Social and Emotional Development in Adolescence

Social and Emotional Development in Adolescence

• Adolescence is a period of significant social and emotional development, marked by changes in self-esteem, identity formation, peer relationships, and potential risks like delinquency, depression, and suicidal ideation.
• Teens often prefer smaller, more intimate peer groups, and friendships become essential for meeting social needs.

Chapter Outline

• Self-Esteem and Development of Identity: Examines how self-perception and understanding of oneself evolve during adolescence.
• Parents: Explores the influence of parental factors on adolescent development.
• Peers: Focuses on the impact of peer relationships and social groups on adolescent behavior.
• Juvenile Delinquency, Depression, Suicide: Addresses risk factors associated with these serious issues during adolescence.

Peers

• Teenagers conform to peer standards more than children.
• This conformity is often driven by a desire for peer acceptance and belonging within a social group.

Friendships

• Adolescents value closer, more intimate friendships.
• Teens with few or no friendships tend to be lonely and have lower self-esteem.

Peer Pressure

• Teens are more likely than younger children to conform to peer standards.

Cliques and Crowds

• Cliques: Small, same-sex, same-age groups often based on shared friendships or similar activities.
  • Typically average 5-6 members
  • 2 to 12 members in a clique.
• Crowds: Larger social groups defined more by reputation than close friendships.
  • Often appear in early adolescence
  • Based on reputation.

Juvenile Delinquency

• Juvenile delinquency encompasses various illegal or anti-social behaviors in adolescents, ranging from minor offenses to serious crimes like murder.
• Petty theft, disruptive behaviors, and violations specific to minors are common examples.

Sex Differences in Delinquent Behavior

• Boys are more likely to engage in violent crimes.
• Girls are more likely to commit status offenses (violations legal only for minors).

Risk Factors for Delinquent Behavior

• Child Characteristics: Difficult temperament, poor school performance, peer rejection, and delinquent friends.
• Family Experiences: Low parental warmth, high levels of conflict, inconsistent discipline, low parental monitoring, and divorce.
• Community Influences: high crime rates, poverty, and lack of opportunities
• Identity Problem: delinquency as a way to establish identity.

Causes of Delinquency

• Identity Problems: Delinquency as a negative attempt to establish identity.
• Child Characteristics: Temperamental difficulties, poor academic performance, peer rejection, and exposure to delinquent peers.
• Family Experiences: Low parent-child warmth, parental conflict, inconsistent discipline, poor parental monitoring.
• Community Influences: High crime rates, poverty, lack of positive role models.

Depression

• Depression is more common in adulthood than childhood, becoming more significant in adolescence.
• Adolescent girls experience depression more frequently than boys.

Gender Differences in Depression

• Females tend to ruminate and amplify their depressed mood more intensely.
• Female body image tends to be more negative than male's.
• Females often experience greater social discrimination.
• Puberty's earlier onset in females may contribute to increased levels of depression due to accumulating hormonal and developmental changes.

Risk Factors for Depression

• Family Factors: Presence of a depressed parent, emotionally unavailable parents, high marital conflict or divorce, financial problems.
• Peer Factors: Lack of close friends and social rejection among peers.

Suicide

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors increase significantly in early adolescence.
• Female attempt suicide more often, whereas males engage in more successful suicide acts.

Risk Factors for Suicide

• Family History: Suicide and psychological problems tend to run in families with a history of instability or crisis.
• Long-standing Instability: A history of instability or crises within the family can increase risk of suicide in adolescence.
• Depression and Hopelessness: Feelings of hopelessness, desperation, and depression are major contributors to thoughts of suicide.
• Impulsiveness: Impulsivity, combined with emotional instability can impact decision making and increase risk.
• Perfectionism: High achievers and perfectionists can disproportionately be susceptible to suicide if expectations are not achieved.
• Stress: Significant life events, like stressful experiences or transitions, can greatly contribute to the risk of suicidal attempts in adolescence.

This quiz delves into the significant social and emotional changes that occur during adolescence. Topics include self-esteem, identity formation, the influence of parents and peers, and serious issues like delinquency and depression. Assess your understanding of these critical developmental aspects.