SOC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Deborah Tannen, Peer Pressure, Genital Stage
4 Jul 2018
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Social and Personality Growth: Age 12–19
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Social scientists have
traditionally viewed adolescence as a time of psychosocial “storm and stress”—of bearing the
burdens of wanting to be an adult long before becoming one. Sociologists today are more likely
to view adolescence as a positive time of opportunities and growth, as most adolescents traverse
this transition without serious problems or rifts with parents.
Freud called the period of psychosexual development beginning with puberty
the genital stage. During this stage sexual development reaches adult maturity,
resulting in a healthy ability to love and work if the individual has successfully
progressed through previous stages. Because early pioneers in development concerned
themselves only with childhood, Freud explained that the genital stage encompasses all
of adulthood, and described no special difference between adolescent and adult years.
In contrast, Erikson noted that the chief conflict facing the adolescent at this stage is
one of identity versus identity confusion. Hence, the adolescent is posed with the
psychosocial task of developing individuality. To form an identity, adolescents must
define personal roles in society and integrate the various dimensions of their
personalities into a sensible whole. They must wrestle with such issues as selecting a
career, college, religious system, and political party.
Researchers Carol Gilligan and Deborah Tannenhave found differences in the ways
in which males and females achieve identity. Gilligan has noted that females seek
intimate relationships, while males seek independence and achievement. Deborah
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. Social scientists have traditionally viewed adolescence as a time of psychosocial storm and stress of bearing the burdens of wanting to be an adult long before becoming one. Sociologists today are more likely to view adolescence as a positive time of opportunities and growth, as most adolescents traverse this transition without serious problems or rifts with parents. Freud called the period of psychosexual development beginning with puberty the genital stage. During this stage sexual development reaches adult maturity, resulting in a healthy ability to love and work if the individual has successfully progressed through previous stages. Because early pioneers in development concerned themselves only with childhood, freud explained that the genital stage encompasses all of adulthood, and described no special difference between adolescent and adult years. In contrast, erikson noted that the chief conflict facing the adolescent at this stage is one of identity versus identity confusion.
