Adolescence

Page |1

The Study of Adolescence

Therease Taylor
Wayne State University
SW 3510: Practice Methods I
Professor Billy Paul Blodgett, Ph.D

Adolescence

Page2

This paper is written for the purpose of reflecting on my adolescent years as I remember
them and relating my experiences to theories that explain the behavior. Adolescence is a period
of 10-12 through 21-22 that every adult has experienced in their lifetime. It is a time when many
changes occur within our minds and bodies. For those who have teenage and young adult
children, we can recognize the stages of puberty and the trials of adolescence from our own
personal experiences. During my adolescent years, my body went through changes and stages
without warning. This was a time when I went through personality changes, mood swings, and
mental and physical changes in my body that in time played a big part of my adulthood.
According to the theorist Sigmund Freud, he believed that early experiences were possibly the
most important factor in the formation of adult personality and psychopathology
(Ashford, & LeCroy 2010).
Adolescent years allows the body and person to transition into an adult. Gender,
sexuality, socialization, communication and emotions are also major components of adolescence.
According to Erickson Americas adolescents attract a lot of attention in their exuberance to
establish an identity; adolescence represents the journey of discovery (who am I) and how am I
different from others (Ashford, & LeCroy 2010). In this paper, I will explain my adolescent
years in detail. I will discuss the Psychological Dimensions of adolescence and the various roles
they play in my journey of adolescent years.

Adolescence

Page3
Biological Dimension

Ages 11 to 14 are considered early years of human development. During these years, a
child has passed through more than one stage that can have an impact on adult personality. Going
through these stages is necessary for the child to move into the development of personality.
During this age, there are interferences that can affect the personality of a child, spoiled children
and children that do not get enough attention can both be altered by these interferences. These
years are also considered the growth spurt years, Erikson believed that personality progressed
through a series of stages, with certain conflicts arising at each stage. Success in any stage
depended upon successfully overcoming these conflicts (psychology.about.com).
I was a healthy child I never had anything other than chicken pops and a common cold. I
had one known allergy that I still suffer with as an adult and thats being allergic to mosquitoes.
My mother and family called me "Lil momma", I was a mature young lady. There were no
distinctions in my adolescent years that would make me anything other than normal. My weight
was also normal and I was not an obese child. I attended Priest Elementary School located in
Southwest Detroit, it was a small school and many kids from my neighborhood went there. I did
not enjoy the social aspects of my adolescent years in elementary school because I was picked on
daily because of my skin completion. I was always called names that would refer to my dark skin
color. Although I was teased often, I loved school and I would ignore the name calling even
though it hurt my feelings. I believe this is when I started having self-esteem issues.
At that time I didnt understand that kids could be cruel, I thought something was truly wrong
with me. I disliked my dark skin color because that was the first thing used to
insult me. Most of my friends had lighter skin and I never heard them being teased or children
making wise cracks about their skin color. This was truly one of my biggest problems

Adolescence

Page4

in elementary school.
After elementary school, I attended Munger Middle School and unlike in elementary
where I remained in one class the majority of the day with the exception of art and lunch, in
middle school I changed classes hourly. Between classes children paired up and formed groups,
you had the popular kids, the smart kids, attractive kids and the bullies. I am the youngest out of
my siblings so I attended school alone and I tried to fit in and be accepted. As I remember back
then I would connect with the popular group, they were more accepting of my personality.
Children having to fit in or having the need to be in a group is explained in Freuds
Psychoanalytic Theory which details the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. From the
Freudian Perspective, Psychoanalytic theory is based on a stage theory of development. Through
various stages, and how well we master those stages forms the basis of our personality
( Asford,& LeCroy 2010).
Freud also spoke of the Libido and subconsciously fulfilling urges of physical pleasure
within daily functioning with a focus on social interactions. At this time, I was still forming my
identity and still being teased about my skin completion my body was going through its own
changes, I started my menstrual cycle at age 13. This was a new transition for my body, my
menstrual cycle also made me very emotional. My body development was slower than other girls
in school I was what they considered flat breasted with no butt, and short hair. All though my
appearance was different I was always clean, well dressed and my hair was always done. My
skin completion was dark and free from any acne, adults would often tell me how pretty my skin
was. Physical attributes made you popular when I was in my adolescent years. Defense
mechanisms and defensive reactions determine our behavior. The demands of the environment
work on the adaptions of the ego functioning to determine how we cope with stressful

Adolescence

Page5

circumstances according to Anna Freud (Ashford, & Lecroy 2010). I was not a follower in
school I maintained good grades and was very approachable. I did not require much discipline at
home and I was very respectful to my mother and father. I held a lot in as a child and did not
complain much, even when there were times when I should have. I never told friends or family
in my adolescent years that I disliked my skin complexion or that I was embarrassed by it.
Psychological Dimension
In High School my guard was down, I had a few more friends and my self-esteem issues
were not as bad. I came out of my shell more, I was not afraid to connect with people and I did
not search for groups to fit in. High school is where I was more accepted, I became aware of my
psychological issues. In high school, I was more mature and, I did not allow my low self-esteem
to stop me from having friends or a boyfriend. Erikson's psychosocial theory essentially states
that each person experiences eight 'psychosocial crises' (internal conflicts linked to life's key
stages) which help to define his or her growth and personality. The eight stages of psychosocial
crises are trusted mistrust, autonomy-shame and doubt, initiative-guilt, industry-inferiority,
identity-role confusion, intimacy-isolation, generativity-stagnation, and integrity-despair (Alan
Chapman 2006-2013). I met my first boyfriend in high school and he is also the father of my
son. I was pregnant at 16 years old and had my son at seventeen years old. My son's father was
shot and killed he was 17; his murder devastated me. This was a traumatic event that I
experienced as an adolescent. I tried to return back to school after a couple weeks, but I could not
focus and I would daydream constantly, to the extent that I would look up to see students leaving
out the class because the bell had ringed. I was experiencing depression and I was pregnant, so
this was truly difficult to get through at the time. I did not tell my mother I was pregnant, but she

