Prof K Sivapalan Attitude of Young People Attitude

Prof. K. Sivapalan. Attitude of Young People

Attitude The way that you think and feel about something and behave towards it that shows how you feel and think n In social or clinical psychology, a relatively stable and enduring predisposition to behave or react in a certain way toward persons, objects, institutions or issues. n 17 -Dec-21 2 Attitude of Young People

Adolescence n n n In most societies, for most of human history, there was no such thing as adolescence, at least as it is now understood: The end of childhood marked the beginning of adulthood. Individuals in their early teens had completed whatever formal and/or informal education. Then they were expected to fulfill adult roles and be physically, cognitively, and socially capable of doing so. 17 -Dec-21 3 Attitude of Young People

Definition of Young People-1 World Health Organization defines young people as follows on the basis of age: n Adolescence 10 -19 years n Youth 15 -24 years n Young people 10 -24 years. n Puberty 11 -16 years in boys n 9 -14 years in girls n 17 -Dec-21 4 Attitude of Young People

Definition of Young People-2 n n The definition on the basis of age is relative and varies. It could be more constructive to identify with a state of mind a level of psychosocial development which are dominated by, n n imagination the desire for adventure the urge to question all established standards in order to establish and assert one’s individuality. It is a period of transition from dependence of childhood to independence of adulthood. 17 -Dec-21 5 Attitude of Young People

Adolescents and Adults University students- adolescents or adults? n Adulthood would never be achieved by many individuals n Many teenagers have reached levels of maturity that many adults never reach n It is a mistake to over differentiate adolescents from adults. n 17 -Dec-21 6 Attitude of Young People

Changes in Adolescence n n Beginning of adolescence is much more clearcut than the end. Children undergo a variety of interrelated changes between ages 10 through 13. Physically, there are changes associated with puberty. Cognitively there are fundamental changes in intellectual competence. Socially, there a variety of changes associated with the transition to an increasingly peer-focused orientation. 17 -Dec-21 7 Attitude of Young People

Mental and intellectual Development of Adolescence Peak Intelligence. n Logical thinking n Maximal memory and concentration powers. n Interest in learning and reading n Exploring and enjoying nature n Inquisitiveness about secrets of life n Excessive Imagination- Day Dreaming n Benefits- creativity: poetry, Stories etc. n Dangers- anti social behavior and unhealthy sexual drives. n 12/17/2021 Attitudes of adolescents 8

Emotional Development in Adolescence n n n Anxiety, fluctuating states of emotions and moods Involvement in religious and group activitiessearch and grouping of friends. Extreme expectations or Suicidal tendency Search about self- high esteem and susceptibility to inferiority complex Search for ideology of life Changing the personality as an idol 12/17/2021 Attitudes of adolescents 9

Emotional development-ctd. n n n Will to develop a better world, intolerance to wrong doings Opposing imposition and oppression. Interest in the appearance and beauty of self Attraction on opposite sex- “true love” of children getting mixed up with sexual feelings Worries about self- failures, examinations, being ignored, inadequate care, sexual defects. Angry: failure, teasing, favoritism, refusal of rights, criticism, unwanted advice, being neglected 12/17/2021 Attitudes of adolescents 10

Social Development of Adolescents [HUMAN] n n n Period of establishing self identity in the society. Friendship develops first on emotional level and later on the nature of the individual First friendship within the same sex then within both sexes and finally with one of the opposite sex which becomes life partnership ? Dog Culture or cat culture: Cinema culture n ? Limbic system vs neo cortex n 12/17/2021 Attitudes of adolescents 11

Risks of Adolescence n n n Overconfidence of being able to do anything and fear of inability to accomplish Wasting creativity on inappropriate attractions Developing erroneous ideas about the opposite sex and aberrant sexual drives Drug abuse: experimentation leading to addiction induced by friends, inability to achieve in education or sports Deranged future generation 12/17/2021 Attitudes of adolescents 12

Sentiments of Young People Young people have two sentiments [feelings based on emotions]: n The will to create better world without discarding fundamental values. n The fear that they will make things worse. n 17 -Dec-21 13 Attitude of Young People

Psychological Development of Young People n n n Ability of an individual to function both as an individual and as a member of society may well be determined by the circumstances associated with the growth and upbringing of the infant in the family and the social environment. Young people’s behavior is conditioned by biological, psychological and social pressures to which they are subjected before or during puberty. Early deprivation of emotional, nutritional or social wellbeing may threaten the normal physical and psychological development. 17 -Dec-21 14 Attitude of Young People

