This document discusses adolescence and some of the key social issues facing teenagers. It defines adolescence as the period from puberty to adulthood, around ages 13 to 21. Three factors that make adolescence unique are mandatory education until age 16, exclusion from the labor force due to child labor laws, and a separate juvenile justice system. The document then examines some of the greatest social problems adolescents face, including sex, drugs, and suicide. It provides statistics on teenage sexual activity, drug use, and discusses the causes and predictors of suicide.

1. Chapter 6 AdolescenceChapter 6 Adolescence
• What does it mean to be an adolescent?What does it mean to be an adolescent?
• What are your greatest fears at this stageWhat are your greatest fears at this stage
of your life?of your life?
• How important is dating to you and why?How important is dating to you and why?
• What are the most significant socialWhat are the most significant social
problems facing adolescences today?problems facing adolescences today?

2. AdolescenceAdolescence
• It is from the onset of puberty to earlyIt is from the onset of puberty to early
adulthood. Roughly 13-21adulthood. Roughly 13-21
• Puberty- physical maturing and thePuberty- physical maturing and the
capability of reproducing.capability of reproducing.
• It is a transition period.It is a transition period.

3. Adolescence is culturallyAdolescence is culturally
defineddefined
– Not every culture has this transition period.Not every culture has this transition period.
– Some children go right into adulthood at aSome children go right into adulthood at a
certain agecertain age
– Example- Jews at the age of 13 become anExample- Jews at the age of 13 become an
adultadult

4. What defines the status of an adultWhat defines the status of an adult
in our society?in our society?
• AgeAge
• JobJob
• ResponsibilityResponsibility
• MaturingMaturing
• KnowledgeKnowledge

5. 3 Factors that make adolescences3 Factors that make adolescences
unique in our society.unique in our society.
• EducationEducation
– Mandatory to the age of 16.Mandatory to the age of 16.
• Exclusion from the labor forceExclusion from the labor force
– Regulations on hours and use of machineryRegulations on hours and use of machinery
till 18yrs old. Very strict law on this.till 18yrs old. Very strict law on this.
• Juvenile Justice System- different laws,Juvenile Justice System- different laws,
record cleared, separate jailsrecord cleared, separate jails

6. Characteristics of an adolescenceCharacteristics of an adolescence
• Biological growth and developmentBiological growth and development
• Undefined status- child or adult?Undefined status- child or adult?
• Increased decision makingIncreased decision making
• Increased pressureIncreased pressure
• Searching for selfSearching for self
- using anticipatory socialization- learning- using anticipatory socialization- learning
a role by watch or doing to prepare for it.a role by watch or doing to prepare for it.

7. Answer these question in yourAnswer these question in your
notebook.notebook.
• What age should young people be allowedWhat age should young people be allowed
to date. Explain why.to date. Explain why.
• When does dating shift from casual toWhen does dating shift from casual to
serious? What marks this change?serious? What marks this change?
• How do you think dating has changedHow do you think dating has changed
from your grandparents to today?from your grandparents to today?
• How do you think dating is different inHow do you think dating is different in
different cultures?different cultures?

8. The emergence of datingThe emergence of dating
• Some societies have arranged marriagesSome societies have arranged marriages
why?why?
• Courtship very serious with the intent toCourtship very serious with the intent to
marry from the start.marry from the start.
• The U.S. used this at one point what madeThe U.S. used this at one point what made
this change.this change.

9. DatingDating
• A process to meet a mate.A process to meet a mate.
– Casual dateCasual date
– Serious dateSerious date
– EngagedEngaged
– MarriageMarriage
– There is a progression today. Is this good orThere is a progression today. Is this good or
badbad

10. What marked the change?What marked the change?
• Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
– Move from farms to citiesMove from farms to cities
– Parents at work = less supervisionParents at work = less supervision
– Stay in school longer when the opposite sexStay in school longer when the opposite sex
becomes fascinating.becomes fascinating.
– The use of phones and cars.The use of phones and cars.
– The progression of women's rights.The progression of women's rights.
Has the change been good or bad?Has the change been good or bad?

11. The obviousThe obvious
• Willard Waller look at dating paterns atWillard Waller look at dating paterns at
Penn State.Penn State.
– Results people with similar characteristicsResults people with similar characteristics
tend to “hang” together. Homogamytend to “hang” together. Homogamy

12. Why do we date?Why do we date?
• RecreationRecreation
• Socialization- how to act with oppositeSocialization- how to act with opposite
sex.sex.
• Psychological fulfillment.Psychological fulfillment.
• Attain status.Attain status.