Adolescence

Page6

went into my book bag and saw the results from the clinic. My family and friends really
supported me through this time.
After returning back to school, things were a little better, but I still went through periods
of depression. After having my son August 31, 1989 I experienced post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) characterized by a severe anxiety or increased arousal response to an adverse event that
is often re-experienced and intensified via intrusive distressing recollections of the trauma (DSM
IV-TR, 2000). I was treated for it and by the time I returned to school I was able to cope with the
tragedy and new baby. As an adolescent I learned about death, parenting, stress, coping, and
resilience. I entered into a different phase in life, I was a parent at seventeen that changed all the
choices and decisions in my adolescent years. Skinner observed that behavior is repeated when
followed by positive consequences and that is not repeated when followed by negative
consequences. When consequences such as rewards and punishments are made contingent on
behavior, they can have a powerful influence on behavior (Ashford, & LeCroy 2010). Positive
reinforcement affected my parenting as a teenager because I was able to overcome obstacles and
challenges from the death of my sons father.
Social Dimension
During my last stages of adolescence, I was back in school. I had adjusted to being a parent
and a teenager. My social life was going well, I was preparing for graduation, and I was also able
to adjust to being a parent and a student. I was involved in church and attended services weekly. I
was also involved in different groups outside of the church. I was a member of The Boys and
Girls Club of Detroit. This was a place I could go and relax and have the opportunity to be with
my peers. I was also involved in an after school program (FHA Hero) this stood for Future Home

Adolescence

Page7

Makers of America. I was able to experience college life and dorm living at an adolescent age.
This was encouraging because I was also preparing for prom and graduating from high school. I
worked three days a week after school at Kentucky Fried Chicken, I learned financial
responsibility. Because I was a minor when I had my son, my mother was also involved in my
economic choices. I had a close relationship with my family, my mother would watch my son
while I worked and went to school. This was a lot of help financially because I did not have to
pay for daycare, or have someone other than family babysit. Although I was a parent, I was still
able to go and do things with my friends to the mall, movies, shopping and on trips. My
selfesteem had enhanced and I had slowly moved into my identity. I was affiliated with groups;
however, the groups I was affiliated with were positive groups within society.
The neighborhood I lived in was very diverse and I never was a victim of racism or abuse
within my community. There were various cultures and religions; my best friend was Caucasian
and Catholic. This allowed me to be aware of different ethnicities and relationships outside of
school. Socializing within my neighborhood and community was very positive and resourceful.
Social exchange theory assumes that all aspects of social life can be conceptualized as exchange
of resources or rewards between individuals or groups of individuals (Ashford, LeCroy 2010).
Socialization is part of human life and activity, my socialization with friends, family, and people
within my environment allowed me to excel and focus on the important things within my life.
According to Freud, all human behavior is driven by a special kind of energy referred to as the
libido. The Libido is in constant search of pleasure. This Libido theory is considered the
cornerstone of contemporary psychoanalysis (Ashford, & Lecroy 2010).
Summation and Conclusion

Adolescence

Page8

In doing this paper I have traveled back through many memories some good and some
not so good. This allowed me to reminisce on my adolescent years and how things have turned
out for me. There are many ways that biological development can be explained, the theories that
I included in this paper helped to explain the human behavior phenomena. As I diligently
explained the three dimensions of my adolescent years I was able to see how my behavior
manifested throughout the course of my life. Watson and Skinners Learning Theories explained
this type of learning is referred to as classical conditioning. Classical Conditioning occurs when
a neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a response that was originally elicited by another
stimulus. (Ashford, Lecroy 2010). If you develop early in life according to Freud, or if you
develop later in life, human behavior is influenced by our external and internal environment.
This is what makes us who we are. Human Behavior and The Social Environment is important
when it involves Social Work. In order to have a clear assessment of a person, you will have to
know where they have been in life. Social Work works within the limits of a person's systems
and involves all levels mezzo, micro and macro. These levels help to ensure that Social Worker's
are advocating for the clients.When I experienced the trauma from my son's father being
murdered, I spoke with a social worker at the school. Her approach was she was there to help
assist me with any concerns I had. When I look back on that time I appreciate thatI she was able
to help me confront what I was going through. She was able to assist me not only as a student but
as an adolescent who had just gone through a tragic situation and facing being a single parent.
The Biological, Psychological, and Social Dimensions are extremely important when we look at
our entire makeup.

Adolescence

Page9
References

A multidimensional Perspective (4TH ed.) Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

Appleby, Colon, Hamilton (2011) Diversity, Oppression, And Social Functioning
Cherry, K., What is Psychology Retrieved 2011, March 27
http://Psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/f/psychfaq.htm
Eriksons psychosocial development theory Retrieved 2011, March 29
http://www.businessballs.com/erik_psychosocial_theory.htm
Joseb,A ,Craig Winston,L (2010). Human Behavior in the Social Environment Person-InEnvironment Assessment and Intervention (3rd ed.) South Connecticut State University