Middle Childhood and Adolescence Development

Middle Childhood and Adolescence Development PSY 375 7/31/2015

Middle Childhood and Adolescence Development Middle childhood and adolescence development is an important developmental period in a child’s life. In this stage of development, the child goes through changes, forms their opinion, and makes critical choices. In the following paper, the focus will be on some of the areas in this developmental stage of the child. It will explain the changes that occur in peer relationships. It will examine the aspects of adolescent egocentrism. It will analyze the different pressures that are faced in this developmental stage of life. This amazing time in development is a building block for the future adult within the adolescence. Changes in Peer Relationships During the stages of adolescence comes many changes that will shape the person they will be. These changes could be the result of the pressures adolescence undergo during this period. One major pressure among adolescence is peer pressure. Peer pressure can be a great influence during this period because it comes from the surrounding peers. These intense relationships are formed to get a better understanding of who they are as a person. While an adolescence can be influenced either negative or positive ways, it is allowed them to gain acceptance within that group of peers. When the adolescence receives more negative peer pressure versus positive, the adolescence can lose their identity and could experience identity confusion. Another major pressure that adolescence incur is drug use and abuse. Drug abuse can be a direct result of peer pressure for some adolescence, and for some a coping mechanism. In the sense of drug being used as a result of peer pressure, this is in part due to one trying to maintain their status within the group, or trying to look cool. For those adolescences that use drugs as a coping mechanism, it is a direct result of the stresses that are associated with daily adolescence lives. During the adolescence stage, not only are they dealing with these day to day pressures, but they are also dealing with the natural occurrences of biological changes. Naturally dating and sexuality becomes a part of their agenda. During adolescence stage, sexual impulses are heightened and can become intense. Teenagers begin to explore their sexuality and start the process of dating. Dating brings experiences that challenge teenage emotions. These emotions such as rejection, sadness, heartbreak, and anger create their experiences during this period and ultimately influence their actions in later years. Although, these experiences are common throughout the adolescence stage, these feelings and emotions and can be limited by those in the adolescence surroundings. Family ties tend to be the first formed bond and influences adolescence experiences, but as they advance through the adolescence stage, they tend to form their decisions and beliefs. These changes occur when an adolescence begin to form other bonds with their peers and experience different point of views from them. When these different point of views is mixed in with their family views, it sometimes can cause a rift between the child and the family. When the rift continues to go unchecked, the child can become rebellious. This rebellious stage can tend to put more stress on the adolescence, and they find themselves torn between their family members and those that they have formed this new bond with (Berger, 2008). Adolescent Egocentrism In nearly every ethnic group and both sexes, adolescents begin to think about themselves more than their surroundings, and what others think of them. Adolescents begin to view themselves as unique, exceptional, and socially significant than they are. This can cause adolescents to think everyone else’s behavior based on a judgment of themselves. According to Rycek, “Adolescents assume that since they spend a considerable amount of time thinking about themselves, other must be doing the same thing, namely, thinking about and monitoring them. They fail to realize that while they may be preoccupied with themselves, others are not so inclined” (1998 p.745). These reactions based on other people’s actions can be positive or negative. A negative reaction from a teacher or parent, such as a frown or critique, can make a teenager think that they are not liked and then deduce that they are unloved. A positive reaction can be a smile or hug from a loved one. This could lead the teenager to think they are great and very loved. For this reason, adolescents can be more sensitive than younger children and adults. They think everything is about them, therefore, react differently during this developmental period than other times in their life. Young adolescents, usually between the ages of 10 to 14, are most aware of their physical appearance. At this age, they do not want to stand out, but would rather blend in with their friends. This can be strongly shown in girls, and when girls start to take an interest in makeup and clothes. When parents do not want their daughter to wear makeup or trendy clothes, the daughter’s reaction is normally negative. A common response is that the parents