Teenagers as a Separate Race - Term Paper Example

Adolescence Adolescence Introduction A large group of the population in each country is made up of adolescents. Adolescents are faced with a period in life where they are healthier and have better economic chances ahead of them. However, they are also faced by various challenges such as disagreements, abuse and high risks to disease. What is adolescence? Many definitions of adolescence have been given. However, they all lead to one definition. Adolescence is a time during which an individual undergoes changes from childhood to adulthood (Krishna, 2004). At this time, the individual undergoes through numerous social, physical and rational changes. It is a period of transformation. During this duration, an adolescent is developed in terms of his or her capacity while also his or her exposure to risks increases (Krishna, 2004). The changes occurring in an adolescent add up to development. The needs of adolescents are very particular in the developmental perspective, different from those of childhood and adulthood. This paper looks at the main factors affecting social, cultural and individual development in adolescence, their importance and how they are interlinked. Further, the similarities and differences of Asian and African cultures with that of the traditional Western view of adolescence are examined. Finally, the psychological theories of adolescence are evaluated with the help of a questionnaire filled up by two adolescents. Main Factors that Affect Social, Cultural and Individual Development in Adolescence Social development is defined using different definitions. However, Krishna (2004) defines it as a course of development through which children attain the required techniques, approaches and virtues that make them a suitable group member that they belong to. Social development is characterised by various aspects such as more indication of loyalty to a group, pronounced emotional behaviours, a lot of sexual thoughts, more friendly bonds and increase in social interests. These characteristics of social development are affected by environmental and personal factors. Environmental factors include peer groups bonds, social surroundings of their school, the media, community surroundings, family surroundings and social clubs. Personal factors include emotional outlook, intelligence levels and their physical attributes. These two main factors affecting social development in adolescence revolve around relationships, relationships with their peers and families. What adolescents actually want is a person whom they can depend upon, talk to and trust. As such environmental factors are important in that they enable adolescents to obtain independence and develop virtues such as good moral decisions. Personal factors are important as they enable adolescents to realize how they vary from adults and their parents (Krishna, 2004). In cultural development, culture surrounds an adolescent. It has an influence in all facets of their development. In cultural development, most adolescents undergo through a period of realization whereby they recognize for the first time their ethnicity. Ethnicity is a term that comprises the traditions, shared qualities and practices of their culture. The main factors affecting cultural development are gender issues and roles of adolescents in the cultural group and family. For the gender issues, in some cultural groups, female adolescents namely girls may be under stricter rules than male adolescents namely boys. This may be the result of fear by their parents that the cultural values of the culture they are in do not match up with their values. Cultural groups practice different practices according to various beliefs and customs. This determines the roles of adolescents in the cultural setting and the family which is usually the basic social unit of the culture. Some cultures determine cultural development based on the level of independence the adolescent has attained in the culture while others determine it based on the level of responsibility an adolescent can shoulder in the family set up. These factors are important as they in enhancing self esteem (Krishna, 2004). Every individual is unique. Individual development is associated with the identity of an adolescent. During the adolescence, individual development progresses in tandem with social occurrences distinguishing adolescents from elder and younger persons. The overall individual traits that an individual expresses are collective reflections of the world, more so that of adults in regard to how as an individual, an adolescent reacts to it. Individual development yield social distinctions that are a reciprocation of its advancement. A major factor that affects individual development is social change. Social change can bring about variations in the individual’s surrounding. Social changes are vital in individual development when their stipulations for certain deeds in a particular environmental set up are not in tandem with the individual’s social and psychological abilities. Hence, depending on the individual and the social setting, an adolescent may be faced with either risks and challenges or opportunities. Depending on how the individual views the social change, he or she constructs their cognitive, emotional and psychosocial needs for their sake. This ways, social change motivates individual development (Crockett, & Sibereisen, eds., 2000). The factors affecting individual, cultural and social development are interlinked with each other in an intricate manner. One factor affecting one type of development has an indirect effect on another type of development. Brief Overview of Margret Mead’s studies on Amish and Samoan cultures and Hall’s view of Stress and Storm and how they impact on development Margret Mead’s studies on Amish and Samoan cultures gave rise to the cultural – context theory. Her studies sought to check if adolescence was a biologically influenced duration of storm and stress as Hall implored or it was just an answer to cultural and social conditions. The results of her studies indicated that adolescents were culturally particulate and not collective. She noted that the transition from childhood to adulthood was even and was not affected by disagreement. As for Hall’s theory, Hall (1904) argued that biological and cultural progression of humans was evoked by each individual’s psychological development. Hall (1904) depicted adolescence as a period of storm and stress. What did Hall (1904) mean by a period of storm and stress? Hall (1904) meant that adolescence was filled with uncertainties and large changes in emotions and moods (Mahmud, 2005). Cultures Western Asian African Transition Phase between childhood and adulthood It is smooth that goes hand in hand with Margret Mead’s studies It is not smooth and culture has a big role to play. It is not smooth and culture plays a vital role. Onset of Puberty The onset of puberty is early due to social influences. Due to society influences, it is not as early as in the West. It is roughly constant across all generations. It is not early. Many influences of the society that add up to the stress and storms of adolescents delay it. Development of Self Concept It occurs early in the adolescence years. Due to cultural teachings, it occurs along with teachings on their community roles. It occurs later in adolescence years due to the cultural setting on community roles rather than the self. Dating It is common among adolescents as culture deems it as a norm. It is not that common as culture does not deem it as a value. It is rare in adolescence and mainly expressed in adulthood. Questionnaire This questionnaire seeks to look at peer relationships and the importance of adolescents’ independence. It is designed in a simple yet clear way that will enable the individual answering it to give specific answers that are not contradicting in any way. Due to gender sensitivity and the significant differences that are observed in adolescents of the opposite sex during adolescent development, the questionnaire was taken by an adolescent male and female whose identities cannot be revealed due to ethics and privacy matters. Both of them were in their nineteenth year of age. They were also in high school level of education hence they gave sound and reasonable answers according to their experience as adolescents. It is divided into two parts, A and B. Part A 1. Do you understand the meaning of peer relationships? Yes or No 2. At what age did you have your first peer relationship? 3. Were your parents for or against your peer relationship? 4. How do you think people around you viewed your relationship? Morally right or Morally wrong 5. Are peer relationships allowed in your school? Yes or No 6. In the past year, did you experience: Yes or No i. Insulting texts from your peers? ii. Insulting rumours about you? iii. Insulting calls from your peers? 7. Have you ever been bullied by your peers? Yes or No? 8. How often do your peers use abusive words directed at you? Often, Rarely, Never 9. Are you part of a peer group? Yes or No 10. If so, are you sure that you will be part of that peer group in the future? Yes or No Part B 1. How do you view the relationship with your parents? Good, bad, worse, best 2. In relation to the above question, why do you view it that way? i. Is it because they give you independence or they don’t? 3. What does been independent mean to you? Free from your parents or Free to make your own choices 4. Why do you think so (free from your parents or free to make your own decisions)? 5. Do you understand what identity is? Yes or No 6. If you do, do you have an identity? Yes or No 7. What defines your identity? Dressing, Culture? Or Academics 8. When you make your own decisions, does it make you feel independent or more independent? 9. How independent do you think your friends are? Like you or More independent 10. When would you like to live alone? Immediately after school or After university or college Summary of Questionnaire Findings The questionnaire’s findings were quite intriguing when examined from a gender point of view. However, they were an expression of the complex differences that are there in the development of male and female adolescents. Differences in the development of male and female adolescents are underpinned in their biological changes. Concurrently, the findings of part A of the questionnaire indicated that both female and male adolescents view peer relationships as important components of their lives. Apart from the relationships with their parents, the findings of the questionnaire indicated that relationships with their peers were regarded as morally wrong by their parents. The female stressed on this point b indicating it is as if her parents feared a lot about her safety. The risks that an adolescent is faced with are much more than the opportunities. It is this risks that she indicated were the reason why her parents were not supportive of her relationships with her peers. Regarding insults, abuse and bullring, they both indicated that they have all experienced them in the cause of their teenage years. They stated that such were recipes of stress and pressure in their ages. They were uncertain about the future. Independence is an important aspect of adolescence. The questionnaire had some questions that sought to find out the view of adolescence on identity and independence. From the findings, the adolescents indicated that the relationship with their parents was largely affected by their parents influence on their lives. More so, if their parents allowed them to be independent and make their own decisions. They indicated that being independent means been free to make their own decisions. They thought so because it was their decisions that were scrutinized by their parents. They all understood the concept of identity and stated that it is they and their environment that determine their identity. Major Psychological Theories of Adolescence Comprehension of adolescence is rather perspective. This means that it is understood depending on the perspective from which one views it. As a result, researchers have developed various theories that assist in comprehension of adolescence. Biological Maturational Theories Stanley Hall developed this theory. The main influence behind this theory is the theory of evolution created by Darwin. Hall (1904) stated that the cultural and biological progress of an individual is recalled by an individual’s psychological development. The transition from childhood to adulthood is shown by ontogeny, while phylogeny shows the progressive change of man to his or her current form. Two words were used by Hall (1904), storm and stress. These two words are used to describe adolescence as a whole. As indicated in the questionnaire, the abuse and insults that the adolescents went through was a recipe for stress and pressure. This supports Hall (1904 theory that notes adolescent is a period of stress and storm whereby the adolescent is faced by uncertainties, and emotional changes as a result of what they are exposed to (Mahmud, 