Adolescence:
Change and Continuity
Adolescence:
Change and Continuity
Who are the Amish?
The Amish are a religious group. Their religion is one that split from the Mennonite
religion in the late 17th century. The Amish are focused on God and center their
lives around the family. (Moore, 1991) The Amish lifestyle is one of conservation.
The Amish are known for their primitive technology use. There is typically only
one phone for entire neighborhoods, for emergencies. Electricity is never used.
A car also is available for emergencies but usually a horse and buggy is used
for transportation (www.free.elch.net/amish/index.cgi, 2000).
Do Amish Children go to school?
Yes. Younger Amish children attend school within their communities. The schools
are similar to those seen on historical television shows and movies. Usually,
the school consists of one room with a wood burning stove. Schools teach basic
reading, writing, and math and little else. (Moore, 1991) Amish children rarely
attend high school and never attend college.
What do the Amish Adolescents do in their free time?
Typically, adolescents help their parents with the everyday farm work and household
chores. When they're in school, (ages 6-15) most of their free time is spent
with family: girls cooking and sewing and boys on the farm (Hostetler, 1993)
When they are done with school, the adolescent spends a lot of time with a particular
group of friends. The particular group of friends is referred to as a "crowd"
(Hostetler, 1983). It is with this crowd that the adolescent spends much of
his or her free time, often without the supervision or approval of the adults
in the community. This is a time of exploration for the adolescents. The group
of friends is an important influence.
Do they date?
Amish children begin courting, or what they call "running around"
(Hostetler, 1983 pg. 26), around the age of 16. (Sometimes younger for girls)
A date is usually a ride home from Sunday singing. Also, a boy might visit a
girl in the evening, after her parents have gone to bed. The boy usually stays
until morning and is sure to leave before her parents wake up. Even though most
parents know their child is courting, it is not talked about. (Hostetler, 1993)
Are Amish parents really strict?
Surprisingly, no. Even though the Amish culture is one based on faith and the
church (Moore, 1991), an Amish adolescent must decide whether or not to become
a part of the church. It is during the teenage years that they are expected
to make that decision. Amish parents give their adolescents a lot of freedom
to explore the Amish community and the outside community. Amish parents believe
that in order to make the decision to join the Amish church, their adolescents
need independence. Accordingly, parents usually relax their authority. (Hostetler,
1983)
References
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
Pubertal maturation is often accompanied by an increase in autonomy and an increase in emotional distance from the adolescent's parents (Cole & Cole, 1993, p.583). During adolescence, peer friendships increase in their importance. However, teenagers are still actively seeking their parents' approval and do not want to come across as trivial or childish. Because of this, adolescents are more likely to be open with their friends, discussing such issues as dating, sexuality, personal experiences, and common interests (Savin-Williams & Berndt, as cited in Feldman & Elliot, 1990).
CHARACTERISTICS OF FRIENDSHIPS
Loyalty is a highly valued aspect of friendship. Adolescents believe that friends should not talk about one another behind their backs. Friends should 'stick up for' one another. Intimacy is also highly valued. Adolescents have a need to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with a friend. Sullivan (1953) hypothesized that intimate friendships during early adolescence provide emotional support, information, and advice; these friendships also help to increase self esteem. Adolescents also feel that their friends understand them and allow them to be themselves (Cole & Cole, 1993). Another characteristic of friendship is personal preference. For, example, those who choose to join an athletic program have something in common which draws them together.
INCREASED AUTONOMY
Adolescents in the United States attend larger schools, and are more mobile than younger children. Therefore, they have a greater opportunity to associate with peers (Cole & Cole, 1993). Adolescents also experience a change of schools: elementary to middle school, and middle to high school. These new schools tend to be larger, and have a greater number of students. This opens opportunities for teenagers to engage in new friendships. Also during adolescence, children begin to question their parents' authority. Conflict arises when children decide that they should have a vote in what they can and cannot do (Allyn & Bacon, 1994). At this time, adolescents gain more personal mobility, usually in the form of a driver's license. The driver's license contributes to a greater amount of time being spent away from home, which in turn leads to more time spent with peers.
OTHER SIMILARITIES
Adolescents also tend to seek out relationships that are relatively stress free, safe, and comfortable. Friends also have similar attitudes on issues such as dating and religion. Another similarity between friends is biologically based. Girls tend to choose friends who are at the same maturational level, not necessarily the same age level. Friends also tend to be similar in behavior and academic achievement.
Daily Activities:
Adolescents engage in various activities throughout their day. Common activities include hanging out with friends, talking on the telephone, participating in clubs or organizations, or working. Girls typically participate in interpersonal activities such as talking, while boys partake in moreindividualized activities (Richards and Larson, 1989). Besides resting, adolescents divide most of their time into three different areas:
Leisure can then be separated into three additional categories:
How Activities Differ from Childhood to Adolescence: Why are adolescents more independent?
