LIFE TRANSITIONS

Running head: ADOLECENTS 1

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ADOLESCENTS

Adolescents

The adolescent stage is an incredible life stage in the life course of an individual. It crosses over from childhood into adulthood. This stage occurs when an individual is between the ages of 12 and 20 years (Lavesque, 2013, p.211).Many noticeable changes are physical and are prompted by hormonal changes; however, some of these changes are emotional and psychological. On time and off-time transitions are significant during this stage since elements such as peer pressure are very high for adolescents. “The degree of acceptance that an adolescent has among his or her peers is likely to be based on the degree to which they have on time transitions”(Lavesque, 2013, p. 211).

Age Norms

Gender

Emotions are an integral part of the adolescent stage. Many adolescents experience a wave of emotions, some of which are based on the hormonal releases taking place in their bodies. Adolescents are usually described as being impulsive as opposed to being rational and logical. The changes taking place in their bodies have a role to play in this. “Males in this age usually start to develop an interest in females” (Lavesque, 2014, p.109). Unlike males in the childhood stage who prefer to have friends of the same gender, males in the adolescent stage also prefer to establish relationships with females. These relationships may be friendship based or they may be a bit more intimate. If a male still seems to have little interest in girls at the age of 18, then this is considered as an off time transition. This male may be subjected to ridicule by his peers.

At the adolescent stage, females also develop an interest in males. However, the interest in females comes at an earlier age than in males (Lavesque, 2014, p. 105). By the time the average female is 14, she already has some interests in people of the opposite sex. Females are usually more open and express themselves more succinctly than males at this stage. Thus, if a female likes a male, it is not unusual to find the female making the first move and letting the male know how she feels. This is contrary to traditional settings in which the male is expected to make the first move. If a girl has a boyfriend by the age of 14 or 15, then it is considered an on time transition. For example, every girl is expected to have a date for prom which usually occurs at the age of 17-18. If a girl is at this age attending prom without a date, then this is considered an off time transition and is frowned upon by her peers.

Race& Ethnicity

Race affects several elements of the development of people at the adolescent stage. Every race has a unique cultural disposition to which adolescents are expected to adhere to. However, the placing of races in certain environments has led to the development of certain patterns in the adolescent demographic that may not necessarily be ideal. Teen pregnancy is a common occurrence across all races in the United States. All races consider pregnancy during this age as an off time transition. However, the tolerance of the races to this off time transition differs. Members of the African American race and Hispanic races are a bit tolerant to girls getting pregnant at this stage (Dacey, 2007, p. 71). The statistics on teen pregnancy by race reveal a lot. The birth rate among black teens in the year 2013 was 39 births per 1000. White teens had a rate of 19 births per 1000. Latina teens provided the highest statistics with 42 births per 1000 (Newman, 2011. P. 40). However, the Caucasian race is a bit harsher on girls who get pregnant at this stage. They are especially harsh due to the issue of abortion among teens. 11% of all abortions in the United States are because the mother is too young to take care of children. Whites account for 39% of all abortions in the country while blacks account for 28% (Newman, 2011, p. 41).

The races also have a different approach to males in the instance of a pregnancy at this stage. In most cases, the males are below the legal age and cannot be held financially responsible for the pregnancy and subsequent birth. Thus, males seem to get a “pass” when it comes to issues of teen pregnancy. This is unlike females who are forced to bear the full burden, not just by their families but by the society as a whole. However, male getting a girl pregnant at the adolescent stage is considered an off time transition. This does not mean that teen pregnancies are rare. “The current rates are 53live births per 1000 for girls aged between 15 and 19” (Lavesque, 2014).This is a high number which shows that teenagers are engaging in unprotected sex at an early age.

Social Class

A major expectation for individuals at the adolescent stage is the completion of education. For many, this stage irrespective of their social class. If a person completes high school at this stage and maybe gets a college admission then this is considered to be an on time transition. However, there are still instances of people dropping out of high school or deciding to join college. The graduation rate for blacks is 69%, 73% for Hispanics and 86% for whites (Newman, 2011, p.42). The descision to join college is mostly caused by financial constraints due to the cost of a college education in the United States. College education in the United States costs up to $10,000 per semester which is out of the reach of most people (Newman, 2011, p. 43). White adolescents have a higher chance of completing high school and moving on to college due to the relative financial stability of their race. However, minority groups such as African Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of high school dropouts and a low rate of college enrolments (Newman, 2011, p. 43). Members of the upper and middle class are expected to complete their high school education and move on to college. If, for example, a person completes high school and gets a job as opposed to joining college then this is considered to be an off time transition. However, the chances of members of the lower class joining college are very low and they often do perhaps on scholarships or sponsorships from well wishers, for example, an adolescent from a poor family manages to secure a college sponsorship then this will elevate their stature not just in their family but in their community as a whole. The reverse is the same for an adolescent from a wealthy family failing to join college. Such an adolescent is likely to be considered a failure by their family as well as the greater society as a whole.