2005). Hall (1904) notes that adolescence was a period filled with clashes. The questionnaire supports this point by the answers given that adolescents frequently face bullying. However, the aspect of being stressing and stormy is quite weak. Reason why, the adolescents who took the questionnaire did indicate that their age was not just about stressing issues. They indicated that it was also a time to fully enjoy their selves without worrying too much. They were also unable to state how stressful they were in the periods they had experienced stress. Bullying is a failure of the society to conform the traits of the society to the needs of adolescents. However, physical variations that occur in adolescents also have a crucial role to play in enhancing it. Hall’s (1904) theory talks about the biological changes that occur in an individual, this changes fuel the bullying experienced by adolescents. The findings of Hall (1904) are subject to scrutiny and criticism. They are viewed as an overstatement of adolescence. The questionnaire supports this criticism of Hal (1904) because the findings did not indicate stress and storms been a huge and vital part of adolescence (Mahmud, 2005). Psychoanalytic Theories Sigmund Freud considered childhood to be a highly influential period under which a human being underwent through during development. This he indicated that the manner through which the determining years when a human being was a child shaped the sexual identity, Ego and Super Ego controlled the attributes of identity. This resulted in a model constituted by three concepts, the Ego, Super Ego and the Sexual Instinct (Mahmud, 2005). Sexual Instinct is biological. It is associated with the subconscious part of the mind which is also the subconscious element of personality. Personality is largely connected with identity as it is the personality of an individual which determines their identity. The findings of the questionnaire indicated that adolescents understand what identity is which the psychoanalytic theories look at. Sexual Instinct is composed of the wants and sudden biological thrusts that signal the desire for a particular thing. Sexual Instinct stresses on the timely fulfilment of a need. This is supported by the questionnaire whereby the adolescents indicated that urgent and sudden need for being free and independent. In the relationship part, the adolescents indicated they were filled with sexual wants that they felt needed to be fulfilled at that moment (Mahmud, 2005). As for the Ego, it is the reality part that seeks to turn the fantasies of the sexual instinct into reality. It serves to manipulate the person to conform to reality of the matter while suppressing the wants of sexual Instincts. This is what adolescents express in the questionnaire when they state that they are not sure about the future of their peer group. They have fantasies about the future, but the ego comes into play and tries to show them the reality. On to the Super Ego, it houses what is regarded as normal in the society. The ethics that society conforms to are contained in the Super Ego. It serves to reduce the differences between Sexual Identity and Ego. Components of the Super Ego include the conscience which is what many people describe as that little inner voice that tells a person to do or not to do a certain things. It is a signal of morality to the individual. The other component is the ego – ideal which results in feelings of fulfilment if the behaviour of the person is alright as determined by society’s standards (Mahmud, 2005). Anna Freu goes on to expound on her father’s ideas. She noted that the most important period for developing and forming personality was adolescence. It is in the adolescence stage that sexual urge restarts. As a result, she indicates that it is a threat to Sexual Instinct and Ego. This creates anxiety which causes Ego mechanisms that are designed to be defensive. According to Mahmud (2005), Ego defensive mechanisms include asceticism and intellectualization. These defensive mechanisms are geared towards relieving the anxiety they face. Later, due to experiences in life, Anna Freud says that individuals tend to calm down as they are able to control harmful instincts (Mahmud, 2005). Another collaborator of Sigmund Freu is Erik Erikson. Erikson (1968) talks about the main duties of adolescence, he says that it is to determine the disagreements of identity puzzlement and identity itself. As the questionnaire indicated, the adolescents were not sure of their future. The future is connected with identity. The role they would play in future was unknown to them. Identity is shaped by Ego. The ego structures, desires, needs in a manner to help the individual conform to their society. The adolescents indicated the view of the people around them concerning their relationships was inquisitive. As such, in the relationship, they have to behave in a way that the society accepts (Mahmud, 2005). Many a times, humans question themselves about their identity. This questioning is all in search of their true self. This questioning aspect comes into play during adolescence and in adult years, it can occur again. It is a vital route to identify self by an individual. It enhances the ego aspect of adulthood. What does Erikson (1968), state about the identity stage? He states that there are various dangers of this stage that include identity confusion. Identity confusion can show itself in adolescents for a particularly long period. It even goes on after adolescence into adulthood. Nevertheless, it may be normal. It may be attributed to some adolescent behaviour such as bullying as indicated in the questionnaire (Mahmud, 2005). Conclusion Adolescence is all about development, right from its onset up to its offset. It offers a means through which an individual transits from childhood to adulthood. Various factors influence development during adolescence. It is these factors that lead to the theoretical approaches that researches have purposed to use in evaluation of adolescence. As indicated in the paper, adolescence is a period when an individual is prone to stress, fun, emotions and expression of identity. The social knowledge of an individual increases during adolescence as the findings of the questionnaire indicated. References Crockett, L. J., & Sibereisen, R. K., eds., 2000. Negotiating Adolescence in Times of Social Change. Cambridge University Press. Krishna, V. V., 2004. School Psychology. Discovery Publishing House. Mahmud, J., 2005. Development Psychology. APH Publishing. Read More