Social Maturation of Young People With better health and nutrition and social conditions, children’s height and weight are increasing and age of puberty is decreasing. n But the social maturation remains same or diminished. n Example- crimes are committed with adult techniques but childish motivation. n 17 -Dec-21 15 Attitude of Young People

Effects of Puberty n Growth spurt and establishment of reproductive capacity occurs during puberty. n For many adolescents, puberty may be the start of a vicious circle of disturbed behavior: insecurity → anxiety → aggression → increased insecurity → This may go to pathological intensity and lead to social maladjustment and delinquency [bad or criminal behavior of young people]. n n 17 -Dec-21 16 Attitude of Young People

Family and Young People n n n Family is the source of basic necessities of life and health : love and tenderness, food, water, rest, clothing, and sanitation. Traditionally, the family provides variety of role models preparing the way for adulthood. Now our families are split and spread all over the world and the family structure is very week. If the home fails to provide concrete foundation, then unknowingly, it sows the seeds of problems. In the long run, these young people will resort to something else while searching for happiness. 17 -Dec-21 17 Attitude of Young People

New Challenges for Young People n n The technological revolution in communication and travel has produced new challenges. Experience of the older people has become irrelevant to modern concepts. The role of family is now played by the educational institutions and cinema. Contribution of friends? 17 -Dec-21 18 Attitude of Young People

Youth and Education As more young people attend school expectations have increased and more youth are unhappy about employment. n Many adolescents who have to go to work have to combine school with work or are unable to go to school. n They suffer from fatigue and work - related accidents which affects education. n 17 -Dec-21 19 Attitude of Young People

Social Childhood of Youth n n n The extension of the period of education with prolongation of social childhood far beyond puberty is a phenomenon with which educators have to come to terms. Majority of schools and Universities are still dominated by the assumption that the students do not have sufficient capacity for self direction-And to be trusted to work out educational programs and daily life patterns in genuine collaboration with elders. Even junior teachers are treated by the senior teachers like that. 17 -Dec-21 20 Attitude of Young People

Outlook of Youth on Education n n The new view implies that education should take into consideration the wide range of relevant human talents and individual needs It should not be used simply as a social classifying device based almost entirely on intellectual talent. Where the traditional approach is still applied, there is an increasing sense of irrelevance and futility among a large number of young people. They are coming to regard education as merely a sort of academic game. 17 -Dec-21 21 Attitude of Young People

Educators and Youth n n n When educators are asked to help in the adjustment of youth, they must ask, “Adjustment to what? ” Is it proposed that the youth should be adjusted to the miseries and injustices in the world, the hunger and poverty in the midst of plenty? Or do we wish them to conform to the comforts of a secure routine job and a narrow routine existence in a small closed community? 17 -Dec-21 22 Attitude of Young People

Status and Role of Youth n n n There is neither clear-cut definition of a young person nor any commonly accepted view of youth’s role in society. The gap between attainment of physiological and sexual maturity and the moment when the maturity of the individual is socially acknowledged is becoming increasingly wide. Many symptoms of disturbance are observed among students not because they are the most articulate and audible section of youth but because they are regarded as the most “socially illiterate” 17 -Dec-21 23 Attitude of Young People

Norms of the Society We are exposing our children to a sort of suicide through disgust and discouragement by abandoning or questioning traditional value systems without replacing them. n Society appears to demonstrate, by its scale of financial rewards, that grater value is attached to those who are successful in industry and commerce than to teachers, social workers, and ministers of religion. n 17 -Dec-21 24 Attitude of Young People

Ethical Norms n n Insecurity may be generated by the fact that schools present a single, absolute, and rigid pattern of behavior and ethical norms. [Do our schools present any? ] They leave it to young people to discover on their own the actual relativity of principles of behavior. The discovery may result in a painful emotional crisis leading to cynicism [doubting, disliking or not respecting human sincerity and merit] and moral nihilism [morality has no value]. 17 -Dec-21 25 Attitude of Young People

Sexual Problems Young people may have sexual problems like sexual dysfunction and sexual variation like homosexual feelings n They may be subjected to sexual harassment or sex abuse. n These may be frightening for young people because they are not experienced or matured enough. n 17 -Dec-21 26 Attitude of Young People

