Adolescence
Module 5
Adolescence
The transition period from childhood
to adulthood, extending from
puberty to independence
Puberty
The period of sexual maturation,
during which a person becomes
capable of reproducing
Cognitive Development
Adolescent Reasoning
• Jean Piaget’s formal operational stage
– Formal logic, abstract thinking, and hypothetical
reasoning are now possible
– Age when one tends to focus on the self, often
imaging that one’s own feelings are particularly
unique
Morality
One’s sense of right and wrong.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s
Moral Ladder:
Pre-conventional
moral reasoning:
Avoid
punishment or
gain reward
Conventional
Moral Reasoning:
fit in and play one’s
role as a good
citizen
Post-Conventional
Reasoning:
Universal ethical
principles that
represent the
rights or
obligations of all
people
Social Development
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Identity:
One’s sense of self
•
•
•
•
Experimentation
Rebellion
“Self”-ishness
Optimism and Energy
Intimacy
In Erikson’s theory, the ability to form
close, loving, open relationships; a
primary task in early adulthood.
Independence
Independence
Most adolescents achieve
independence with relatively little
friction in the family. Sometimes
however, things can get intense!
Key Developmental Issues
• Continuity and Stages: Development relies on
both
• Stability and Change:
– Temperament and values are most likely to stay
constant
– Relationships and certain behaviors are more
likely to change
• Nature and Nurture