unit 6 the adolescent in society warm up: 1. create two lists. 2. one list should be all of the...

Unit 6 The Adolescent in Unit 6 The Adolescent in SocietySociety

Warm Up: Warm Up: 1. Create two lists. 1. Create two lists. 2. One list should 2. One list should be all of the be all of the advantages of advantages of being a teen over being a teen over being a child and being a child and being an adult. being an adult. 3. The other should 3. The other should list the major list the major problems that 21st problems that 21st Century teens feel Century teens feel that they must face that they must face in their lives.in their lives.

BaBasic Definitions of Adolescent sic Definitions of Adolescent SociologySociology

AdolescenceAdolescence The period between the onset of The period between the onset of

puberty and the entry into puberty and the entry into adulthood.adulthood.

PubertyPuberty Physical maturing that makes an Physical maturing that makes an

individual ready for sexual individual ready for sexual reproduction.reproduction.

The Concept of AdolescenceThe Concept of Adolescence

In many In many preindustrialpreindustrialsocieties, the societies, the concept ofconcept ofadolescence doesadolescence doesnot exist.not exist.

After puberty ritesAfter puberty ritesat 13 or 14, at 13 or 14, children move into adulthood. children move into adulthood.

In the US, adolescence did not exist prior to the Civil In the US, adolescence did not exist prior to the Civil War. This picture depicts child factory labor about 1910 War. This picture depicts child factory labor about 1910

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ended all child The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ended all child labor in the US and set the stage for adolescence.labor in the US and set the stage for adolescence.

Five Characteristics of Five Characteristics of AdolescenceAdolescence

1.1. Biological Growth Biological Growth and Developmentand DevelopmentPuberty is the one Puberty is the one aspect of aspect of adolescence that is adolescence that is found in every found in every society.society.Not only does the Not only does the body change body change significantly significantly (including the skin, (including the skin, i.e. acne), but so i.e. acne), but so does the brain.does the brain.


2. 2. Undefined Status:Undefined Status: Societies expectations Societies expectations for children are very for children are very clear, as are those for clear, as are those for adults.adults.

Some adults treat Some adults treat adolescents as adolescents as children, others treat children, others treat them like adults.them like adults.

For example, some For example, some states allow states allow adolescents to marry adolescents to marry at 16, others set the at 16, others set the bar at 18.bar at 18.

Teen wedding - Spain


3. 3. Increased Increased Decision Making:Decision Making:New and varied New and varied choices are made choices are made in the teen years. in the teen years. What courses do I What courses do I take? What take? What career do I want?career do I want?What clubs What clubs should I join? should I join? Most teen Most teen decisions are not decisions are not long term.long term.


4. 4. Increased PressureIncreased PressurePressure comes from Pressure comes from many sourcesmany sources• ParentsParents• SchoolSchool• CommunityCommunity• PeersPeers• RelationshipsRelationships• JobJob• SelfSelf


5. 5. The Search for SelfThe Search for SelfAdolescents are Adolescents are mature enough to mature enough to think about think about themselves and themselves and about what they about what they want out of life. Most want out of life. Most teens can sort teens can sort through their values through their values and decide what and decide what things are really things are really important to them.important to them.

Anticipatory SocializationAnticipatory Socialization Preparing for future roles is one aspect of Preparing for future roles is one aspect of

finding ones self.finding ones self. Anticipatory socialization involves learning Anticipatory socialization involves learning

the rights, obligations and expectations of a the rights, obligations and expectations of a role to prepare for assuming that role in the role to prepare for assuming that role in the future.future.

Three common forms of anticipatory Three common forms of anticipatory socialization:socialization:

1. Part time job1. Part time job2. Club membership2. Club membership3. Dating3. Dating

Internship at the Academy is also Internship at the Academy is also Anticipatory Socialization Anticipatory Socialization

Research on the Research on the Adolescent BrainAdolescent Brain

Research reveals that Research reveals that the human brain the human brain remains a construction remains a construction site even into the 20s.site even into the 20s.

The greatest changes The greatest changes to the brain during to the brain during adolescence are in the adolescence are in the areas of areas of * judgment* judgment * emotional control* emotional control * organization * organization * planning* planning

Courtship and DatingCourtship and Dating

DatingDating Meeting of Meeting of

people as a people as a romantic romantic engagement.engagement.

CourtshipCourtship Express purpose Express purpose

is eventual is eventual marriage.marriage.

CourtshipCourtship Courtship was not casualCourtship was not casual Roles strictly definedRoles strictly defined A young man must first A young man must first

meet a young woman’s meet a young woman’s parents before he could parents before he could talk to her the first time talk to her the first time and ask their permission.and ask their permission.

