Rogoff CH. 5
Midlife into Maturation of the Next Generation: Name characteristics that define the boundaries of midlife
Chronological age, physiological changes (e.g. menopause), or community based events involving relationships (e.g. children moving out)
How does Arnett’s interpretation of “storm and stress” differ from Hall;s original view of adolescence?
-Arnett: argues that it is not a universal experience because it depends on individual and cultural differences
-Hall: views storm and stress as a universal period that all teens go through
What future direction does Arnett predict for the concept of emerging adulthood worldwide?
He predicts that as economies and education expand, emerging adulthood will spread — especially among urban middle-class youth.
Responsible roles in childhood
: What becomes expected of children ages 5 - 7 in most communities?
"What seems to happen at about age 5 to 7, as reflected in the ethnographic literature, is that children begin to be responsible and teachable."
In many communities across the world children in this age range were given responsibilities such as knowing right from wrong, taking care of siblings, being responsible for their own social behavior, household chores, tending to animals, and more.
Why are conflicts with parents, mood disruption, and risky behavior considered the most common forms of storm and stress during adolescence? What underlying changes contribute to these behaviors?
-Conflict with Parents: it increases as teens seek greater autonomy. Parents may see teens as children but teens don’t want to be treated as such, they want independence.
-Mood disruptions: they result from cognitive development. Teens' cognitive thinking “allows them to see beneath the surface of situations and envision hidden and more long-lasting threats to their well-being”. Environment also plays a role, like starting puberty, changing school, meeting more people, etc. How they experience and interpret them plays a role in their mood.
-Risky Behavior: comes from peer influence/pressure and increased sensation seeking/thrill seeking
Why does emerging adulthood NOT usually appear in non-industrialized or developing societies?
Because many young people in those societies must start working early, marry young, or support their families,
so they don’t have the long, independent period for education and self-exploration that defines emerging adulthood.
~why the stage exists in some societies but not others, which connects to Arnett’s cultural psychology idea (2015, pp. 478–482).
Adolescence as a Special Stage: Why are the years between adolescence and adulthood considered special?
"Adolescents may not be allowed to marry, to work, to vote, or to drive, or they may have many responsibilities of adulthood but under the supervision of parents or in-laws. In some settings, teens may have adult responsibilities at home but be treated as children at school."
This age range is considered a special stage because adolescents in many societies are treated by parents and teachers as both a child and adult. They are not yet given full independence, but are expected to be independent and responsible for many aspects of their life such as school and even work.
Arnett argues that “storm and stress” depends on culture. What cultural factors might make adolescence more or less stressful in different parts of the world?
-Individualistic cultures like the U.S would bring more conflict in adolescence as teens try to assert their independence.
-In collectivist cultures, family harmony and respect for elders may reduce conflict
-Technology and social media can also portray western cultural ideals to those in collectivist culture and amplify strom and stress.
How does the idea of “soul mates” show individualistic values that support the stage of emerging adulthood?
Answer: It shows the belief that people must “find themselves” and choose a partner for love, not duty — a strong individualistic idea.
Initiation to Manhood and Womanhood: What does boys' initiation into adulthood focus on vs. girls initiation, and give examples from the text or a personal example.
Boys’ initiations often focus on issues of responsibility (e.g. initiation/circumcision in communities in which households are formed of mothers and children and the father stays somewhere else), whereas girls’ initiations often focus symbolically on issues of fertility (e.g. communities are concerned about women bearing children, children not dying, and mothers not dying in childbirth)
What specific evidence does Arnett cite to show the difference between typical adolescent turmoil and serious behavioral/emotional problems?
-”Conflict with parent generally increases in early adolescence but declines in later adolescence, and more report that they love and respect their parents”
-”the great majority of adolescents are not in a state of continual emotional crisis”
- “only a minority of adolescents engage in serious delinquent behavior or substance abuse”
What is one main criticism of Arnett’s idea of emerging adulthood?
Critics say it mainly represents Western, middle-class experiences and may not apply to all cultures or economic backgrounds.
According Infants a Unique Social Status: What type of behavior is expected from two year olds in individualistic cultures vs. collectivist cultures
Individualistic: "In middle-class European American communities, the end of infancy is expected to involve a sudden appearance of contrary behavior—the “terrible twos”. For example, a Boston mother and father described their 20-month-old as having entered the “stage” of “terrible twos,” which they characterized as being obstinate, negative, and needing independence"
- age of defiance and building autonomy
Collectivist: "In contrast, in many communities, such a transition to negativism and obstinacy around age 2 is not observed or expected (Hewlett, 1992; Roth-baum et al., 2000). For example, Zinacantecan infants in Mexico do not go through this transition; instead, they are watchful and observant, seeking contact with mothers who until then had treated them with a special status now reserved for a new baby (Edwards, 1994). Rather than asserting control and independence from their mother, they change their status from mother’s baby to a child of the courtyard children’s group—a child who acts as a responsible caregiver to the new baby and helps with household tasks."
- age of curiosity, exploration, and responsibility
What does Arnet propose about how psychologists should the “storm and stress” theory moving forward? And how does he suggest the theory should be reinterpreted in modern research?
Arnett argues that this theory shouldn’t be rejected but reconsidered:
It is not universal but that adolescence is a time for potential storm and stress
Need for focus on individual and cultural differences to explain why some teens experience it more intensely
integrate cultural context
How does globalization influence emerging adulthood in developing countries?
It gives young people more access to global media and education, encouraging them to combine modern individualism with local traditions in shaping their identities.