Biological Changes

The bodies of adolescents undergo tremendous changes at this stage. The bodies changes from the demeanor of a child to an adult. Females usually experience changes such as the development of the breasts and the enlarging of the hips. They also start experiencing their menstrual cycles. “The average female is expected to undergo these changes by the age of 19” (Marván, Vacio, 2011, p. 460). However, changes such as the development of the breasts are expected at an earlier age such as 15. Development of breasts at an age later than this is considered to be an off time transition. Off time transitions usually have a big impact on females at this stage. There is usually a lot of pressure on females to conform to the norm and develop certain feminine features that make them more appealing by society’s standards. If these features fail to develop then it can lead to self esteem issues.

Males experience changes such as deepening of the voice and the development of facial, chest and pubic hair. However, the growth of chest hair isn’t a guarantee and is dependent on the genes of an individual. The deepening of the voice is expected to occur at the age of 13(Chen, Jackson, 2009, p. 980). However, if a male is 18 and still does not have a deep voice then this is considered to be an off time transition (Chen, Jackson, 2009, p. 980). The males also develop exclusive male features such as the enlargement of the penis and the dropping of the testes into the scrotum. This marks the beginning of the development of sexual urges in males.

Psychological Issues

Adolescents are considered to be psychologically unstable (Daniels, Krim, 2009).Most of the decisions they make are usually irrational and fuelled by emotions as opposed to critical thought. This psychological state is fuelled by hormonal changes that take place at this stage. “Adolescents experience secretion of hormones that prompt their bodies to develop features of an adult body” (Chen, Jackson, 2009, p. 979). These changes are accompanied by a wave of emotions and urges which tend to sway them away from rationality. An example of this is the development of sexual urges and the manner in which these urges are dealt with. An adult is likely to behave more responsibly with regard to their sexual urges (Jaffa, 2010, p. 305). However, for adolescents the risks of engaging in unprotected sex are a lot higher. Girls are 30% to engage in unprotected sex at this age than boys. Approximately 13% of adolescents are engaging in unprotected sex. As a result sex education and adult supervision are a major requirement for adolescents despite their mostly negative receptions of the latter.

Adolescents are usually very passionate in life. They have a lot of zeal and optimism for the future. This is perhaps fueled by their inexperience with the difficulties of life. It is common to find adolescents yeaning from a sense of independence from their parents. However, they fail to take into account the massive responsibilities that will come the minute they are out of the care of their parents. At this stage a parent is usually perceived as an obstacle to a desired lifestyle as opposed to a valuable guardian and mentor (Jaffa, 2010, p.308). As a result many adolescents usually have a poor relationship with their parents characterized by animosity and disrespect as opposed to love and compassion.

Relevant Theories

The person in environment lens can help in understanding adolescents. The systems theory of the person in environment lens is also a useful tool in understanding adolescents. This theory interprets human behavior as the result of several interrelated systems in which a person finds themselves. Sigmund Freud also notes that the manner in which parents deal with their children during the childhood and adolescent stage is instrumental to their development as adults (Dacey, 2007). If, for example, the parents engage the adolescents on their sexual desires and urges they are likely to grow up to be well adjusted adults in control of their sexual urges. Adolescents are a very impressionable demographic (Jaffa, 2010, p.310).The systems that are at work around them are likely to influence their behavior. For example, two adolescents, one coming from a family of academics and the other coming from family of drug abusers. The former adolescent is likely to take education more seriously as a result of the environment in which they are raised. The case is the same for the latter teenager who is likely to have a very high propensity to use and even abuse drugs. Thus, it is very important for parents and guardians as well as society as a whole to provide a holistic environment for adolescents to grow up in (Jaffa, 2010, p.311). Bronfenbrenner developed the ecological systems theory. This theory states that the surroundings in an individual’s environment affect the development of the individual in question. This is especially the case for adolescents due to their high degree of impressionability (Dacey, 2007). It is prudent to ensure that the ecological environment of adolescents is filled with good and productive constructs.

