Psychology2016

Development across the Life Span 341

In this stage, the teenager must choose from among many options for values in life and
beliefs concerning things such as political issues, career options, and marriage (Feldman,
2003). From those options, a consistent sense of self must be found. Erikson believed that
teens who have successfully resolved the conflicts of the earlier four stages are much bet-
ter “equipped” to resist peer pressure to engage in unhealthy or illegal activities and find
their own identity during the adolescent years. Those teens who are not as successful
come into the adolescent years with a lack of trust in others, feelings of guilt and shame,
low self-esteem, and dependency on others. Peer pressure is quite effective on teenag-
ers who desperately want to “fit in” and have an identity of a certain sort and who feel
that others will not want to be with them unless they conform to the expectations and
demands of the peer group. They play the part of the model child for the parents, the
good student for the teachers, and the “cool” juvenile delinquent to their friends and will
be confused about which of the many roles they play really represents their own identity.

PARENT–TEEN CONFLICT Even for the majority of adolescents who end up suc-
cessfully finding a consistent sense of self, there will be conflicts with parents. Many
researchers believe that a certain amount of “rebellion” and conflict is a necessary step
in breaking away from childhood dependence on the parents and becoming a self-
sufficient* adult (Bengston, 1970; Lynott & Roberts, 1997). Although many people think
that these conflicts are intense and concern very serious behavior, the reality is that
most parent–teen conflict is over trivial issues—hair, clothing, taste in music, and so
on. On the really big moral issues, most parents and teens would be quite surprised to
realize that they are in agreement (Giancola, 2006).

Can you see the effects of peer pressure

in this picture? Most young people start

smoking because their friends talk them

into doing so, thinking it will make them

seem more grown-up. What are some

other choices that adolescents may

make due to peer pressure?

psychosocial development

moral development

physical development

cognitive development

preconventional

conventional

postconventional

Adolescence

(period of life from about age 13 to early 20s)

increase in height and changes in both primary and secondary sex characteristics

occurs as the result of glandular and hormonal activities

tends to occur about 2 years after beginning of growth spurt

adolescence is largely marked by the search for a consistent sense of self or personal identity

Erikson: the psychosocial crisis that must be resolved is identity vs. role confusion

parent/teen conflict to be expected

understanding of what

is “right” and “wrong”

early theory was proposed by

Kohlberg; suggested three levels

of moral development

some researchers (e.g., Gilligan)

suggest that Kohlberg’s ideas applied more to males; others suggest

that assessment was based on hypothetical, rather than real-life, dilemmas

continued maturation of the frontal lobes allows cognitive advances

(e.g., abstract thought/Piaget’s formal operations)

despite advances, still have egocentric thought that emerges in a variety of ways

see Table 8.5

brain development continues into the 20s; portions

responsible for impulse control and decision

making (i.e., prefrontal cortex) not complete

until about age 25

adolescents are often risk-takers;

increased vulnerability to various dangers

(e.g., sexually transmitted infection)

Concept Map L.O. 8.9, 8.10, 8.11

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*self-sufficient: able to function without outside aid; capable of providing for one’s own needs.