The Effects of Alcohol on Social and Emotional Development...

Adolescent Social Development The social development of adolescents is very much affected by the social world. Peer relationships, family relationships, school, work, and community play a critical role in an adolescent’s social development as well as culture. Adolescence begins around the age of eleven and lasts into the early twenties. As a child enters into adolescence, many changes are taking place, including physical changes in appearance, sexual maturity, hormonal changes, and the ability to reflect on one’s identity of self (Broderick Blewitt, 2010). As adolescents begin to experience these changes; they also experiment with new behaviors to help them transition from childhood to adulthood. Risk taking is a normal way that†¦show more content†¦Higher rates of substance abuse in young adolescents are linked to neighborhood instability (Leventhal Brooks-Gunn, 2000). Emotional Development According to Erickson (1968), developing identity is the central task of adolescents. Developing a sense of self or identity involves relating to others and learning to manage many emotions. This identity includes not only what individuals might become but also who they would like to become (Markus Nerius, 1986). Identity consists of two concepts, self-concept and self-esteem. Self-concept includes beliefs about one’s traits, roles and goals, and interest, values, and beliefs. Self-esteem involves assessing how one feels about self-concept (APA, 2000). Adolescent Risk Taking Behavior According to Arnett and Balle-Hjensen (1993) there are several theories that may explain why adolescents engage in risky behaviors. They proposed that need for excitement, fun, and unique, powerful sensations outweigh the potential dangers involved in an activity. Jesser (1991) proposed another theory and stresses that risk behaviors occur in a group context and involve peer acceptance and status within the group. Gibbons and Gerrard (1995) proposed another theory emphasizing that adolescent risk taking is a form of modeling and glamorizing adult behavior. Drinking Among Adolescents According for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol use is a major publicShow MoreRelatedRisk Factors For Adolescent Drug Abuse1462 Words   |  6 Pages Body: Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug Abuse There are an abundance of risk factors that can relate to the contribution of drug abuse in adolescents. The primary risk factors can be divided into two main categories: social and emotional triggers. Social factors play an important role because during the adolescent years it can be an extremely emotional and physically tough time for teens to transition through. Adolescent phases are one of the biggest transitional stages in a person’s life becauseRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol On The Adolescent Brain1585 Words   |  7 PagesBy conducting interviews with psychiatrists, PhD students and adolescent alcohol researchers, I obtained current information, where there were scarce secondary sources which explored the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain. This process was highly beneficial because it increased the reliability of my research and substantiated emerging Key Finding 1 – that adolescent neuroplasticity increases their susceptibility to alcohol related ment al illness. For example, Fiona Griffith stated that â€Å"theRead MoreFetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay1096 Words   |  5 PagesFetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a mental and physical birth defect. It occurs when a pregnant women consumes high levels of alcohol during her pregnancy. 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