Problems of Alcohol and Drug Abuse-1 Substance use is a social rather than solitary behavior in adolescence. n Most often drug abuse starts as a result of “seduction” within peer group. n Unemployment is a major cause of alcohol and drug abuse. n 17 -Dec-21 27 Attitude of Young People

Problems of Alcohol and Drug Abuse-2 n The reasons for continuing drug taking are: n n n To reinforce the experience To earn the approval of the others in the group To satisfy continuing feeling of aggression against society, parents or others Pattern of pathological drinking is laid in adolescence. [Consequences and dependence may occur several years later. ] Risk taking behavior is increased by alcohol and drug abuse which causes death due to violence and accidents. 17 -Dec-21 28 Attitude of Young People

Problems with Violent and Destructive Behavior-1 The transition to adulthood is often painful with several stresses. n Disruption of normal family relations is one of the most frequent causes of violent behavior n Other causes include migration, isolation, intense competition and unemployment. n In many instances no causes can be identified. n 17 -Dec-21 29 Attitude of Young People

Problems with Violent and Destructive Behavior-2 The manifestations of mental disorders in adolescence very often follow a common pattern of antisocial, psychopathic-like behavior n Psychiatric conditions as paranoid tendencies, schizophrenia, depressive maladaptive personality traits, and somatic complaints manifest at this age. n 17 -Dec-21 30 Attitude of Young People

Problems with Violent and Destructive Behavior-3 n n Suicidal behavior is the most tragic among the violent behaviors because it leaves unfulfilled promise of a young life It leaves feelings of anger, grief and guilt in those who are close to the dead person. Females attempt more but commit less suicides leaving permanent impairment. Ratio of attempted to committed is 40: 1 in most industrialized countries. 17 -Dec-21 31 Attitude of Young People

Problems with Violent and Destructive Behavior-4 n n n Young people are increasingly the victims of violence and themselves violent towards others. One major cause is war. Social violence is also increasing. Causes may be poverty, unemployment, overcrowding and reduced control over upbringing. Contributory factors are drug and alcohol abuse, sense of failure, frustration and hopelessness, And frequent exposure to violence in streets and television. 17 -Dec-21 32 Attitude of Young People

Promotion of Young People’s Behavior n n n A healthy environment providing both support and opportunities for young people is a necessity, but not in itself sufficient condition for healthy development. Much of the responsibility for good behavior falls on young peoples themselves They must increasingly take decisions of educational, vocational, and personal nature and act upon them: these have major consequences for the present and future. Educational institutions can provide healthy supervised physical exercise and can be a major source of education and guidance. ? Role of our Student Councilors and Unit of Physical Education 17 -Dec-21 33 Attitude of Young People

Social Resources n n The conflict between youth and society takes place at home, at school, in the university and at work. The frustration of youth is further aggravated when friction is compounded by the anxiety, irritation and intolerance of adults who are key persons in the social system. Both groups can benefit from explanation and counseling. Youth advisory centers, Public health authorities and general practitioners should be involved in community youth services that co-ordinate all social and psychological resources in the area. 17 -Dec-21 34 Attitude of Young People

An Active Role for Young People n n n Involving young people in Social activities as a strategy for improving their own mental health and that of their communities is gaining recognition. The reasons are: Young people always want to help their families and communities. Essential parts of growing up include: contribution to the welfare of the society, experiencing the rewards of it and achieving social recognition. Young people are generous, open, willing and enthusiastic. Young people are ready to respond physically, emotionally, intellectually, and with freshness of approach, idealism, creativity, and boundless energy. 17 -Dec-21 35 Attitude of Young People

Principles for Promoting Healthy Development -1 n n A supportive environment over a long period, with graded steps towards autonomy, enhancing self esteem and promoting a healthy life style. Good communication between young people and the key adults and peers in their lives. Approaches based on a sound understanding of young people’s beliefs and behavior within any given culture. The use of people who respect the young, have a sound knowledge of their needs and are trained in communication skills. 17 -Dec-21 36 Attitude of Young People

Principles for Promoting Healthy Development -2 n n n The programs should focus on total lifestyle rather than on individual aspects of behavior. An inter- sectoral approach to programs, with the full involvement of key groups who deal with young people, including the school, the family, the health system, religious and community leaders and community organizations. Involvement of young people themselves in the planning and implementation of programs. 17 -Dec-21 37 Attitude of Young People