ADOLESCENT EGOCENTRISM AND RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS

Prepared by Marjorie A. Rogers-SlagleFor the parents of FCS Middle School students

July 20, 2010

2010 - 2011

Main campus505 Englewood Drive

Rocky Mount, NC 27804www.fcspatriots.orgPhone 252-443-1700

Fax 252-443-2456

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Aspiring to God’s

Standard of Excellence

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WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR YOU TODAY

Provide a support system for you that will help you connect with their child Bring you to a higher awareness of the adolescents thinking processes

Bring you a greater awareness of the adolescent’s decision making and how it relates to risk-taking behaviors.

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ADOLESCENCE

What in the world is going on

with my child?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iy5IZ1H66A&feature=related

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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Physical

Emotional

Cognitive

Social

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EGOCENTRISM

An individual’s preoccupation

with what others think of them.

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EGOCENTRISM Ages 11 to 16 Adolescent have difficulty seeing that others can see things differently than they doImmature thinking

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Adolescence

Personal

fable

imaginary

audience

separation-

individualism

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IMAGINARY AUDIENCE

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IMAGINARY AUDIENCESelf-consciousness Everyone else shares the same concern for their appearance as they doPeaks between ages14-16Belief that they are under a constant eye

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IMAGINARY AUDIENCEConstant need for privacy. Becomes stronger around 8th gradeStronger in girls and last longer

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IMAGINARY AUDIENCEPersonalitiesEthnicitySocial environmentOther elements in the adolescent’s life

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IMAGINARY AUDIENCESelf-esteemSelf-confidencePopularitySocial support – being ostracizedLiving up to the standards of others

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PERSONAL FABLEBelieves their feelings are unique that no one else could possibly experience them to the same degree.Very DramaticComes from the obsessive focus on themselves.

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PERSONAL FABLEPrivileged “Everyone’s watching me.” Unique “No one could ever understand.”All powerful “It couldn’t happen to me”

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SEPARATION-INDIVIDUALISM The process where the adolescent’s thinking becomes more and more separated from the parent’s or caregiver’s.Imaginary audience allows them to stay connected while the personal fable helps them to begin forming their own identity.

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HOW DOES EGOCENTRISM RELATE

TO ADOLESCE

NT RISK TAKING

BEHAVIORS?

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RISK-TAKING Incapable of being harmed False sense of powerInterferes with the decision making process Escalate very quicklyGives little or no warning of the outcomeStronger in malesFails to see the long-term effects

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RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS Reckless drivingBinge drinkingUnprotected sexPurgingDare devil stuntsExperimenting with drugs

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VOLATILE SOLVENTS

Adhesives model airplane glue, rubber cement, household glue

Aerosols spray paint, hairspray, air freshener, deodorant, fabric protector, computer keyboard cleaner

Solvents and gases

nail polish remover, paint thinner, type correction fluid and thinner, toxic markers, pure toluene, cigar lighter fluid, gasoline, carburetor cleaner, octane booster

Cleaning agents dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, degreaser

Food products vegetable cooking spray, dessert topping spray (whipped cream), whippets

Gases nitrous oxide, butane, propane, helium, difluoroethane

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ANESTHETICS

Anesthetic nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform

Amyl "Poppers," "Snappers”

Butyl "Rush," "Locker room," "Bolt," "Climax," also marketed in head shops as "video head

cleaner"

NITRITE ROOM ODORIZERS

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INHALANTS: EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

Slows down or stops nerve cell activity in some parts of the brain.Damages the part of the brain that solves complex problems and plans ahead. Damages the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination.Damages the part of the brain that helps to control memory, meaning; lose of the ability to learn new things, recognize familiar things, or have a hard time keeping track of simple conversations.

