Required Readings

Blume, L. B., & Zembar, M. J. (2007). Middle childhood to middle adolescence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson [Vital Source e-reader].
Chapter 10, “Affective Development in Middle Adolescence“In this chapter, the author describes how personality, self-understanding, and emotional competence develop during middle adolescence. Focus on the different ways in which identity develops during middle adolescence.
Chapter 11, “Social Development in Middle Adolescence”This chapter provides an overview of how adolescents’ relationships with friends, romantic partners, and family members typically develop. Focus on the role that attachment plays in the way adolescents interact with others, as well as factors that influence gender and sexual identity formation.
Chapter 12, “Beyond Middle Adolescence: Emerging Adulthood”In this chapter, the author defines and describes emerging adulthood. Focus on how the definition of adulthood has changed throughout history, and the developmental milestones and theoretical perspectives that characterize emerging adulthood.

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Understanding the Adolescent Brain, Part 2 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note:  The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.

In this video, Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang discusses the relationship between the brain and the emotional development of adolescents. Focus on possible links between brain activity and emotional reactions and regulation.

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Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload Audio

Assignment: Field Study – Middle Adolescence

This week, you have learned about major concepts and milestones relating to affective and social development in middle adolescence. In this assignment, you will synthesize this theoretical knowledge with what you observe during a real-life field study.

Prior to this week, you were asked to arrange to interview two adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. This week, you will interview these adolescents with the goal of gaining insights into their affective and social development. Before conducting the interviews, be sure to prepare a list of questions. You may use the Week 5 Questionnaire Template below as a starting point. Although you may modify the template as you see fit, you should cover the following four major topics:

• Identity
• Emotions and self-esteem
• Gender
• Relationships

Document: Week 5 Questionnaire Template (Word document)

During the interviews, be sure to record notes about the adolescents’ responses to the questions, as well as any other relevant details or observations on the questionnaire. You will submit the completed questionnaires, including the questions that you asked, notes summarizing the answers that you received, and any other observations, as part of this assignment.

After the interviews, review your notes and reflect on what your findings reveal about affective and social development during middle adolescence. Consider the following:

• Are your findings consistent with the concepts you read about in the Learning Resources? How so?
• Do any of your findings conflict with the information presented in the Learning Resources? How so, and why do you think this is?
• What insights about affective and social development did you gain during the interviews? Did anything surprise you? If so, what, and why?

Write a 1- to 2-page summary describing insights you gained from the interviews. Be sure to address the three questions above.