are ruining her life, and she should be allowed to do what her friends are doing. Several aspects of adolescent egocentrism are the person fable and invincibility fable. These two normally appear together. The personal fable is a belief that his or her thoughts, experiences, and feelings are more wonderful or awful than anyone else’s. This could cause a lack of sympathy towards other individuals, making the adolescent very selfish. An invincibility fable is a conviction that he or she cannot be overcome or harmed by something that might defeat a normal person. These can include unprotected sex, drug abuse, or dangerous driving. According to Elkind, “many young girls become pregnant because, in part at least, their personal fable convinces them that pregnancy will happen to others but never to them so they need not take precautions” (1967 p.1032) Peer Pressure Most teens want to be part of a group. They want to feel accepted and like they belong socially. This is why so many teens fall under pressure from others. Influence and pressure from others can lead to drug use, drinking, sexual activity, and dangerous risks. This is all negative behavior. Teens can also have positive pressure. Friends can push the teen to join in sports, study groups, helping in the community, or joining church groups. This is why it is important for parents to know who their teens are hanging out with and what kind of pressure they are under. There are several reasons teens will cave under pressure. Fear of not belonging and having friends, being made fun of, and the need to bond with others are just a few. Avoiding these things at all cost will cause some teens to do things they know are wrong. They want to belong so badly, and they will sometimes put their life in danger. During the teen years, they are trying to figure out who they are, where they belong, and what their place is in society. When accepted by others it satisfies that need to belong. Sometimes it is easier to act like others even if it means doing things they know are not right, or even things that make them uncomfortable. What friends think is more important than how they feel, as long as they are accepted into the group. Peer pressure can be either bad or good, depending on who is doing the pressuring. It can make good or bad habits. If a teen is friends with and in the right groups, they will choose the good habits because their friends will give them the strength to say no to the wrong behavior. There are ways to avoid the negatives of peer pressure, and as a parent, you should share these with your teens. Let your teen know that he/she can always come to you for help and advice. Knowing there is someone to come to, no matter what the situation might help them to make the right decisions. Teach your teen to make decisions about where they want their life to go. Then when confronted with decisions pushed on them by others, they can think first whether or not what they might do fits in with the plan for life. Think about what it could do to your plans. It might be hard, but if what you’re being asked to do, does not fit in with your plans, or makes you feel uncomfortable, then say NO. Respond to those who criticize you or make fun by letting them know that what they think of you is not near as important as what you think of yourself. Finally, dare to be different from others. You just might be the one to start the next craze and have others following and trying to be like you. Then you can be the one with positive pressure. Conclusion Middle childhood and adolescence development is filled with changes, decisions, ego, and pressure. This development period has changes occurring inside the body, outside the body, and in peer relationships. Decisions are made concerning peer groups and point of view. The child develops a view of who they are and what they want to become leading through adulthood. There are positive and negative influences in this developmental period. Peer pressure is a difficult burden that many children have to deal with in their lives. Family, while still an influence, plays a smaller role in this developmental period. This period of middle childhood and adolescence development is an important period in a child’s life. It helps shape them into the adults of the future.

References
Berger, K. S. (2008). The developing person through the life span (7th Ed.). New York: Worth
Elkind, D. (1967). Egocentrism in adolescence. Child Development, 38(4), 1025-1034.
Kowalski, K.M. (1999). How peer pressure can affect you. Current Health Magazine. Weekly Reading Corp
Rycek, R.F., Stuhr, S.L., McDermott, J., Benker, J., & Swartz, M.D (1998) Adolescent Egocentrism and Cognitive Functioning during late Adolescence. Adolescence, 33(132), 745-9.

References: Berger, K. S. (2008). The developing person through the life span (7th Ed.). New York: Worth Elkind, D. (1967). Egocentrism in adolescence. Child Development, 38(4), 1025-1034. Kowalski, K.M. (1999). How peer pressure can affect you. Current Health Magazine. Weekly Reading Corp Rycek, R.F., Stuhr, S.L., McDermott, J., Benker, J., & Swartz, M.D (1998) Adolescent Egocentrism and Cognitive Functioning during late Adolescence. Adolescence, 33(132), 745-9.