Parents & Theories of Adolescent Development

It is widely known that the developmental period of adolescence is a major life stage for substantial change in the self and identity formation. This time period is quite important in terms of differentiation, integration, synthesis, and resynthesis. The youth learns increasingly complex cognitive processes and matures in building of character, self-mastery and preparation for adult living. This time is not easy for the parent of the adolescent. It often seems that all the rules of child-rearing no longer apply and a stranger has appeared in the household. This stranger is a child one day and an adult the next, often demanding the privileges of both childhood and adulthood. It is the purpose of this essay to explore various theories of adolescent development and methods for parents to cope with this turbulent aspect of child-rearing.

Theorist Blos cautions against passive identity in adolescents. Such youths are believed to harbor self-doubt and uncertainty which prolongs the period of adolescence. In a delicate balance, the child must experience the support of the parents but be encouraged to actively interact with others in the environment. Increasing separation of the child-self from the caregivers and the accompanying emotional disengagement are absolutely critical to the process of ego maturity and identity development (Adams, Gullotta, & Montemayor, 1992, p. 2). The tension that develops between parents and teenagers during the separation process is normal a

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This type of parenting would require a great deal of quiet but attentive encouragement as the youth works out solutions to life challenges. Maslow's theories indicate that all of us have a hierarchy of human needs that must be satisfied in order that development can take place. In other words, the teenager must have adequate food, clothing, and shelter before there can be any concern for love and esteem needs. The cognitive development theorists stress the growing mental capabilities of the child and youth. Dewey and Piaget developed schema which explain the increasingly sophisticated thinking processes of the person as he or she moves through various levels of understanding. Kohlberg was particularly interested in the area of moral development in adolescents and did a great deal of hands-on work with youth to assist them in the development of democratic ideals. According to Kohlberg, the paramount process during adolescent development is the establishment of a clear gender identity, which becomes the basic cognitive organizing principle that underlies everything that is to follow. This gender identification happens much earlier, and actually adolescence is too late if appropriate groundwork has not been put down during t

Category: Psychology - P