Conceptual Analysis on Late Adolescents

 

Introduction

            The adolescence goes through different changes in their lives as part of the readiness to adulthood. This change aims it creating total independence and also awareness concerning morality. As the individuals grow from their childhood, autonomy comes in depending on the individual personality and even the attachment with the parents (Newman & Newman, 2017). The developmental struggle between achieving autonomy and also attachment with the parents is present. However, this might be considered as part of the normal life because other individuals claim that, to achieve this you have to sacrifice the other.

             Recent studies have claimed that the need to maintain close attention with the parents and on the other hand have autonomy is not necessarily contradictory because they have complex interrelations (ATTACHMENT, 2009). They way adolescence attain autonomy and differentiating what is wrong and right mainly depends on their development and therefore their childhood can have a considerable impact the normative adolescent development.

            The paper will look into the autonomy, and the internal morality perspective of the adolescents and will come up with the observations concerning their relationship. The paper will also include a significant social issue faced during the late adolescence and ways that can be addressed. A major theory of human development will also be applied in the paper.

Autonomy

            The attainment of independence in thoughts, emotions and also in actions is a gradual thing that usually occurs in the late adolescence and can enter into adulthood. This does not involve the parents in making decisions or regulations of their own behavior (Newman & Newman, 2017). The attachment theory which was developed by the Bowlby tries to explain the reason why infants usually develop close relations with the caregivers, the causes and how it affects their normative development. Studies have come out to claim that the attachment in the infancy are mainly to maximize the protection and the safety of the infant due to the exposure they have in the environment. This usually occurs during the time of distress (ATTACHMENT, 2009). It has also been found that as the individuals mature, there is a shift from the physical protection to emotional support.

 Individuals in the late adolescents mostly concentrate on the felt security rather than the physical presence of the parents; thus the emphasis of the physical protection and proximity of the caregivers decrease with the maturity (ATTACHMENT, 2009). In addition, the felt security in the late adolescence in the late adolescence can be achieved without the physical presence. This is because the state of maturity gives them the opportunity and ability to interact with their environment on their own.

            The attachment theory claims that the attachment system is usually activated by two factors that are, the presence of conditions such as illness, hunger and pain and the other thing environmental condition such as the presence of threats. However, in the late adolescence, there is increased cognition, emotional and behavior shows that they are less affected by the condition that will require the presence of their parents, the environment is also less considered as a threat that may need the parents to be present (ATTACHMENT, 2009). It has also been found that although the late maturity individuals might need their parents to be present in case they have conditions that might require them, they are less affected or distressed if they are not present.

             The late adolescence can be able to live away from the parents who might result from economic factors such as going to college, but the level of independence is not readily achievable at the age between 18 and 24 years (Newman & Newman, 2017). There is a lot of views though concerning the age at which a person can leave home. The late adolescence joining colleges have a different attitude with various opinions regarding the desire to be independent, but it is also clear that the entry to college shift the attention of attachment from the parents to one’s relationships

            In the late adolescence precisely the age between 18 to 24 year, students who are on campus preoccupation have been found to have diminished thoughts and concerns on their parents as their first semester advances with growth in the confidence of decision making independence (Newman & Newman, 2017). Self-sufficiency of an individual has been claimed to involve independent decision making and ability to take own responsibility with a degree in financial independence.

Internalized Morality

             Morality is generally described as that sense of knowing what is right and what is wrong by an individual. There is growing autonomy in the late adolescent as preparation for adulthood becomes a concern. It has been claimed that knowing what is moral is knowing the human goodness and knowing ways to develop morality is knowing how to develop human goodness. Adolescents make decisions mainly in the social environment, and they are expected to follow the rules or face the consequences (Hart & Carlo, 2005). Studies that have been down found that the knowledge on what is morally wrong and right is more advanced in the adolescence than in the young children who judge the wrong and right depending on the immediate consequence.

            The late adolescents explore the difference concerning moral issues and social issues and can consider the various perspectives that are present in a moral situation requiring decision making, and this stimulates moral reasoning. The late adolescent understands the morals and is also aware of the needs and rights of other people (Hart & Carlo, 2005). This enables them to understand the activities that are possibly harmful to others but beneficial to him/her (Newman & Newman, 2017). They are also involved in a different discussion which has that capability to provoke thoughts on challenging experiences, and this highly makes them advance in moral reasoning.

            The late adolescents and the adults have been stated by the moral reasoning theory to be aware of the cultural, political and also the social reasons that result to the formation of rules as compared to the most individual below the age of 18. Most of the studies have confirmed the findings in the moral reasoning stages. Kohlberg’s view of moral reasoning is that it is based on the specific situation in which an individual makes a judgment concerning the ethical dilemma (Newman & Newman, 2017). It is therefore clear that as adolescents attain autonomy, there is also development in cognitions including their perspective of what is right and wrong depending on the social, political and cultural views.

Intervention

            The achievement of autonomy and improved morality are among the things that individuals in late adolescents have. However, the developmental changes come with challenges which are highly associated with the period of adolescence as they try to get the competencies, values and also attitudes that are important to make a successful transition to the adulthood (Graber, Brooks-Gunn & Petersen, 2018). This period requires support and counseling when needed to facilitate the proper transition.

            Adolescent in the age between 18 to 24 years also experiences significant changes in the capacity to think. The changes in the thinking come from the concrete to abstract, this is because they can understand the different situation and also moral dilemmas that they face each and every day. This period is also marked with the identification of sense sexuality which also comes with the understanding of one as masculine or feminine (Graber, Brooks-Gunn & Petersen, 2018). Entry to different relationships and even the possibility of this relationship for emotional and intimacy.

            The changes in the relationship with parents is also a challenge with the late adolescents due to the entry of autonomy. This comes as the self-sufficiency is also reached and they can move and live away from the parents (Woodbury, 2012). It is also a challenge as the focus shift from the parents to make room for more adult relationships. Poor support during this transition can create a lot of misunderstanding and becomes an issue. Thus support and understanding can be of good importance.

Conclusion

            The late adolescents undergo different task in their life with significant growth in autonomy and morality. There is a shift in decision making from the parents to own as there is also the ability to cope with separation from the parents. The achievement of autonomy by the late adolescents allows then to note the difference and even the similarities that they have with their parents and continue to show them, love. Autonomy is also accompanied by self-sufficiency as the adolescents try to achieve independence in the decision, own responsibilities and even financially.

            The levels of morality also develop with an increase in understanding in all dimensions thus enabling the individuals in making appropriate decisions and understanding the rights and needs of other individuals. Good understanding makes them aware of the activities that can be harmful to others and beneficial to themselves. Challenges are also faced in late adolescents and need to be well addressed to promote proper growth and ensure the normative development of the individuals.

 

 

References

ATTACHMENT, O. (2009). Attachment and autonomy during adolescence. Handbook of Adolescent

Graber, J. A., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Petersen, A. C. (2018). Adolescent transitions in context. In Transitions through adolescence (pp. 369-383). Psychology Press.

Hart, D., & Carlo, G. (2005). Moral development in adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15(3), 223-233.

Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2017). Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning.

Woodbury, R. (2012). Family Life as Context for Adolescent Moral Development. Full Journal 9.1, 75.