Kohlberg's Theory Of Adolescence

1107 Words3 Pages

The period of adolescence is a time of immense changes, both biologically and socially, through self-discovery and identification. During adolescence, the human body goes through a wave of hormonal changes in preparation for sexual reproduction. As the individual reaches adulthood, this process is called puberty (Arnett, 2015, p. 350). In addition to the physical changes, teens undergo many social and psychological changes as they approach adulthood, preparing them for the many responsibilities to come (Arnett, 2015, p. 350). Adolescence is constructed by changes in relation to the physical, cognitive, and emotional states of an individual. Within each of these developmental areas, teens mature in varying ways. In regards to physical changes, adolescents undergo the previously mentioned process of puberty, but they also face many issues such as eating disorders and substance abuse (Arnett, 2015, p. 357-359). For cognitive development, teens undergo …show more content…

This theory concludes that during the level of conventional reasoning, an individual bases their moral reasoning off of the rules and expectations of those they deem to have authority (Arnett, 2015, p. 382). I find that this theory applies to the observation of this adolescent as she was brought to this religious gathering by her mother and engaged in activities as expected by those who ran the event. During this observation period, she was reluctant to engage in activity congruent with morals and religion, until prompted by those around her. This act of conformity, in addition to being dropped off at this gathering by her mother shows that the authority of others in religious and moral practice respectfully. As morals are key to religious practices, it can be concluded that the influence of authority on religious practice is also present in that of her

Open Document