Adolescence Observation essay
The observation involved four subjects, two males and two females of the age varying from 12 to 19. The subjects involved in the study had different cultural background and different relationships with their parents. The study used observation as the main method along with interviews, which helped to understand better relationships between children and their parents. On the ground of the study the forecast concerning the further adult life of subjects of the study was made. The analysis of current relationships between parents and children helped to identify possible problems children could develop in their adult life. In such a way, the study aimed at the understanding of the current relationships between subjects, who were adolescents of different age, and their parents and the assessment of the impact of these relationships on the further, adult life of subjects of the current study. In fact, the current relationships of subjects with their parents are very important for their further development as adults. Therefore, this study was very important because it gives insights toward understanding of the cognitive and social development of adolescents and the impact of their relationships with their parents on their adult life. In this regard, the current study focuses on the revelation of the most important issues that affect the development of children in the course of their transition from adolescence to adulthood. Therefore, the current study helps to identify possible problems in relationships between children and adults and, more important reveals the dependence of development of adolescents on the parental style.
John, 13, male
The subject is of 13 years old. The subject is a Caucasian living in a full family, i.e. with both parents. The subject has one sibling, a male brother of the age 16. The subject lives with his family in Atlanta. The subject attends a school and is quite successful in learning. In the course of the interview, he admitted that he has positive relations with his parents and their ambiance within the family is healthy. At the same time, when precise questions concerning John’s relationships with his parents were asked, he faced certain difficulties while responding questions concerning his father that implies that he probably has difficulties in developing positive relations with his father. The adolescent admitted that his father works too much and they encounter not as frequently as he would like to meet his father. However, his father is not negligent as a parent but he just does not have enough time to dedicate to his family because, as the boy said, the time when all the family is together, everything seems to be perfect. On the other hand, the lack of communication with his father may cause problems as John grows older. He may fail to maintain positive relations with his father. In addition, he may fail to lack the positive model of behavior from the part of his father because he cannot stay with his son long enough. As a result, John may have difficulties with elaborating positive relations with his own children because he does not have the model of behavior of a good father to follow. Instead, he has an absenteeist model of the behavior of his father.
Maria, 12, female.
The subject is a female. The subject is of a Hispanic origin living in a full family with both parents and two siblings, a brother of 14 years old, and sister of 11 years old. The subject lives in Atlanta. The subject attends the school and considers her learning to be successful.
In the course of the interview, Maria told that she considered her family to be good, although she definitely recognized that her father is too authoritative and pushes on her constantly. For instance, she told that her father always controls her, when she goes out with her friends. She has to report and explain his father where she goes and when she comes back. In addition, they have strict rules in the family set by her father. For instance, she has to do choir and she is limited in her leisure time for she has to return home for a dinner in time and she has always ask a permission of her father to go out. The girl considers such behavior of her father oppressing and unfair. In fact, the interview revealed the fact that Maria feels her father is not confident in her or he does not her. At the same time, the father apparently tends to the authoritative parenting style, while the role of the mother is apparently secondary in the family because it is father, who takes decisions in Maria’s family. In a long-run perspective, such relations between parents and Maria can develop certain psychological problems. For instance, she may feel anxiety as she is under permanent control from the part of her father. Moreover, she can develop inferiority because she is female and she is accustomed that her father plays the leading part in their family, while her mother focus on household and children mainly. In addition, such control from the part of the father can provoke serious conflicts between Maria and her father as the girl grows older.
Curt, 19, male.
The subject is a male of 19 years old. The subject is Caucasian. The subject lives with his family, including mother and younger sister of the age 16. The subject lives with his family in Atlanta and attends a college.
The interview revealed the fact that Curt is dissatisfied with his family relations, especially relations with his mother. The subject admitted that often they have conflicts because his mother is too over-protective. For instance, Curt considers that his mother interferes in his personal affairs constantly asking about his relations with his friends and girlfriend. She is always lecturing him and attempts to interfere in his relations with his friends. For instance, Curt told that recently she has provoked conflict with Curt’s girlfriend and they parted. Such parental state may be characterized as over-protective and may result in failure of Curt to maintain independent life. He is likely to be dependent on his mother. In addition, he lacks the male model of behavior.
Lasha, 17, female.
Lasha is a female of 17 years old. The subject is African American living with her family consisting of both parents in Atlanta. She is the only child in the family. She attends school.
The interview revealed the fact that Lasha has regular conflicts with her parents, who tend to the authoritative parental style. They attempt to control Lasha, while Lasha resists. Such relations are likely to provoke the further deterioration of relations between Lasha and her parents. Lasha may have difficulties, while creating her own family because she is likely to follow the model she learned from her parents.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that the cognitive and social development of adolescents depends, to a significant extent, on their relationships with their parents. The four subjects studied revealed a strong trend to having some problems in relationships with their parents. The parental style of the four subjects involved in the study varied consistently. To put it more precisely, the study involved families, where the authoritarian parental style prevailed. Also there were families, where adolescents suffered from certain negligence from the part of their parents. At the same time, each case discussed above is unique and adolescents do need the assistance of psychologists to overcome their problems in their relationships with their parents. Otherwise, they may develop serious psychological and behavioral problems, which have been mentioned for each case specifically. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that John, for instance, needs to spend more time with his father to develop positive relations and to shape a proper model of behavior of a father in a family, which he may follow in his adult life. As for Marias, she suffers from the authoritative pressure from the part of her father. The authoritative father oppresses Maria and prevents her from adequate self-perception and perception of male-female relations. Lasha faces the similar problem because she lives in the family, where parents tend to the authoritative parental style. Finally, Curt does not have a male model of behavior to follow and he needs to follow the lead of a male to develop a proper model of behavior.
REFERENCES
Gruber, H. E. and J. J. V. Gruber (eds.). (1977). The essential Piaget. New York: Basic Books.MacDonald, K., & Hershberger, S. (2005). “Theoretical Issues in the Study of Evolution and Development.” In R. Burgess and K. MacDonald (Eds.), Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Development, 2nd edition, pp. 21–72. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Zastrow, C. H. and K. K. Kirst-Ashman, (2007). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment, 7th Edition. Thompson Brooks-Cole, Belmont, California.TAGS: ADOLESCENCE OBSERVATION
