Youth Work Practice - Essay Example

Youth Work Practice and its contribution to young people’s transition from dependence to interdependence The growing person faces a variety of challenges before entering adult life. The physical changes that occur with the onset of puberty, individual and cultural notions about the desirability of the changes and the external reactions to the changing physicality alter the child’s self-perception. A concurrent mental change starts with the onset of puberty as the young person starts to consider individual definitions for the self as opposed to existing notions about the self as a part of a family. This process of self definition involves attachment to the external peer group and its opinions become more important than those of the family. The young person starts to look for groups that share similar thoughts and attitudes in the search for consistency within the self that would enable the creation of identity. There may be a variety of factors acting on an individual at this stage: parental demand for conformity to social norms, peer pressure for conforming to norms of the group and individual’s conflict of conformity versus striking out to find a path or acceptance with a peer group. In cases where the family situation is rife with conflict due to parental temperament, financial pressures, surrounding social situations, the conflict within the young adult leads to undesirable behavioral outcomes. Evolution of the self The growing individual leaves behind the state of sensory exploration and becomes more conscious of the self as a part of the world. Coleman and Hendry explain the connection between the onset of puberty and the development of self identity. At this stage, the individual develops a sense of being a person distinct from others and is conscious of the image being presented to the world. At this stage, physical appearance takes precedence and the varying stages of bodily development can be a source of continuing dissatisfaction. Steinberg’s research suggests that the emotional dependence of the young individuals on the parents reduces with the onset of puberty and the increased search for identity. Kroger attempts to explain the stage of identity formation as a natural sequence that a child goes through after initially mapping a significant elder’s identity. The individual seeks to understand the self at a psychic level and arrive at a personal conclusion of ways to live by. Young adolescence – individual and social context The early stages of adolescence find children in different stages of physical maturity. The acceptance of the changing physicality at the peer, family and social level impacts the individual’s views of the changes. As the body develops, young female adolescents in societies that project thinness as desirable are likely to view themselves as being too large. The dissatisfaction with body shape commonly sets in at this stage of growth. Male adolescents on the other hand display a more positive view of their bodies. The individual starts to increasingly seek support from social groups at a peer level. The extent of dependence on parental norms is questioned and weighed for relevance. Parental restrictions and desires for conformity that were necessary to abide with in younger, more dependent times start to reduce in relevance as the individual seeks new experiences independently. Sexual mores may be tested as the young person seeks to develop a personal sense of identity. The young individual starts to increasingly view the self as an independent entity with personal preferences that may or may not be in line with parental views. The young individual may idolize a goal that is at odds with the family’s concepts which leads to conflict situations. Career goals that are attractive to the youngster may be fraught with risk in the eyes of the family. The ideals regarding risk-taking behavior held by the peer group have an immediate impact on what the youngster considers to be a right choice. The individual might find that all choices and preferences whether physical or intellectual are at odds with the family. The continuing conflict can lead to increased stress and adamancy on the part of the youngster and a consequent feeling of loneliness. Youngsters may develop an unnatural ideal of physical beauty that works against their physical and mental health while families focus on more conformism. The young adolescent is no longer viewed as a child in the social context. Social expectations of the young person acting responsibly, behaving with maturity and showing concern and respect can clash with the personal preference of gaining peer acceptance. If the adolescent was adopted as a child, this is the stage of internalizing the adoption and the circumstances of it. The adopted child goes though a stage of ruminating about their status in the family. Some children adapt well and continue normal familial communication while some display a marked change in behavior at this age. The change in behavior is linked with continuing internal questions about individual status and as a result, individual identity. Middle adolescence - individual and social context By middle adolescence the young adult has come to terms with the changing physicality. Though the peer group members are at varying levels of physical change, there is a sense of acceptance. Attention is drawn towards making a mark on the peer group and defining sexual identity. This is a stage of increased experimentation and the development of a personal value system. The increased physical strength among the males leads to the involvement of demanding physical activity. Norms regarding sex, sexuality, education, marriage, emotional dependence, financial independence are among the various concepts that undergo radical change as later generations seek ways to move further from the life norms that governed generations before them. A young individual may revel in the fact of being more independent and enjoying more freedom than the earlier generations of the society of origin. The stress revolves around the fact that the person is still emotionally and financially dependent on the family group while at the same time interested in being independent or fitting in with a peer group. The phase of transition from child to adult sets in at various times and has a direct impact on the stress of external reactions and peer pressure. The young person is often confused by conflicting expectations set by parents, peers, school juxtaposed with and sometimes against the individual sense of identity. Middle adolescents who were adopted as children may reconcile with their status depending on the status of family relationships