Meetings usually Meetings usually conducted in the parlor of conducted in the parlor of the woman’s home under the woman’s home under close supervision or in a close supervision or in a social situation with a social situation with a large group of people. large group of people. (Community dances, (Community dances, church meetings, etc.church meetings, etc.

Couple rarely left alone Couple rarely left alone until they were married.until they were married.

Partners selected based on honesty and dependability.

AmishAmish Amish begin dating Amish begin dating

around sixteenaround sixteen At 16 Amish men At 16 Amish men

receive a courting receive a courting buggybuggy

Most time spent Most time spent together at formal together at formal events – picnics, events – picnics, weddings, churchweddings, church

After the event, the After the event, the young man escorts the young man escorts the woman homewoman home

Marriage is the goalMarriage is the goal

Emergence of DatingEmergence of Dating Industrialization brought Industrialization brought

about less dependence about less dependence on parents for incomeon parents for income

Free public education Free public education meant a delay in jobs meant a delay in jobs and marriage.and marriage.

After WWI more After WWI more Americans acquired cars Americans acquired cars and telephonesand telephones

These provided freedom These provided freedom of movementof movement

1920’s brought equity 1920’s brought equity for women.for women.

1950’s saw more relaxed 1950’s saw more relaxed attitude toward dating attitude toward dating but there were still strict but there were still strict rules of behavior. rules of behavior.

Willard Waller StudyWillard Waller Study

During 1920s and 1930s, Waller During 1920s and 1930s, Waller studied college dating patterns.studied college dating patterns.

Casual dating = entertainmentCasual dating = entertainment Dating had little to do with marriage, Dating had little to do with marriage,

but status attainment.but status attainment. Partners selected based on good looks, Partners selected based on good looks,

nice clothes and popularity.nice clothes and popularity. HomogamyHomogamy Tendency of individuals to choose Tendency of individuals to choose

people who have social characteristics people who have social characteristics similar to their own.similar to their own.

Dating PatternsDating Patterns TraditionalTraditional Prior to 1960sPrior to 1960s Arranging a date Arranging a date

left to the manleft to the man Group expectations Group expectations

clearly definedclearly defined On Wed. dates were On Wed. dates were

arrangedarranged Saturdays were date Saturdays were date

nightsnights If you didn’t have a If you didn’t have a

Saturday night date, Saturday night date, you were considered you were considered a loser.a loser.

Sexual behavior Sexual behavior standards were standards were rigid.rigid.

ContemporaryContemporary Today there is a Today there is a

greater opportunity greater opportunity for men and women for men and women to interact to interact informally.informally.

Sexual standards Sexual standards are more often are more often relaxedrelaxed

Today relationships Today relationships are based on are based on friendship and the friendship and the groupgroup

Times Have Changed: Dating Practices in Times Have Changed: Dating Practices in America AssignmentAmerica Assignment

Assignment: American dating practices have changed greatly over Assignment: American dating practices have changed greatly over the last century. Interview someone who experienced adolescence in the last century. Interview someone who experienced adolescence in America during the 1940’s, 1950’s or early 1960’s America during the 1940’s, 1950’s or early 1960’s (someone 50 years or older.) (someone 50 years or older.)

1. Ask about dating practices during his/her adolescence. 1. Ask about dating practices during his/her adolescence. 2. What were popular places to go on dates? Who paid?2. What were popular places to go on dates? Who paid? 3. What customs and norms influenced asking people out? Who did3. What customs and norms influenced asking people out? Who did

the asking? Who determined where the date would take place? the asking? Who determined where the date would take place? 4. What curfews were observed? 4. What curfews were observed?

5. What was considered proper dress for each gender?5. What was considered proper dress for each gender? 6. What symbols were prominent related to dating? 6. What symbols were prominent related to dating?

(i.e. flowers, jewelry, pins, etc) (i.e. flowers, jewelry, pins, etc) 7. How did teens show their commitment to a relationship? 7. How did teens show their commitment to a relationship? 8. In a report on this interview, include information about the person’s 8. In a report on this interview, include information about the person’s

name, age and where he/she lived as a teen. Then, add your name, age and where he/she lived as a teen. Then, add your observations/experiences as a teen. Answer the same questions as the observations/experiences as a teen. Answer the same questions as the ones above. What are dating practices in America, today, popular ones above. What are dating practices in America, today, popular places to go, customs and norms and ways to express commitment? places to go, customs and norms and ways to express commitment? Compare and contrast dating practices during the two periods in Compare and contrast dating practices during the two periods in American society. Also, include information from the text on American society. Also, include information from the text on traditional and contemporary dating patterns.traditional and contemporary dating patterns.

unit 6 the adolescent in society warm up: 1. create two lists. 2. one list should be all of the...

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