The development of the prefrontal cortex during adolescence permits them to engage in sophisticated thinking. For example, they are able to compare different possibilities, they are able to monitor their own thought processes and comprehend abstract logic. Therefore, when it comes to making decisions, adolescents are able to value possibilities and consequences better than a child, but still not like an adult. Despite of the improvements in decision-making and cognition, adolescents are still driven towards risk-involving activities. As per Steinberg (2013), this could be explained by the time gap between the development of the limbic system in puberty and the prefrontal cortex maturing years after.
Also mentioned in the book, at this time, children want to be liked and want to fit in. They can learn faster and become more confident with having close friends; however, not having a close friendship by the age of 11 could lead to depression at 13. By the end of middle childhood, close friendships usually involve the same sex of the child, age, ethnicity, and also background (Berger, 2011). By the time they become adolescents, they become aware of their "status" in a social setting. They are more driven to become someone known (or popular) in their environment, such as in school.
They will also begin to develop moral values, which will come into greater focus during adolescence (Berger, 2010). Children in the adolescent stage of life will also deal with a variety of challenges that can change the way they function in their environment (Berger, 2010). Some of these decision-making challenges may include peer pressure, sexuality, and other inter-adolescent relationships (Berger, 2010). Many developmental changes occur during middle childhood and adolescence that will impact children as they mature into adults. The environment they are exposed to will help shape the people they will become.
In Uncommon Youth Ministry: Your Onramp to Launching an Extraordinary Youth Ministry, Jim Burns seeks to provide a resource for youth ministers who want their ministry to reach its maximum potential. Burns had originally written Youth Builder for this same purpose, but then updated it into Uncommon Youth Ministry to serve the newest generation of youth workers. Burns highlights how, recently, youth ministry is becoming more and more prominent in the lives of teenagers. Now, when kids go through crises, they consult their parents first, and then their youth workers, whereas previously youth workers would be far down the list. This is because of the development of youth ministries into real and relational programs rather than just a “glorified babysitter.” In defining the difference between past youth groups and current relational youth ministries, Burns illustrates how youth workers are finally meeting the relational needs that teens require than simply providing a program for them to attend.
Social Competence: Childhood to Adolescence Social competence is defined as “the ability to achieve personal goals in social interaction while simultaneously maintaining positive relationships with others over time and across situations” (Rubin & Rose-Krasnor, 1992). It does not typically emerge fully until a later age meaning immaturity is often displayed by young children, but they also have the capability to display maturity. Maturity or immaturity can be observed through specific characteristics such as emotional regulation, perspective taking, distributive justice, displaying of empathy, communicating with peers, social problem solving, prosocial behavior, and gender-role stereotyping from an early age and serve as indicators for adolescent social competence. Summary Emotional Regulation One characteristic of a socially competent adolescent is the capability for emotional regulation. Emotional regulation is when a person utilizes strategies “to adjust the intensity or duration of [their] emotional reactions to a comfortable level so [they] can accomplish goals” (Berk, 2009, p. 407).
In trying out possibilities, emerging adults must adjust to disappointments in love and work, and their explorations also extend risky behaviors of adolescence. A wide array of personal attributes and social supports foster resilience. Erikson’s Theory: Intimacy versus Isolation According to Erikson, what personality changes take place during early adulthood? In Erikson’s theory, young adults must resolve the conflict of intimacy versus isolation, balancing independence and intimacy as they form a close relationship with a partner. Research confirms that a secure identity fosters attainment of intimacy.
These clubs and organizations help them make connections for the future. They can also be used on resumes to show that there is a balance between more than one given tasks. In being classified as a first year student the standard is set high. With the responsibilities set forth there is a lot to achieve. First year students are noted to be more mature than a freshman.
Social interactive technologies, such as instant messaging and texting messaging are beginning to redefine the social networks of today’s youth. Online communication, social interactive technologies allow for new online youth social networks to form and evolve. These online networks, in turn, may affect the online social and friendship networks in which youth are immersed. According to Staples, “Net can isolate younger socially connected people, allowing time online to replace face to face interactions with their families and friends” (242). From my own personal experience, I think adolescents, as they grow older, eventually start to find their own identity, relationships, and groups goes hand in hand with their ability to separate from their parents.
This is also the time when the child/s begin to be more socially aware; they have started to make friends and are starting to get influenced easily therefore they need good role models and a good influence. Adolescence (9-18): This is when the children are no longer children but are referred and treated as young adults. They pass through/ are going through puberty. They need support with finance, friends and support with their career choices. Early Adulthood (19 - 45): This is the stage where you get more stable and start to support yourselves; you become more independent.
During this stage of life young adults are going through many changes in life. They have many expectations surrounding them by family and peers. Any rite of passage or celebration could be life transforming for any adolescent at this age. In many debutantes live, the celebration at the ball is a way of releasing old pressure to begin meeting new expectations. This has become part; people enter adulthood without a celebration or party.