and the parenting style adopted. They may start to find the roots of their ethnic backgrounds as a part of forming identity. Adoption status appears to be a troubling issue for adolescents who focus a lot on it and become hostile and alienated from their adoptive families. They feel unable to trust the adopted parents and search for answers as to why they were adopted at all. Adolescents who are not preoccupied with the status show greater acceptance with the family and are better able to develop a sense of identity. The nature of family relations, economic status, type of neighborhood, the relationship that has been nurtured during the pre-pubescent years has an impact on the individual. Patriarchal systems that allow for little democratic interaction at the early stages can prove stifling as the adult tries to develop independently. Continuing family conflict typified by excessive involvement of older relatives, parental temperament and child rearing practices impact the capacity of the individual to find ways for self expression and lead to internal conflict. This may find expression in the way of sullenness or explosive rages. Patriarchal systems coupled with abuse of any kind has the capacity to lead the young individual to adopting behaviors that lead to low social acceptance. A young adult who feels stifled by the unquestioned authority of the parent may choose to harm others or leave the family and choose to live alone, on the streets if the need arises. If abuse within the family is coupled with the presence of a troubled neighborhood, there is a high possibility of the individual turning to adopting the turbulent ways outside the home. The presence of a soothing and positive family context is necessary for the adolescent to develop a suitable sense of self. Delinquent behaviors are connected to stress within the family and the individual and involve a lack of consideration for the family in case of being caught. When the neighborhood is normal but the family is abusive with the adolescent, aggressive behavior may come on display to defend the self and personal property from harm and withdrawal from normal social contact. Though the symptoms are indicative of mental health disorder bordering on depression, the context must be understood. Sometimes, individuals display a heightened tendency to aggression. Connor reveals that aggression against a real or perceived threat to one’s safety or in competition for scarce resources may be seen when the individual’s surroundings are not conducive to a sense of safety. Maladaptive aggression on the other hand is the display of hyper-aggression that is incongruent with the benefit to be garnered. Maladaptive aggression is seen in adolescents with problems of age-inappropriate hyperactivity and attention capability. An understanding of the behavior patterns of such individuals brings out the presence of ADHD often coupled with Conduct Disorder. Mental disorders may show up in the form of low academic achievement and impaired social relations. If a parent has shown signs of mental disorders, the young adolescent views this as an issue to resolve and may wish it away or try their best to help the parent. Late Adolescence This is a stage when the young adult has experienced employment of some form, intimate relationships and the possibility of parenting and has a wider perspective about events that extend beyond the self. The young adult has started to develop a worldview along with increasing exposure to the world and greater independence in managing relationships and decision making. This is a crucial time that determines the career choices, status, earning potential, political views and participation. The individual is in a position on sexuality and parenting since physical health is at a peak. The individual has a firm view that may border on being driven by dogma or cynicism regarding the larger goal of life, purposefulness and their place in the world. Social acceptance is now viewed as desirable and the path ahead is clear to the person. Difficulties in the form of early parenting, addictions and crime, academic stoppage and individual vulnerability stemming from mental health issues can severely hamper the availability of choices to the person. Children who have been brought up in foster homes, have survived abuse, displayed delinquent behavior or have otherwise been in need of special care can find this phase daunting. As they stand on the threshold of adulthood, the support systems start to withdraw and the person grapples with reduced or zero support and internal confusion. State support is withdrawn between the ages of 18 and 21, a time when the vulnerable adult is not financially or emotionally stable. The state no longer views this population as worthy of support of justice systems and treats delinquency at par with adult crime with punitive rather than corrective action. The development of the independent self allows the young adult to strike out and gain financial independence. If family relations are strained, the individual is in a position to find a suitable life away from the continuous conflict. The advent of financial independence comes along with a greater sense of responsibility for management of self, management of money and focus on academics and career. This is also a stage of cognitive acknowledgement of the effect of family and social relations on the sense of well-being. Young adults from families that have been supportive find themselves better able to manage with the changing experiences whereas anxiety is rife with individuals from less supportive backgrounds. If a parent has shown signs of mental disorders, the adult now comes to terms with the limited individual capacity to cure the patient and objectively searches for ways to help the parent. Mental health issues that stem from compromised cognitive skill and problem solving or from strained family relations show up in the form of poor identity resolution at this stage. The young person may still be at conflict regarding self-worth and confidence which shows up in reduced skills and ability. The introduction of transition plans in education for vulnerable children at the age of 14 is designed to aid them in finding a way ahead after they reach the legal age of adulthood. Further, the treatment of late adolescent crime should continue to be treated with the intent of correction and development rather than punishment. Skill development along the lines of individual capability for mentally or physically compromised populations is another key activity to aid the transition at this stage. Late adolescence sees a settling down of hostility and suspicion towards the adoptive family and a return