Psychology of Adolescence - Reflections

Reflection #1 ~

The Bioecological Model, Internet, and Social Media

I think that the internet penetrates all systems that influence individuals. The internet can be used to enhance or diminish the quality of one's relationships with their immediate family and inner circle - their Microsystem. The internet also affords individuals the ability to interact with larger more distant systems. Through the internet one can consume content from mass media and many outlets of information - The Exosystem, as well as even larger - Macrosystems content like government websites, etc. 

Since the internet can and is used in so many different ways, the extent of how much it impacts which system can depend on each individual. What seems to be the case for society at large, is that we are increasingly moving into a reality where the internet is becoming inextricable from all aspects of our life. From school to work to accessing legal info, it seems like there's a strong inevitability with regard to how much we will be able to live without the internet.

I think that there was a time when parents and adults tried to keep tech away from their children. Today, it is rare to see this type of adverse attitude toward technology and the internet. I think that we are realizing that the internet is not going away and we need to figure out a good way to incorporate it into the lives of our youth. In a sense, if a parent is withholding access to the internet from their children, they are doing them a disservice. Yet at the same time, there is still an element of risk involved with teens' use of the internet and social media.

I think that time will tell what is good and bad and ways to channel things in the right direction. I think it is too early to make any serious broad statements about the internet as a whole - although I think that the potential damage associated with the use of social media is more evident with things like cyberbullying and body-image issues.

I don't think that we can go back in time and reverse aspects of the evolution of the internet. It is rather a question of how to investigate what is healthy and helpful about the internet and what isn't. And finally, how to implement the necessary protocols that will ensure good outcomes for adolescence and all people as they navigate this increasingly complex interconnected modern era. 

Reflection #2 ~ Fair Play

While we have seen a fair amount of debate regarding the specifics of the adolescent stage, it seems like all are in agreement that adolescents show indications of higher-level thinking. Children may not fully understand the value of money and how transactions work. Because higher-order thinking is still lacking in younger children, they may not have the capacity to grasp what is being proposed and why/how they should object when something unfair is taking place. Conversely, adolescents contain the brain maturation needed to make judgments regarding what is and is not fair and as a result - they display more examples of advocating for fair play.

Another aspect is the ability to think multiple steps ahead. I think that this trait can be seen as a differentiating factor between kids and teens across many scenarios. From what I've seen - Younger kids will go for a smaller award that they'll receive quickly, rather than a larger award that they will need to wait for. Teens often are willing to wait longer because they can think about the future in ways that children may not be able to.

Reflection #3 ~ Self Soothing & Emotional Regulation

The Rosenblum & Lewis reading highlighted for me just how much is going on and needs to happen in children and teens in order for them to develop and adjust to adult life properly. Emotional regulation and self-soothing abilities were just two details/attributes that stood out to me as key abilities to develop early in life. If a child never learns to regulate their emotions when things don't go their way, this can potentially have significant adverse effects for this individual further down the road. Likewise, given that life is hard and at times things inevitably go wrong, the ability to self-soothe can be a crucial part of development that enables people to mature and move through adolescence in a healthy manner. When a child's emotional experiences yield negative results, their emotional development and ability to express emotions properly as they grow older can be significantly impacted. On the other hand, if one develops things like 'theory of mind' and emotional regulation skills from an early age, they are set up for a much smoother adult life in a significantly better fashion.

Reflection #4 ~ Phinney’s Model of Ethnic Identity

I think that exposure to one's own heritage can play a significant role in the development of their identity. Sometimes parents do not share with their children details about their ethnicity, leaving them to have to search on their own about their ethnic background. This extra step can leave a person without bothering to think about their ethnicity till much later in life - leaving them in the first stage of Phinney’s model of ethnic identity for longer than what is considered typical or the norm. 

Once the stage of searching and exploration begins, there are also many factors that can impact how one might conceptualize their own ethnic identity. Stereotypes and other environmental factors can play a big role in how one perceives their ethnicity and how they relate to it. If someone is afraid of identifying with their ethnicity for fear of social rejection and isolation, their ability and willingness to explore their ethnic identity may be delayed. On the other hand, if their environment encourages ethnic pride and the celebration of cultural heritage, they may be more likely to engage with their ethnicity more fully.

