The Adolescent in the Family

185 Pages·2015·10.1 MB·English

by  Patricia Noller

ROUTLEDGE LIBRARY EDITIONS:
ADOLESCENCE
Volume 7
THE ADOLESCENT IN THE FAMILY
This page intentionally left blank
THE ADOLESCENT IN THE FAMILY
PATRICIA NOLLER AND VICTOR CALLAN
Firstpublishedin1991byRoutledge
Thiseditionfirstpublishedin2016
byRoutledge
2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN
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©1991PatriciaNollerandVictorCallan
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedorutilised
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ISBN:978-1-138-94766-5(Set)
ISBN:978-1-315-64149-2(Set)(ebk)
ISBN:978-1-138-95201-0(Volume7)(hbk)
ISBN:978-1-138-95204-1(Volume7)(pbk)
ISBN:978-1-315-66783-6(Volume7)(ebk)
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Thepublisherhasgonetogreatlengthstoensurethequalityofthisreprintbut
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Thepublisherhasmadeeveryefforttotracecopyrightholdersandwouldwelcome
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The Adolescent in the
Family
Patricia Noller
and
Victor Callan
First published 1991
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
a division of Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc.
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
© 1991 Patricia Noller and Victor Callan
Typeset by LaserScript Limited, Mitcham, Surrey
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham plc, Kent
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Noller, Patricia
The adolescent in the family. - (Adolescence in society).
1. Adolescents. Psychology
I. Title ü. Callan, Victor, 1954- ID. Series
155.5
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Noller, Patricia
The adolescent in the family / Patricia Noller and Victor Callan.
p. cm.- (Adolescence and society)
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Parent and child. 2. Teenagers-Family relationships. 3. Adolescent
psychology. I. Callan, Victor J., 1954- . ü. Title. HI. Series.
HQ755.85.N65 1991
306.874-dc20
90-33412
CIP
ISBN 0-415-01089-6
ISBN 0-415-01090-X
Contents
List of illustrations vi
Preface vii
Acknowledgements ix
1 Theoretical perspectives and controversies about
adolescents 1
2 The generation gap 26
3 Communication in families with adolescents 41
4 Family environments and adolescent development 63
5 Leaving the family 86
6 Separation, divorce and re-marriage 106
7 The family and adolescent issues 123
References 141
Name index 163
Subject index 169
v
Illustrations
Figures
1.1 Types of identity status 11
1.2 Effects of parenting style on adolescents 16
4.1 Factors associated with adolescent rebellion 67
4.2 Effects of physical abuse on adolescents 69
5.1 Stages in selecting a partner 95
7.1 Effects for adolescents of reliance on family vs. peer group 124
7.2 Relationship between level of control in the family and
problem behaviour of adolescents 130
Tables
2.1 Factors related to the size of the generation gap 38
3.1 Adolescents’ perceptions of communication with mothers
and fathers 43
3.2 Teenagers seeking parental advice over two decades 53
4.1 Ratings by parents and adolescents of real and ideal
adaptability and cohesion 65
4.2 Percentage of secondary school children reporting
responsibility for 10 household tasks 76
5.1 Factors behind leaving home 88
5.2 Most common arguments with parents according to
adolescents (1960s-1980s) 91
6.1 Adolescents’ feelings about the separation, and mothers’
perceptions of their feelings 110
6.2 Challenges confronting step-parents 118
vi
Preface
Adolescence has always been a controversial area of theory and
research, and never more so than over the last twenty years. While
adolescence was once just an area of academic discussion, many
developments have made adolescence an area of great concern to
members of the community at large, whether they be parents, politicians
or those working with adolescents in education and/or welfare. With
political and social issues such as youth unemployment, drug use and
abuse and streetkids, almost everyone is aware of the problems facing
particular groups of young people. In addition, many parents fear that
these problems could affect their own family.
While once psychodynamic interpretations of adolescence with their
emphasis on ‘Sturm und Drang’ (or Storm and Stress) clearly domin-
ated our perceptions of what adolescence was like, there was an im-
plicit belief that the family played little part in the lives of adolescents
who were only interested in being involved with and pleasing their peer
groups. Parents were very much seen as the outsiders. Today there is a
much greater understanding of the complexity of the needs of
adolescents and their strong desire to be close to both their parents and
their friends. Adolescents are expected to establish their independence
through renegotiating their relationships with their parents to involve
more freedom and flexibility. While most adolescents are prepared to
take on the new responsibilities associated with growing up, they also
need the help and support of their parents as they work through this
process. Sometimes the supportive environment is not there for the
adolescents, because of family conflict, the breakup of marriages and
societal problems such as high levels of youth unemployment In this
situation, a wide range of problems can result.
We have written this book for those who want to understand the part
a supportive family can play in helping adolescents cope with the
physical and emotional changes associated with this period of their
lives. In particular, we have developed the theme that adolescents,
vii