to acceptance. In some cases the individual has been able to understand the original roots and the circumstances of the adoption and has come to terms with it. The person is enabled to come to terms with the past depends on the relationship within the family and the understanding displayed by the adoptive parents. If there is a background of unresolved abuse, the young adult is likely to display reduced competence in the management of the complex requirements of this period. The compatibility between the adopted child and foster parents and the consistency of favorable relationship building activity is connected to positive identity creation and higher social capability. This is the stage of families allowing their children to move out to live alone and start working. With rampant unemployment, the less able or educated may find themselves on government support or homeless. Adolescence and Ethnicity The early adolescent is expected to channel the energies of the age in socially acceptable forms while exploring new experiences. Some societies impose strict rites on the young adult as a part of the initiation rites into adulthood. A youngster from a cosmopolitan surrounding in which the cross-cultural peer group is not expected to undergo the same rites will find the demands unnatural and stressful. The demand for compliance can be a source of conflict between the family and the larger social group as well as within the family itself. The cross-cultural influence can lead to the development of ideas that are quite contrary to the norms of the social network. In cases where the cross-cultural influence is less apparent, the social norms form an important aspect of the development of the identity as being a part of a larger social group. Similarly, social norms vary between generations with younger generations undertaking more risk taking behaviors and lesser acceptance of the rigid social mores that guided the older generations. Children from ethnic minority groups, who are brought up with cross-cultural influences, first go through a stage of adoption of the dominant culture. Ethnic minority children who are brought up in their original culture easily adopt the practices prevalent of their culture. The context of the family in terms of whether it belongs to an ethnic minority among others of the same group or among a diversified group has an impact on the feeling of acceptance of the child. The young adolescent may adopt the dominant culture while rejecting the norms of the minority culture. Children from ethnic minority groups who face rejection from the dominant culture on account tend to turn back towards the culture of origin and may become politically active or militant with respect to the dominant culture. Depending on the individual’s propinquity and the nature of experiences, there may be a partial rejection of the dominant culture. This is more so when the minority culture places too many restrictions on the person. Late adolescence sees the development of an acceptance of the ethnic and dominant culture and the creation of a personal view on what to adopt and what not to. In case of the development of a dogmatic or militant view towards the dominant culture during middle adolescence, it is possible that this view is strengthened along with the adoption of anti-social aggression. Youth Work Practices An important aspect of developing a sense of identity is the ability to realize the talents and skills that the person possesses and arrive at a sense of internal value by means of the capabilities that are within. Osgood makes a reference to the policies that can aid the transition from youth to adulthood through education in relevant skills and financial support to young adults who are leaving the foster or special care system. Juvenile delinquency is often associated with mental health issues, drug use and an approach that focuses on punishment in accord with the crime leads to the adult entering society with a view to vengeance or as a victim. An all-encompassing program that is designed to cover people through the stage of transition from youth to adulthood must aim at youth in a state of need as opposed to those who continue to receive support from able families. Youth from disturbed and underprivileged families require support and vocational training if they have been unable to complete formal education. Mentally and physically disabled individuals can benefit from vocational training programs that consider their specific limitations and utilize their strengths and capabilities. Learning skills helps these individuals to cope with the demands of adulthood and independent living or maximizing their capability to live as independent individuals. The purpose of the youth work programs is to increase the employability of people who are entering the stage of adulthood by appropriate skills training and aid them in finding gainful employment. Most programs are designed to keep the youth in line with the law and social expectations while aiding them to earn a living. Remote areas with underprivileged populations can pose challenges to the policy designers owing to the local dynamics in choice of supervisor, enthusiasm of the individuals who are working as the policy implementers in the area and the low wage potential of the supervisory and training positions. The attitude of the beneficiary towards the training, tools and quality of work is an important aspect of the efficacy of training. Students who are keen to come up with good work display greater accuracy and lower tool spoilage. They are better able to transfer learning to practice when they start working in private industry. Another option to help the youth find part time work that keeps them occupied for some time in a month so that they can earn and learn. The difficulty is in finding projects with this type of work and in keeping the person occupied during the intervening period of rest. Youth training and empowerment is an essential part of converting them into resources and keeping them away from the ills of joblessness, homelessness and far from undesirable actions like unwanted pregnancy, delinquency or substance abuse patterns that severely hamper their ability to return as contributing individuals of a society or a nation. Bibliography: Bukowski, W.A.,Newcomb, A.F.&Hartup, W.W.(eds) The company they keep: Friendship in childhood an adolescence, Cambridge:Cambridge University Press, 1998. Coleman, J.C. The Nature of Adolescence, London: Routledge, 1999. Kroger, J. Identity Development: Adolescence through Adulthood (2nd ed), London: Sage Publications, 2007. Lorwin Lewis L. Youth Work Programs: Problems and Policies. Ayer Publishing. 1974 Read More