Sociology: Chapter 6-1

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Sociology Chapter 6-1

• The Adolescent in Society
• Adolescence in Society
• Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.11, 5.4

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Adolescence in Society

• Concept of Adolescence
• Present creation Creation of Industrial Society
• Adolescence Period between normal onset of
  Puberty and beginning of adulthood
• Puberty Physical maturing that makes someone
  capable of reproduction
• Ages 13 to 21
• Has become phenomenon in past 40-50 years
• Three Factors
• 1. Education
• 2. Exclusion of youth from labor force
• 3. Development of Judicial System

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Characteristics of Adolescence

• 1. Biological Growth (80 develop Acne)
• 2. Undefined Status (not a child not an adult)
  Read p. 122 Blurring of Adolescence)
• 3. Increased decision making (College?)
• 4. Increased Pressure (Peers vs. Parents)
• 5. Search for Self (Prepare for future)
• -Who am I Really?
• -Anticipatory Socialization Learning rights,
  obligations, and expectations of a role in
  preparing for assuming that role at a future date
• -Dating, Part-time job, and school
• Culture can also have a huge impact

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Societies with no concept of adolescence

• Ndembu of Zambia
• Go straight from childhood to adulthood
• Puberty Rite ceremonies that mark the transition
  from childhood to adulthood
• -Demonstrations of Strength
• -Filing of the Teeth
• -Tatooing of skin
• Age 13/14 Can marry
• Carry Households

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Sociology Chapter 6-2

• Teenagers and Dating

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Teenagers and Dating

• Well known in U.S.
• -Not a universal phenomenon
• Ex Arranged marriages
• Very recent phenomenon (Post WWI)
• Pre-Dating in the U.S.
• -Courtship Express purpose is eventual marriage
• -very formal and structured
• -supervised by adults 100 of the time
• Past
• Marriage Timed by age at which a man acquired
  property necessary to support family

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Industrial Revolution

• Casual Dating emerged at the same time as the
  Industrial Revolution
• -People move to city
• -Child Labor Laws
• -Free Public Education
• -Technology Telephone
• Young people had more time and were put into
  situations where they began to come into contact
  with other young people of the opposite sex

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Why Date?

• Homogamy Tendency for individuals to marry
  people who have social characteristics similar to
  their own
• Willer Waller Dating was a form of recreation
  that has little to do with mate selection
• 1. Mate selection
• 2. Recreation (Waller)
• 3. Mechanism of Socialization
• 4. Psychological Needs
• Conversation, Companionship, Understanding
• Attain Status

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Dating Patterns

• Traditional
• -Responsibility fell to male (Ask parents Money)
• -Ritualized
• -Structured rules
• -Set Activities (Moviesetc)
• -Began Casually
• -Moves to Going Steady

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Dating Patterns

• Contemporary Present
• -Teenagers more spontaneous
• -Male and female initiate dates
• -Relationships based on group
• Exception
• -Court at 16 Boys
• -14 Girls
• -No Amish divorces yet
• Read p. 133 Themes in Popular Songs