13. Problems adolescence face.Problems adolescence face.
• 1. SEX1. SEX
• 2. Drugs2. Drugs
• 3. Suicide3. Suicide

14. SEXSEX
• The norms about sex vary much formThe norms about sex vary much form
society to society.society to society.
• Some encourage to have kids at youngSome encourage to have kids at young
ages to show status.ages to show status.
• Most industrialized western nations haveMost industrialized western nations have
very strict norms on sex.very strict norms on sex.
• What gave to the “looseness” in the U.S.What gave to the “looseness” in the U.S.
• The sexual revolution of the 1960’s andThe sexual revolution of the 1960’s and
1970’S1970’S

15. • Birth controlBirth control
• Counter cultureCounter culture
• Feminist movement wanting equal rightsFeminist movement wanting equal rights
– Double standardDouble standard
• Television began using sex moreTelevision began using sex more
– ie. Commercials, t.v not showing anyone inie. Commercials, t.v not showing anyone in
bed together.bed together.
• Resulted in many unforeseenResulted in many unforeseen
consequencesconsequences

16. Rate of teenage sexual activityRate of teenage sexual activity
from CDCPfrom CDCP
• 29% unmarried females between 15-1929% unmarried females between 15-19
were sexually active in 1970.were sexually active in 1970.
• 48% unmarried females between 15-1948% unmarried females between 15-19
were sexually active in 1990.were sexually active in 1990.

17. Rate of teenage sexual activityRate of teenage sexual activity
cont.cont.
• In 1970 there were 22 birth/1000In 1970 there were 22 birth/1000
unmarried teenage females.unmarried teenage females.
• In 1990 there were 41 birth/1000In 1990 there were 41 birth/1000
unmarried teenage females.unmarried teenage females.
• The birth rate in America is 5 times higherThe birth rate in America is 5 times higher
than in any other industrialized countrythan in any other industrialized country

18. InfluencesInfluences
• Family incomeFamily income
• Parental marital statusParental marital status
• Religious practicesReligious practices
• FriendsFriends
• DrugsDrugs
• delinquencydelinquency

19. ConsequencesConsequences
• Current: 1in4 females between 13-19 hasCurrent: 1in4 females between 13-19 has
an std. –the times 3/12/2008an std. –the times 3/12/2008
• ““It will never happen to me” attitudeIt will never happen to me” attitude
• STD’sSTD’s
• AidsAids
• More than half of those carrying an STDMore than half of those carrying an STD
are under 25.are under 25.

20. Consequences Cont.Consequences Cont.
• Children born to teenage mothers likely toChildren born to teenage mothers likely to
have lower birth weight and more likely tohave lower birth weight and more likely to
die.die.
• Death to mother during birth is moreDeath to mother during birth is more
common for teenscommon for teens
• Less likely to finish high schoolLess likely to finish high school
• Child more likely to become a teenageChild more likely to become a teenage
parent.parent.
• Earning of parent are generally less.Earning of parent are generally less.

21. DRUGSDRUGS
• Any substance that alters consciousness,Any substance that alters consciousness,
behavior, or mood.behavior, or mood.
• Have been around since the Greeks overHave been around since the Greeks over
4000 years ago.4000 years ago.
• Drugs were not outlawed in the U.S. untilDrugs were not outlawed in the U.S. until
1914. (Harrison Narcotics Act)1914. (Harrison Narcotics Act)
• Drugs were used in cough medicene andDrugs were used in cough medicene and
Coke.Coke.

22. Drugs Cont’Drugs Cont’
• Often leads to criminal behavior.Often leads to criminal behavior.
• GangsGangs
• Stealing to pay for drugsStealing to pay for drugs
• MurdersMurders
• MuggingsMuggings
• Very bad in the 1980’s hard core drugsVery bad in the 1980’s hard core drugs
and the sharing of needlesand the sharing of needles

23. Rate of Teenage Drug Use.Rate of Teenage Drug Use.
• ChartChart

24. Influence on Teenage DrugInfluence on Teenage Drug
Use.Use.
• Why do teenagers use?Why do teenagers use?
• Friends who useFriends who use
• Adjustment problemsAdjustment problems
• Hostile familyHostile family

25. SuicideSuicide
• What causes one to think about it?What causes one to think about it?
• DepressionDepression
• Adjustment problemsAdjustment problems
• Family issuesFamily issues

26. SuicideSuicide
• Sociological explanation:Sociological explanation:
• Emile Durkheim:Emile Durkheim:
– Social IntegrationSocial Integration
• The more attachment one has to social institutionsThe more attachment one has to social institutions
the less likely to attempt or commit.the less likely to attempt or commit.

27. Suicide PredictorsSuicide Predictors
• Moving from child to adult is difficult mostMoving from child to adult is difficult most
adjust but some do not.adjust but some do not.
• More responsibility + more expectations =More responsibility + more expectations =
Lots of pressureLots of pressure
• People tend to focus on the present ratherPeople tend to focus on the present rather
that the future.that the future.
• It is a very selfish act. Effects many othersIt is a very selfish act. Effects many others

28. Suicide PredictorsSuicide Predictors
• Females are more likely to attemptFemales are more likely to attempt
• Males are more likely to succeed.Males are more likely to succeed.
• Alcohol or drugsAlcohol or drugs
• Trigger eventsTrigger events
• AgeAge
• Family relationsFamily relations
• Cluster EffectCluster Effect