The Struggle Through Adolescence

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Adolescence has been depicted as a time typified by stress and storm for both, parents and friends of adolescents.This is evident with increased disagreements between both parent-child and peer relationships. Hall, (1904) suggested that this period occurs due to a search for identity. The following essay will examine and provide evidence to understand why there is an increase in conflict throughout a period of adolescence.

During the period of adolescence, children often clash with their parents and friends more frequently than they do later in life. This occurs as they search for independence and a sense identity. Supporting evidence, ranging from 1998 to 2012, will be examined in order to determine the effect that the changes in the adolescent has on relationships. Specifically, there will be a focus on the normality of the increase in conflict, as well as highlighting the benefit of this shift.

Importantly, the impact of parents will also be examined, as this relationship acts as the building block for much of the child’s development. Although the conflict between parent-child is often helpful, the following will also look at what can go wrong, particularly focusing on delinquency. Cultural context will also be examined in order to determine the generalisability of this stage in life amongst all adolescents. While the period of adolescence may invite conflict with parents and friends, this is of benefit to the child’s social development. Further, despite an early connotation of the period being recognised as one of, “storm and stress”, the majority of parents do not consider this to be true (Montemayor, 1986).

Emphasis on Normality (Ehrlich, Dykas & Cassidy, 2012)

Previous studies have determined that it is norma...

... middle of paper ...

..., J. L., & Feldman, S. (1993). Conflict-Resolution Behavior in Adolescent Boys: Antecedents and Adaptational Correlates. Journal Of Research On Adolescence (Lawrence Erlbaum), 3(1), 41-66. doi:10.1111/1532-7795.ep11323961

Van Doorn, M., Branje, S. J., & Meeus, W. H. (2008). Conflict resolution in parent-adolescent relationship and adolescent deliquency. Journal of Early Adolescence. 28(4). 503-527. doi:10.1177/0272431608317608

Van Doorn, M. D., Branje, S. T., VanderValk, I. E., De Goede, I. A., & Meeus, W. J. (2011). Longitudinal spillover effects of conflict resolution styles between adolescent-parent relationships and adolescent friendships. Journal Of Family Psychology, 25(1), 157-161. doi:10.1037/a0022289

Youniss, James,Smollar, Jacqueline. (1985). Adolescent relations with mothers, fathers, and friends. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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