Other systems that may affect the development of adolescents are systems established by their peers. Erickson focuses on the development of a sense of identity and how this sense of identity ultimately affects the manner in which a person develops (McCarty, 2010). Adolescents usually have a high desire for acceptance by members of their age group. They may engage in extreme and irrational behavior as a means to appeal to a certain social class of adolescents and gain more friends. According to Erickson the influence of peer pressure on adolescents is deterministic on the direction their lives ultimately take. However, this is often not an ideal situation as the adolescents may give up who they are in order to fit into a certain peer group. Peer pressure is also very powerful among members of this age demographic (Jaffa, 2010, p.313).

Kohlberg focuses on moral development through the life of a person. He argues that at the adolescent stage moral practice is preconventional (Newman, 2011). This means that the adolescents may not necessarily have a good handle on what moral practice is. These suggestions are in line with the cognitive perspective. This perspective notes that adolescents are not as well adjusted and developed cognitively as adults are. Thus, they need some guidance when it comed to moral decision making. These notions are echoed by Piaget who suggests that adolescents are at the sensory stage of thinking. At this stage they begin to think symbolically and even conceptualize abstract ideas that are not really tangible at the moment (McCarty, 2010).

Implications of Off Timed Transitions

Acceptance within a certain peer group is usually a major issue for adolescents. However, in most cases this acceptance is usually based on the ability of an adolescent to have certain on time transitions (Daniels, Krim, 2009, p. 1482). For example, of this is an adolescent wishing to join the school football team. If this adolescent has not developed more of a male physique by the time they are 15 then this might limit their ability to be accepted into the football team. The case is the same for a female adolescent wishing to join the cheerleading team.

Off timed transitions among adolescents usually lead to seclusion and exclusion from certain circles. This exclusion might lead to depression and ultimately suicide. An adolescent might be bullied because they are in high school and are yet to break their voice. Such bullying usually affects the self esteem of the victim and might even drive them into suicide (Broaard, 2016, p. 60).

Off timed transitions also have a massive impact on the general development of adolescents in the long run for example, joining college at 17 or 18. If an adolescent fails to join college at this age then this is considered an off time transition. Such an adolescent is at risk of being left behind by peers who are acquiring a higher education and arming themselves with the necessary job skills to move to the next phase of their lives. Such an off-time transition means that a given adolescent may grow up to be in a different economic and social class from his or her peers and this will influence the manner in which this adolescent relates with these peers even at later stages in life. Whenever people go to their high school reunions they reminisce on the times that they had as adolescents (Brogaard, 2016, p. 62). However, they also discuss issues such as their current stature in life and what they have done for themselves as well as their families and community. In these instances the most successful ones are the most vocal with the least successful ones being rather silent. All this is as a result of off timed transitions during the adolescent stage that affected the financial and strategic placing of all these people in the future.Off timed transitions for adolescents are a big deal and are likely to affect their social and psychological life.

References

Brogaard, B. (2016). Against emotional dogmatism. Philosophical Issues, 26(1), 59-77. doi:10.1111/phis.12076

Chen, H., & Jackson, T. (2009). Predictors of changes in body image concerns of Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 32(4), 977-994. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.08.002

Dacey, J. (2007). Adolescent development. Victoria, Australia: Thomson.

Daniels, A. M., &Krim, A. (2009). Helping adolescents explore emotional issues. The American Journal of Nursing, 69(7), 1482. doi:10.2307/3454142

Jaffa, C. (2010). Psychotherapy with Adolescents. Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents, 2(4), 303-315. doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-035153-7.50023-1

Levesque, R. J. (2013). Sexual victimization by adolescents. Adolescents, sex, and the law: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Citizenship, 3(2), 211-262. doi:10.1037/10342-008

Levesque, R. J. (2014). Regulating sexually active adolescents. Adolescents, Sex, and the Law: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Citizenship, 1(3), 103-137. doi:10.1037/10342-004

Marván, M. L., & Vacio, A. (2011). A comparison of menstrual changes expected by Pre-Menarcheal Adolescents and Changes Actually Experienced by Post-Menarcheal Adolescents in Mexico. Journal of School Health, 71(9), 458-461. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2001.tb07326.x

McCarthy, J. B. (2010). Adolescent Development and Psychopathology. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Newman, P. R. (2011). Adolescent development. Columbus: Merrill Pub. Co.

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