Sociology Chapter 6 – A Adolescent in Society
Section 1
Adolescence
-period between the normal onset of puberty and the beginning of adulthood
Puberty
-physical maturing that makes an individual capable of sexual reproduction
Amount of Time Varies
-U.S.- usually between 13 and 21
-only recognized in the U.S. after the Civil War
-some African countries- skip adolescence and have puberty rites
Factors for its development
- Education
- Exclusion of youth from the Labor Force
- Juvenile Justice System
Characteristics of Adolescence
- Biological Growth and Development
- Puberty is universal
- Controlled by the brain and the endocrine system
- 80% of teenagers develop some form of acne
- Undefined Status
- Expectations for children and adults is clear but not for adolescence
- Some treated as children, some treated as adults
- Can be married at 16, can vote at 18, can drink at 21
- Conflicting attitudes
- Ex: Society adapts the styles of dress of teens but are critical of what they wear
- Increased Decision Making
- As children almost every decision was made for you
- Now decide about classes, social life, sports, college of not, work
- Increased Pressure
- Parental rules
- Still want them to be sociable
- Balance between parental rules and peer pressure
- Class and extracurricular
- Stay current with peers
- Establishing relationships
- Job pressures
- Search for Self
- What do I want out of life
- Set your own person values and norms
- Anticipatory socialization
Section 2 Dating
Dating is not a universal phenomenon
-arranged marriages by parents, go-betweens that design a formal contract
History
-did not exist until after WWI
-had been restricted to courtship
-man’s intentions had to be honorable and marriage-minded
-had to have parent’s permission
-usually under close supervision
-emergence of dating
-see it start with the Industrial Revolution
-young men begin to move away from the family farm
-lessened parental control
-child labor laws increase free time
-development of public education
-Why after WWI
-popularity of the telephone and automobile
-women in the work force – single adults interact more
-study by Willard Waller
-casual dating was a form of recreation
-status attainment and excitement – not finding a mate
-choose partners based on good looks, nice clothes, popularity
-under courtship it had been dependability, honesty, mothering skills
-women choose based on looks, money, clothes, cars, dancing, frat
Homogamy
-tendency for individuals to marry people that have similar social characteristics
Why Date?
-5 functions served by dating
1. Finding a mate
-desire to find life partner
2. Form of recreation
-simply to have fun
3. Mechanism for socialization
-learn about members of the opposite sex
-learn how to behave in social situations
- learn appropriate role behavior and define self-concepts
4. Fulfill basic psychological needs
-conversation, companionship, understanding
5. Attain status
-become valued by others
Dating Patterns
Viewed as a continuum
- Traditional
- Most characteristic of the 1940’s and 50’s
- Still can be found in some small towns
- Responsibility for arranging the date belongs to the male
- Set time, place, and pay
- Rituals were very rigid
- Expectations were well known and followed
- Established weekly time table for setting up a date
- Very social event- shameful not to have a date on dating night
- Little spontaneity
- Early dates revolve around set activities (movie or sporting event)
-Can focus on event rather than each other
- Steady dating
-Formal expectations and commitments
- Usually a visible symbol
- Contemporary
- Since the 60’s, dates do not follow these patterns
- More spontaneous
- May simply break away from a group
- Females will initiate dates
- Either can pay or split
- Today relationships based on friendship and the group
- Usually don’t have to use a “line” for a first impression