Few of many questions during class:22:48 Jun 12 2014
Times Read: 567
Why might adolescents become more idealistic as they make the transition to formal operations? How might this influence parent-child relations at this point in life?
My response:
Piaget believed that adolescents transitioning to formal operations show this change in both good and not-so-good ways. Because the adolescent can now think hypothetically, a good thing, he or she is now capable of challenging the dictates of the parents, a not-so-good thing. For example, the teen who can think hypothetically can imagine an “ideal world” in which he or she is given adult freedom and so will challenge the rules set by the parents. This teen is also capable of seeing the logical inconsistencies in the parents – who may, for example, insist that the teen not smoke despite the parents smoking themselves. And this teen is capable of seeing the flaws in their parents – a good thing - and, in an ideal world, we wouldn't have flaws – which makes the parents’ flaws even more egregious – a not-so-good thing. The result is that the child may now rebel and actively resist the parents’ attempts to “control” him or her in an attempt to create this ideal world. This new and seemingly constant questioning of the parent’s authority can lead to increased conflict and decreased feelings of closeness to the point where previously “close” relationships are now strained and more distant.
Janelle, a 14-year-old, is distressed that her parents now seem to hassle her about everything and provide her little say over decisions that she sees as self-governance issues. Janelle’s mother, seeking to end the battles, seeks help from a social-developmentalist. What advice might the developmentalist give mom to help Janelle achieve a healthy sense of autonomy at this age?
My response:
Two areas of research inform us about what Mom needs to do now. First, research has shown that parents vary on two dimensions: acceptance/responsiveness and demandingness/control. Children whose parents are accepting and responsive to their child communicate to that child that she is loved. Mom needs to make sure that she praises Janelle for the things she does well and offer Janelle chances to make her own decisions in areas that aren’t all that important to Mom. For example, Janelle could decide her own clothing choices within some broad framework of what Mom deems appropriate for a 14-year-old. Mom should also scaffold Janelle’s decision making so that she can gain a sense of self governance or volitional functioning. When it comes to the dimension of demandingness/control, Baumrind’s research on parenting styles informs us of what mom needs to do now. Become – or continue to be – an authoritative parent. Consistently enforce a well-reasoned set of rules, explain the need for those rules, discuss which self-governance issues Janelle can control and why she feels Janelle cannot control others, continue to be warm and supportive, and gradually loosen the reins so that Janelle can achieve a sense of autonomy in a safe and supportive environment. When Janelle does make a decision which turns out to be a mistake, Mom should explain why that decision was wrong and how Janelle could have done things differently. This will help promote volitional functioning in Janelle for future decision-making. If Mom is either too restrictive/demanding/controlling or too permissive, Janelle’s outcome will be compromised.
My professor approved and agreed with my responses.
COMMENTS
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Isis101
05:05 Jun 13 2014
That does not surprise me. You're an intelligent woman!
RaynesAsylum
15:21 Jun 13 2014
Thank you