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INHALANTS: A FEW FACTSAge of Onset – late childhood to early adolescenceTypically the first substance that a child experiments with. Increased and regular use occurs early & late adolescenceThe child can get high very fast over and over again during a short time period.Provides immediate gratification

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RISK-TAKING CONSEQUENCES BulimiaAnorexia nervosaAddictionsSubstance abuseBrain damage Life threatening accidentsHIV/AIDSDeath

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RISK-TAKING MOTIVES Fill a personal needPhase their going throughIrresponsibleAttentionThrill-seekingSocial supportPeer pressureChallenging

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RISK-TAKING DECISION MAKINGMaking effective decisions requires the adolescent to balance the risks and benefits Adolescents may lack the ability to make appropriate risk-taking decisionsThey may lack the life experience and knowledge necessary to avoid errors in judgment They may lack the emotional and social skills They may lack the assertiveness to avoid participating in risk-taking behaviors

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RISK-TAKING DECISION MAKINGMaking effective decisions requires the adolescent to balance the risks and benefits Adolescents may lack the ability to make appropriate risk-taking decisionsThey may lack the life experience and knowledge necessary to avoid errors in judgment They may lack the emotional and social skills They may lack the assertiveness to avoid participating in risk-taking behaviors

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PEER GROUPSResearch shows that peer groups have the strongest influence on an adolescent’s decision to participate in risk-taking behaviors. Why? Because peer groups are the most significant source of social support for the individual during adolescence

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MOST INDIVIDUALS

SURVIVE ADOLESCENCE WITHOUT

EXPERIENCING LONG TERM EFFECTS OF RISK-TAKING

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PREVENTION - REDUCTIONIncreased socializationEducation on the consequences of various risky behaviors. Teach adolescents assertive skillsTeach adolescents how to be decisive in their decision making process

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What can you do

to make

a difference

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PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIPSResearch indicates

that as the parent/child relationship

strengthens, peer influence weakens

Frequent Communication

AndConcerned

involvement

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PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIPS

Parent/child relationship strengthens

Adolescent becomes more assertive and stronger in avoiding

risky behaviors.

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PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIPS

Parents’ value systems

Less likelihood of crumbling under

pressure.

high esteem and importance of their

parents

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PARENTAL INFLUENCESBe a positive role-modelTake a vested interest in your child’s lifeTalk to them, don’t yellBe wise in your word choicesSet reasonable boundariesTake time to listen to their side

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PARENTAL INFLUENCESEncourage your child to express his/her feelingsAfter school activities - InvolvementCommunity projectsFine tune your parenting skillsParenting Skills – Imparting Wisdom http://www.allaboutparenting.org/parenting-skills.htm

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Aalsma, M.C., Lapsley, D.K., & Flannery, D.J. (2006). Personal fables, narcissism, and adolescent adjustment.

Psychology in the Schools, 43(4), 481-491.

Alberts, A., Elkind, D., & Ginsberg, S. (2007). The personal fable and risk-taking in early adolescence. Journal of Youth &

Adolescence, 36, 71-76.

Artar, M. (2007). Adolescent egocentrism and theory of mind: In the context of family relations. Social Behavior and

Personality, 35(9), 1211-1220.

Aspya, C.B., Veselyb, S.K., Omanb, R.F., Rodinec, S., Marshallc, L., & McLeroy, K. (2007). Parental communication and

youth sexual behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 30(3), 449-466.

Bell, J. & Bromnick, R. (2003) The social reality of the imaginary audience: A grounded theory approach. Adolescence,

38(150), 205-219.

Blum, H.P. (2004) Separation-individuation theory and attachment theory. Journal of American Psychoanalytic

Association, 52(2), 535-553.

Elkind D. (1967). Egocentrism in adolescence. Child Development, 38(4), 1025-1034.

Gardner, M. & Steinberg, L. (2005). Peer influence on risk taking, risk preference, and risky decision making in

adolescence and adulthood: An experimental study. Developmental Psychology, 41(4), 625–635.

References

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Heads Up (n.d.). Inhalants –quiz.

Jaffe, M.L. (1998). Adolescence. New York, NY: Wiley

Lapsley, D.K. (1993). Towards an integrated theory of adolescent ego development: The "new look" at adolescent

egocentrism. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 63(4), 562-571.

Manley, R. (2009). The personal fable of adolescents understanding the fantasy construct common to youth. Suite 101.

http://parentingteens.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_personal_fable_of_adolescents#ixzz0N2WEqO7v

Michael, K. & Ben-Zur, H. (2007). Risk-taking among adolescents: Associations with social and affective factors. Journal

of Adolescence 30, 17–31.

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (2005). http://www.inhalants.org/product.htm

North Carolina School Counseling Association (2010). http://www.ncschoolcounselor.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?

pageid=3308

Rodham, K. , Brewera, H., Mistrala, W., & Stallarda, P. (2006). Adolescents’ perception of risk and challenge: A qualitative

study. Journal of Adolescence, 29(2), 261-272.

References