Children spend more time with adults than adolescents do because they are more dependent on them. Children are with only one teacher throughout the school day, so they form more personal relationships with them. Whereas children participate in more activities with adults, adolescents focus more on peer relations and autonomy (Savin- Williams and Berndt, 1990). Adolescents have multiple teachers who they spend less time with, which forces them to become more self- sufficient. Adolescent's activities are more peer focused and independent of adults. They tend to hang socialize in groups and participate in team sports. Teen agers do not require parental supervision and assistance like they did when they were children. They learn to become more comfortable talking about intimate relations.
Why do Adolescents Spend Less Time with Adults/ Parents?
Adolescents are developing a new sense of autonomy in which they feel the need to be independent. They are no longer in need of constant supervision from adults. Adolescents also desire social acceptance, which they develop while spending time with their friends (Ellis and Rademacher, 1987). Girls spend more time in the home than boys do because they enjoy home- based activities such as talking on the phone with their friends. Boys enjoy more action- based activities outside of the home, such as playing sports or enjoying the outdoors.
Peer Influence on Free Time:
Adolescents have a tremendous influence on each other, spending most of their free time with peers. Peers replace adults/ parents by providing emotional support for their friends until they achieve greater autonomy. Adolescents spend an abundance of time together because they understand one another and share similar beliefs and interests (Savin- Williams and Berndt, 1990). The majority of their time together is spent socializing amidst leisure activities. More free time is being allotted for teenagers so they must adapt with the changes.
For More Information:
For further information on how adolescents spend their time, see:
How does the parent-child relationship change in adolescence?
One of the major changes in the adolescent relationship is the increase in distance in the parent child relationship. Although there is still warmth in the family, adolescents form new relationships outside the family. These new interpersonal relationships are formed with peers.
What is a good parent child relationship?
What are the main roots of conflict between adolescents and parents?
As adolescents change socially, what happens to parental power?
Conclusions
Evidence shows that despite the stereotype, a vast majority of adolescents love and appreciate their parents, despite minor conflicts.
When do Adolescents date?
Does a date necessarily have to be one boy and one girl at a drive in movie theater?
No way! There are many different types of dating.
Is dating healthy for an adolescent? Facts from Steinberg, 1989!
Parents, times have changed, but how do we deal with this issue of dating?
I'm sure every parent has heard their adolescent say "This is the 90s mom!" Parents, listen to your children, they are right!
How does sexual socialization work?
Biological factors mark the onset of adolescence. However, sexual socialization shape adolescent sexual behavior. In this view, biology provides the physical "machinery": and hormonal factors prime the pre-disposition to act sexually. There are three areas in which adolescents are sexually socialized: sexual identity, parental influence and peer influence (H. Katchadourian & J. Martin, l979).
What is sexual identity?
Sexual identity is one of the most important factors in shaping sexual socialization. Gender identity pertains to masculinity and femininity, its roots are laid in childhood, but its manifestation take shape in adolescence (J. Money, & A.A. Erhardt, l972). Adolescents learn about gender identity through the media, school and most importantly, their parents.
What about parental influence?
Parents convey their sexual attitudes indirectly, through the example of their own behavior, or in the context of broader issues. In middle-class families researchers have found that parents cultivate principles of self-restraint and postponement of gratification in general. Youngsters from better-educated, more affluent families were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse at an early age (C. Chilman, l983).
How strong is peer influence?
Peer influence is a strong force behind sexual socialization in adolescents. It provides information and transmit values through peer culture (P.Y.Miller & W. Simon, l974). In a poll, teenagers were asked why they had not waited until they were older to engage in sexual intercourse. Here are the top 4 reasons they gave:
| Girls | Boys | ||
| % | % | ||
| 14 | peer pressure | 26 | peer pressure |
| 17 | pressure from boys | 16 | curiosity |
| 14 | curiosity | 10 | everyone does it |
| 14 | everyone does it | 10 | gratification |
In conclusion, adolescent sexual socialization is learned in areas such as sexual identity, parental influence and peer influence. Each dimension of sexual socialization is processed through a shaping system of attitudes and behavior. The onset of adolescence is thereby a period not only met by biological factors, but standards and conformity.
For additional information:
http://www.epibiostat.ucsf.edu/capsweb/hispnews.html
About How Adolescents Spend Their Time
About Peer Pressure
About Dating
About Sexual Socialization
This site was produced by students taking HDFS 433: The Transition to Adulthood and HDFS 239: Adolescent Development at the Pennsylvania State University. Feedback can be sent to the individual authors or to Nancy Darling (darling@bard.edu).
Last updated 4/16/01.