Case Study Essay

Submitted By teshay
Words: 1357
Pages: 6

Case Study This case study shows all the many changes an adolescent can experience over time. They usually shift from one identity to another, as identities need to be reworked at times. Their peers, parents, schools, and neighborhoods play a huge role in their social world. Mark is a normal adolescent, experiencing what many others go through. Once Mark approached puberty, he realized he was not interested in many of the things his friends were. Things changed from when they were younger to present. This is true among all adolescents. There will be times as we grow we separate from what we know to find our own way. This is more so among many adolescents. Mark was experiencing many different feelings that could have been developed properly if he was provided the reinforcements he needed. His peers were teasing him on the grounds that he was still a boy scout, so he quit. By this time, his peers had moved on to new things and were not acceptant of his choices. He did not have much in common with many of his peers. With that, he began to slip into a domain that was his own and a way to keep him from being rejected by others. His parents did not spend much time with him due to their work schedules. His brother was much older and did not have time for him because he was involved in sports and other activities. Then he grades began to fall, which means these changes have began to affect his schoolwork. The profound physical, cognitive, and social changes that accompany entry into adolescence create a state of instability and anxiety Seltzer called frameworklessness. This is exactly what Mark is experiencing in his life. Since Mark’s childhood friends moved on to something new, he felt stuck in a world by himself. This led to isolating himself in his room and being secluded from others at school, especially the girls. Once Mark turned 16, there were new challenges that would arise. Once he talked his parents into buying him a car, it seems as if he was now the guy others wanted to be around. Among his peers he was accepted because of something he had obtained. This changed his status in their eyes. He then began to involve himself in the things his old, but new friends indulged in. He began taking part in risky behaviors like smoking, drinking, and experimenting with drugs. Everything in Mark’s environment has affected him in many ways. Mark’s home environment was not very involved. Everyone tended to do their own thing. His parents had rigorous work schedules and did not have time to interact with him. He was not given any chances to help in the family’s decision making. The role of his parents flipped from being encouraging at times to trying to force Mark to do things that he was interested in. They actually began backing off him when he became angered when they tried to show concern toward his grades and not participating in sports or scouting. They should have been more involved in his life when he was younger and maybe finding the vodka in his room might not have happened. Research shows that the more parents are involved in their adolescents’ lives they are less likely to experience with alcohol and drugs. Mark was not given an opportunity to develop at a normal pace. He was overlooked by his family and that behavior was transferred to other aspects of his life. Schools play a major part in the psychosocial, intellectual, and vocational development of adolescents (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Since Mark transitioned from junior high to high school it was probably difficult because he was in a new school setting and his role has now changed. He went from being the oldest and comfortable where he was, to being one of the youngest on campus and not knowing any of the teachers and not being comfortable. He did not have many friends that were interested in the things he was. He felt his teachers were boring, thus being the reason his grades were low. The teachers should