Chapter Three - Social Transitions

Question 1

what is the inventionist perspective?

Answer 1

• adolescence is a social construct that is defined by societal attitudes + expectations
• adolescence is shaped by the way society does(does not) recognize this developmental stage as different from childhood + adulthood

Question 2

what are 4 changes in status during adolescence?

Answer 2

1. interpersonal
2. political
3. legal
4. economic

Question 3

what are 4 historical forces that have shaped adolescence?

Answer 3

1. industrial revolution
2. child protection laws
3. compulsory education
4. juvenile delinquency laws

Question 4

what type of feelings were elicited after WWII?

Answer 4

• period of optimism

- notion of “teenager” emerges, adolescence as a carefree time

Question 5

how does adolescence present itself in the 1960s and 1970s?

Answer 5

• emerges as a period of turmoil and revolt

- period of sexual experimentation, political dissent, substance abuse

Question 6

how is adolescence currently seen?

Answer 6

• adolescence now assume both adult and child roles

- college as a period of transition to adulthood

Question 7

adolescence may be a precursor to _____

Answer 7

youth

Question 8

what is youth according to emerging adulthood?

Answer 8

• stage that includes individuals who are fully developed from a cognitive/biological perspective
• not yet negotiated the salient developmental tasks of adulthood

Question 9

what are changes in interpersonal status?

Answer 9

• changes in status with regard to others in the community

- adolescents have roles that differ from those of a child or adult

Question 10

what are changes in political status?

Answer 10

• adolescence brings a shift in civic rights
• right to vote
• new responsibilities (military, paying taxes)

Question 11

what are some changes in economic status?

Answer 11

• children -> economic dependence
• middle adolescence -> informal employment (babysitting)
• late adolescence -> part time employment

Question 12

what are changes in legal status?

Answer 12

• gain legal rights (driving)
• age-related restrictions
• status offenses
• maybe held legally responsible for their behavior

Question 13

what are status offenses?

Answer 13

-violations of age-related restrictions

EX: curfew

Question 14

what are changes in educational status?

Answer 14

• middle vs high school -> more options with regard to their own education
• eventually given right to leave school all together
• college

Question 15

what are 4 features across cultures of the social redefinition that occurs in adolescence?

Answer 15

1. initiation ceremonies/ rites of passages
2. separation from parents + transitions from the home
3. accentuation of male/female differences
4. passing on of historical, cultural, societal information

Question 16

what is clarity?

Answer 16

• distinctiveness of the transition to adolescence

- is there a clear demarcation between childhood and adolescence?

Question 17

what is continuity?

Answer 17

-how different are the social roles of adolescence from the social roles of adulthood + childhood

Question 18

what is the “marginal man” idea by Kurt Lewin?

Answer 18

• adolescence is a transitional period between childhood + adulthood
• ambiguous period of development, poorly defined roles
• neither child nor adult

Question 19

what are continuous transitions?

Answer 19

• gradual changes

- the adolescent slowly assuming more of the rights + responsibilities of adulthood

Question 20

what are discontinuous transitions?

Answer 20

-sudden shifts between adolescence and adulthood

Question 21

what do Benedict and Mead say about the the differences across cultures?

Answer 21

• the nature of adolescence differs across industrialized + non-industrialized cultures
• adolescence is a more gradual transition in non-industrialized cultures