Time After Time in the Teen Years
Joseph A. Montagna
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WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE?
Adolescence is a period in our lives that is marked by three major areas of change: biological, cognitive and social. These changes are universal—everyone undergoes them. They are interrelated, occur at varying rates and times, and they all have an impact on the psychological development of the individual. The effects of these changes, however, are not universal. The effects are varied due to the environments in which these changes occur. These
contexts of adolescence
shape the psychological development and behavior of the individual.
In our society, and in other modern societies, four main contexts of adolescence exist: family, peer groups, school and work. All of these contexts have undergone a number of changes in America over the years, especially the last several decades. Society itself has changed in America. A teenager in America in 1920 had a reality that was very different from the reality of an American teenager in 1985. Two teenagers in America growing up in different settings in 1985 would experience different realities, resulting in differing patterns of psychological development between them. It is important, therefore, that we take a look at these contexts, noting the changes that have occurred in each and the influence each has on the development of the adolescent, in order to better understand adolescence. Much of what is contained here is taken from Steinberg’s book. The reader should refer to it for further details.