Factors related to ethnic pride and social acceptance eventually affect the final stage - whether or not, and to what extent one might accept and internalize their ethnic identity. Having a strong sense of identity can be advantageous in many ways, but at the same time being open to accepting others with different identities is also extremely important with regard to society at large. Finding a good balance and developing a pragmatic sense of self in relation to others helps people orient themselves as they navigate interacting with society. Adolescence is a crucial time for the development of ethnic identity because this is the time when individuals begin to solidify the ways in which they relate to themselves and others. 

Reflection #5 ~ Identity & Intimacy

The concept of identity is abstract, yet its implications are significant and worth exploring. In general, adolescence is a time when one's identity is formed. According to Erikson, between ages 13-21 is the time when the crisis of identity arises, and it is important for this crisis to be resolved before moving on to the next psychosocial stage. Research shows that having a strong sense of identity results in better outcomes regarding both friendships and intimate relationships. This seems rather intuitive since in most cases, true intimacy and friendship take place when both parties understand themselves and their identities well. This allows them to learn about and satisfy the needs and desires of their partner or peer in a healthy way wholesome way. Hence, having a strong sense of identity and self often complements close relationships in meaningful ways rendering them more stable and long-lasting.

Conversely, someone who is confused about who they are and their position in society will usually find connecting with others to be a rather difficult endeavor. Not knowing who you are or having a decent sense of self can leave you confused about if and how to interact with others. This is where isolation takes hold and finding friendship and intimacy becomes much more challenging. This is why the stage of identity formation is so important. It can determine the existence and quality of a person's relationship in a very significant manner. 

I don't think that this is necessarily a binary concept, and I also believe that one's identity can be fluid and evolve over time. What does seem rather clear, is that a fundamental sense of self in relation to other is indeed key for the ability to form and maintain most relationships one will encounter throughout their life.

Reflection #6 ~ A Prefigurative Culture

I think that in some ways the prediction of the emergence of a prefigurative culture is accurate but it has certainly not materialized to its fullest degree. I also think that there is potential for this type of culture to become more dominant with time. Examples of how younger people have a better sense of reality can be easily seen with regard to rapidly emerging technology. Many companies that are run by more senior executives do not function nearly as well as their competitive counterparts, simply because they are not familiar with more current technologically advanced tools that are being utilized by the general society. This is also commonly seen in relationships that youth have with their grandparents and sometimes even parents - where the child is very frequently providing assistance with the use of newer phones and software. There are exceptions, but seniors having trouble with basic banking, healthcare, or general communication is considered to be very common.

At the same time, there are other, perhaps less technical and more social aspects of life where those with more life experience remain significantly ahead of the game. On modern apps like TikTok or Youtube, it is not at all uncommon to come across a video of a young person asking the opinion of an elder related to things like friendship, love, health, and longevity. Today, the very virtue of having been around longer, still means that there are relevant things that you know that younger folks have yet to learn. 

I cannot speak to exactly where things stand as far as who is more "with the times..." but I think that an argument can be made for the notion that youth are in some ways ahead of their elders. This phenomenon probably existed less back in 1928 which makes this prediction quite a remarkable one. The prospect of the existence of a prefigurative state and its potential implications on daily life are intriguing and likely very important. This kind of rapid shift in technology may be the first of its kind in history and as history has shown many times over, things can go wrong very quickly, especially when a society lacks the ability to seek and heed informed experience-based decisions.

Reflection #7 ~ On Listening To Violent Music

I do not believe that forbidding violent music would be a smart or effective route because I think the adolescent would find a way to listen regardless. The only thing that would be achieved by forbidding it would be resentment and anger around being told what to do.

I would not ignore it because music can have a significant impact on impressionable youth - how they perceive reality and their perception of right vs. wrong.

Discussing it seems to me like the best option since it does not make the adolescent feel cornered and utilizes this situation as an opportunity to discuss important issues related to violence while not neglecting or ignoring its presence. 

I would do my best to describe my understanding of the music and how it might be interpreted, and I would communicate how I felt about this music being listened to. Depending on the music and the age of the adolescent, I may say something like "if I were you I would not listen to this..." or "I would be mindful of these facts while listening to that type of music..." 

I think that treating the adolescent like an adult and giving them the education and agency in making good choices, generally yields the best outcomes.