Ch. 9: Autonomy

Cultural differences in autonomy

- Asian-American adol and parents expect slower pace of autonomy

Postconventional

- adolescent/young adult - most abstract and advanced

Preconventional

- childhood - worrying about punishment/reward

Improvement in decision-making relates to

- decline in extent to which decisions are influenced - improvement in adolescents' ability to control impulses

Critiques of Kohlberg

- elite and educated are included, too far fetched from the real world - few are at postconventional stage - many cultures use different principles such as religion or tradition

Susceptibility to peer influence

- high susceptibility more likely to use drugs/alcohol

Stronger sense of self-reliance relates to

- higher self-esteem - fewer behavior problems - girls feel more self-reliant than boys

Conventional

- late childhood/early adolescence - following societal rules and norms

Gradual process

- self-exploration - responsibility for choices/actions - close family relationships

Emotional autonomy

-increased tension in family

Aspects of decision making

1. Awareness of risks 2. Weighs future consequences 3. Reliance on consultants 4. Caution in taking advice from biased others 5. Revise attitudes to adjust to new info

Kohlberg's three levels of moral reasoning

1. Preconventional 2. Conventional 3. Postconventional

Self-determination theory

3 universal psychological needs required for optimal adolescent development: - competence - autonomy - relatedness

Domains of autonomy

Emotional Behavioral Cognitive

Is Kohlberg's theory correct?

Studies have confirmed it; moral reasoning becomes more principled over the course of childhood and adolescence

Changes in decision-making abilities

Teens able to make better decisions with time

Behavioral autonomy

capacity to make autonomous decisions about behavior and being accountable for one's actions

Cognitive autonomy

changes in beliefs, opinions, and values - rooted in general principles - founded in own values

Moral behavior

does not always match moral reasoning - contextual influence how a person acts when facing moral dilemmas

Parental conflicts arise due to

expectations which influence the pacing of autonomy development

Autonomy

expression of independence; individual's capacity to behave on their own

Peer pressure

gets stronger over adolescence - younger teens more susceptible - defenses against peer pressure improve

Social-cognitive development

increase individuation

Conflict peaks during

mid-adolescence and then decreases in later adolescence

Authoritative parenting

more influenced by positive peers

Authoritarian/Permissive parenting

most easily influenced by peers

De-idealization

realize parents can make mistake

Individuation

research shows this to be more of a gradual process