Free The Psychology Book by Unknown

continued to value the use of
    one unbroken stream.
    effects of different environments
    introspection as a tool of discovery,
    William James
    on our actions—in contrast to the
    especially of mental processes.
    introspective, structuralist approach
    The shift in the perception of
    of breaking down our experiences
    psychology and its concerns from
    into small details—has also shaped

being considered, “a nasty little
    our understanding of behavior.
    subject” (in James’s words) into a

    46
    ADOLESCENCE
    IS A N
    G. STANLEY HAL E
    L (1W B
    844–1924) IRTH
    IN CONTEXT
    Human development is determined by
    APPROACH
    nature :it is a repetition of our “ancestral record . ”
    Human development
    BEFORE
    1905 Sigmund Freud, in
    Three Essays on the Theory of
    A child has animallike dispositions
    and goes through several growth stages .
    Sexuality , claims the teenage
    years are the “genital stage.”
    AFTER
    1928 American anthropologist
    Margaret Mead, in Coming
    At adolescence , the evolutionary momentum
    of Age in Samoa , declares
    subsides; this is a time for individual change .
    that adolescence is only
    recognized as a distinct
    stage of human development
    in Western society.
    During this wild, lawless time,
    1950 Erik Erikson, in
    teenagers are increasingly sensitive, reckless,
    Childhood and Society ,
    self-conscious , and prone to depression.
    describes adolescence as
    the stage of “Identity vs.
    Role Confusion,” coining
    the term “identity crisis.”
    The child then emerges as an adult: a more civilized,
    1983 In Margaret Mead
    “higher-order” being .
    and Samoa , New Zealand
    anthropologist Derek Freeman
    disputes Mead’s claim that
    adolescence is merely a
    socially constructed concept.
    Adolescence is a new birth.

    PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS 47
    See also: Francis Galton 28–29 ■ Wilhelm Wundt 32–37 ■ Sigmund Freud 92–99 ■
    Erik Erikson 272–73
    T he word “adolescence” “curve of despondency” that starts
    literally means “growing
    at the age of 11, peaks at 15, then
    up” (from the Latin
    falls steadily until the age of 23.
    adolescere ). In theory, it describes
    Modern research acknowledges
    a distinct stage between childhood
    a similar pattern. The causes of
    and adulthood, but in practice often
    depression that Hall identified are
    simply defines the “teenage” years.
    startlingly familiar: suspicion of
    In most Western societies, the idea
    being disliked and having seemingly
    of adolescence was not recognized
    insuperable character faults, and
    until the 20th century; childhood
    “the fancy of hopeless love.” He
    ended and adulthood began at a
    believed the self-consciousness of
    G. Stanley Hall
    certain age—typically at 18.
    adolescence leads to self-criticism
    Pioneering psychologist and
    and censoriousness of self and
    Born into a farming family
    in Ashfield, Massachusetts,
    educator, G. Stanley Hall, in his
    others. This view mirrors later
    Granville Stanley Hall
    1904 book Adolescence , was the
    studies, which argue that teenagers’
    graduated from Williams
    first academic to explore the subject.
    advanced reasoning skills allow
    College, Massachusetts in
    Hall was influenced by Darwin’s
    them to “read between the lines,”
    1867. His plans to travel were
    theory of evolution, believing that
    while also magnifying their
    thwarted through lack of
    all childhoods, especially with
    sensitivity to situations. Even Hall’s
    funds, so he followed his
    regard to behavior and early
    claim that criminal activity is more
    mother’s wish and studied
    physical development, reflect the
    prevalent in the teenage years,
    theology for a year in New
    course of evolutionary change, and
    peaking around 18, still holds true.
    York, before moving to
    that we each develop in accordance
    But Hall was not totally negative
    Germany. On Hall’s return to
    with our “ancestral record.”
    about adolescence. As he wrote in
    America in 1870, he studied
    One key influence on Hall
    Youth: Its