Questions and Answers
Family conflict is predominantly about serious issues such as religion and core values.
False
In approximately 20 percent of American families, parents and adolescents experience intense conflict.
True
Adolescents' growing critical-thinking skills make them more likely to conform to their parents' wishes.
False
Adolescents tend to be less sensitive to their parents' comments as they grow older.
Signup and view all the answers
Parents can always rely on their children's past behavior to predict their future behavior.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Family Conflict Dynamics
- Conflicts in families often revolve around trivial issues like clothing, music, and leisure time rather than serious matters such as religion and core values.
- Major issues like drug use and delinquency are generally not central to family conflicts.
Impact of Conflict on Families
- An estimated 5 million American families (approximately 20% of families) experience intense, prolonged, and unhealthy conflict between parents and adolescents.
- Serious family conflict is linked to negative outcomes such as:
- Juvenile delinquency
- Increased school dropout rates
- Unplanned pregnancies
- Membership in religious cults
- Drug abuse
Adolescent Development and Conflict
- Adolescence brings cognitive changes that can heighten conflict in parent-adolescent relationships.
- Increased capacity for logical reasoning allows adolescents to question previously accepted rules and seek explanations.
- Critical-thinking skills lead to a lesser tendency to conform to parental wishes, causing friction.
- Adolescents recognize inconsistencies in their parents’ beliefs and actions, promoting challenges to authority.
- With cognitive growth, adolescents develop their own opinions and no longer view parents as unquestioned authorities.
Characteristics of Adolescent Behavior and Sensitivity
- Adolescents often display egocentrism, making them sensitive to parental remarks that may seem trivial.
- The physical and emotional changes during puberty make it challenging for parents to predict adolescent behavior based on prior compliance.
- Shifts in behavior can occur where previously compliant adolescents may resist cooperation without satisfactory explanations from parents.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the dynamics of family conflict, particularly between parents and adolescents. It delves into common areas of disagreement such as clothing, music, and leisure activities, and contrasts these with more serious issues. Understanding these conflicts can provide insights into family relationships and adolescent behavior.
