply expected to adjust to overwhelming change; therefore, this makes this confusing
and challenging part of their lives more difficult.
Adolescence, accounts for the ages between 13 and eighteen years old, and is most
commonly referred to as the "Teenage Years". During this life stage, the ego that develops
is "identity versus role confusion". This basically means that adolescents are subconsciously
trying to find an identity for themselves, through trying out various roles in order to determine
whether they fit into them or not. Adolescents may adopt the "grundge" look for a while,
wearing baggy jeans and t-shirts. However the peer group in which the teenager is in plays
a vital part in their development and also their perception of the world. Research by Akers,
and Krohn 1980, suggest that the peer group at adolescence is the most influential part of
the decisions they make, regarding Alcohol, drugs, sex and crime.
The physical aspect to adolescence is much easier to see that the mental and social aspect.
However this by no respect, means that it easy. Adolescents have to deal with constant
changes in appearance, both real, or imagined. This is because puberty comprises of
approximately two years of rapid growth, during which they become capable, physically, to
reproduce. When teenagers fail to develop signs of sexual maturity at the time when their
friends are changing, their self-concept and self-esteem can be adversely affected; they may
also feel different, unacceptable as well as alone. Girls usually are less affected by late
maturity than boys because a small chested girl is not without sex appeal in our
society. Late maturing boys however may feel inferior, less secure, and anxious. Research
suggests that they are more emotionally expressive, resort to more attention seeking
behaviours, and have more body and social acceptance concerns than their normally
maturing peers (Clausen, 1975 Human Development, P.241)
Families are often surprised when their seemingly obedient children become egocentric, and
argumentative teenagers. This is because, the teenager, who is more adult looking and so
feels social pressures to become more independent, make a career choice, make sexual
choices, take on more adult responsibilities and grow up. This is very difficult for some, as
many, although they have the physical body of an adult, intellectually, they are still a child.
Furthermore, teenagers are expected to make informed choices about careers etc. and
expected to act in a mature manor, whilst still being treated by society as a child. Social
scientists would agree that an identity search and new self-discoveries characterise an
adolescent's psychological, as well as social development. The search by teenagers, for
identity affects not only the parent - child relationship, but also moral development, school
as well as peer interactions.
Erikson (1980) proposed the nuclear conflict of "identity versus role confusion" as
characterised in adolescence. He felt that adolescents need time to experiment with many
different roles before they settle into a particular one. Erikson also suggested that young
love is usually more conversational than sexual because they need to project their developing
self-image confidentially, to a second person, and then have it reflected back to them.
Erikson also suggested that the intimate relationships that are formed during adolescence,
are usually short lived and shouldn't be taken too seriously. They are merely a way for the
impressionable teenager to reciprocate feelings and emotions with someone of the opposite
sex.
Peer groups give the developing teenager a sense of belonging, when their own families they
belong to become less interactive. It is evident that, teenagers, regardless of whether they
are popular, unpopular, or quiet or outspoken etc. All pay a great deal of attention to the
behaviour and opinions of the other young people they come into contact with. This is
because the peer group is a group in which the teenager feels that respects their views and
hold similar views and opinions to themselves. In addition to this, the peer group is a place
where interaction occurs and so the teenager can be at ease in amongst friends, which he or
she feels they can trust. The peer group at adolescence see the outside society as being
excluded from their group, in that, the adolescent peer group, at times is involved in deviant
behaviour which it knows that the outside society disprove of, as well as the law. Such as
underage drinking, smoking and sex.
The friendships that occur during adolescence become more stable, and intimate, than
previous friendships they have had. Adolescents spend more time talking to their friends,
and describe themselves as more happy doing so, than in any other activity.
(Csikszentmihalyi, Larson, and Prescott, 1977) Adolescents that do not bond with others
are viewed by society as "strange", in the sense that during the teenage years, more so than
probably any other life stage, it is important to form friendships with people not only from
the same sex, but also the opposite sex. Evidence by (Josselson & Greenberger 1977)
suggest that those who don't make friends, during their teenage years, experience emotional
problems, and find it difficult to relate to others, in addition to this, they find it difficult to
have a meaningful relationship with someone from the opposite sex, as they cannot
comprehend the importance or complexity of what it is like to bond with someone.
The teenage years are years where sexual encounters usually first occur. Sex is no longer
regulated to adulthood by cultural definition, and is clearly part of adolescent behaviour,
however, increases in both teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, has led to
continued reluctance to accept sexual behaviour in adolescents. However, although society
frowns upon single parents and sex before marriage, the emphasis that is placed upon
teenagers, both directly as well as indirectly is that "one most have sex appeal" (Human
Development 270) This therefore provides adolescents with mixed messages and therefore,
it ultimately leaves them in the position to chose what they want to do, which the majority of
the time, conflicts with what their parents and teachers etc. want. E.g. Short skirts, make
up, alcohol.
Many parents worry when their teenage child finds its difficult to talk to them and keeps
things from them. Parents often feel they have failed when their seemingly happy teenager
becomes withdrawn, and spends a lot more time with their peer group, than they do with
their family. However teenagers need this space, as well as distance in order to interact and
bond with friends. Parents become marginalized, in the sense that they are no longer viewed
as important to them in everyday life, as they were when they were younger. Fortunately,
most parents can remember what it was like to be that age, and do sympathise to an extent
with them, realising that their children will grow out of their teenage years with a different
outlook on their family, as well as society as a whole.
Overall, this essay examined how adolescence, in some ways, but not all, parallels what
society expects of us in terms of relationships. It examined what various researchers, such
as Erikson stated about intimate relationships, and how, they are used as a stepping-stone
for relationships further in life. All in all, this essay encompasses what it is like for a
teenager, growing up into a world were nothing is for certain and their peer group is where
they turn for support, more so than their parents. Adolescence is an extremely confusing
time when a teenager is expected to make important as well as mature decisions about
various aspects of their life, however other decisions of their life are totally in the hands of
their parents. It is therefore only inevitable that there is a conflict of interests on both parts,
however, the adolescent stage doesn't last forever. And so very soon, most adolescents
progress onto adult hood, using their teenage experiences, both good and bad, as a guide
for what they do and achieve in terms of relationships, later in life.
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Understanding
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