Case Study of Noah, Age 14

EDU 220 1001-1002

Presentation By: Cynthia Guzman
November 11, 2018
 Physical
Observed
❖ Usually, “The peak age for boys is about age
14, during which they can add 16 to 17
pounds and about 4 inches (Kail &
Cavanaugh, 2010).” (Snowman & McCown,
2013, p. 65).
❖ Growth spurt
➢ Noah seems to be behind in this since
he is still very short.
❖ Voice change
➢ Noah’s voice has begun to change.
❖ “... Nocturnal emissions marks the beginning
of puberty in boys...The average age is about
14 and a half years,”
(Medline, 2018)
Recommended
❖ Expect awkward stages in appearance and physical
coordination since physical changes do not occur
smoothly.
❖ “Adolescents may experiment with a wide range of
sexual orientations or behaviors before feeling
comfortable with their own sexual identity. Parents
must be careful not to call new behaviors "wrong,"
"sick," or "immoral." (Medline, 2018).
❖ Warn child about sexually transmitted diseases,
unprotected sex, HIV.
❖ Expect self-consciousness and sensitivity
(Medline, 2018)
 Emotional
Observed
❖ Extreme emotions during adolescence.
➢ Noah’s emotions at times are very
prominent. He’ll get enraged easily
provoked by the smallest things.
❖ Emotional and psychiatric disorders are
common at this age. Some of these disorders
are depression, anorexia, schizophrenia,
suicidal thoughts etc. (Snowman & McCown,
2013).
❖ Self-centeredness is present.
Recommended
❖ Expect emotional outbursts. Emotions are at an all time
high during adolescence.
❖ Watch out for symptoms of psychiatric or emotional
disorders.
➢ Social isolation, moodiness, crying spells,
hopelessness, intense weight loss etc. (Snowman
& McCown, 2013).
❖ Try to take the child’s feelings into consideration.
❖ The self-centeredness may seem narcissistic but is
actually normal (Medline, 2018).
 Intellectual (Cognitive)
Observed
❖ According to Piaget, Noah is in the formal ❖ Piaget believed that cognitive development
operational stage of Cognitive Development. He is enhanced more by peer interactions than
should be, “able to deal with abstractions, form adult interaction (Snowman & McCown,
hypotheses, solve problems systematically, and 2013).
engage in mental manipulations,” (Snowman & ➢ Noah has sufficient peer interactions
McCown, 2013, p. 25). from his friends at school and the
➢ Noah recognizes and uses sarcasm friends he’s made in the
frequently. neighborhood.
❖ “High School students become increasingly capable ❖ Reflective while doing homework.
of engaging in formal thought, but they may not use
this capability,” (Snowman & McCown, 2013, p. 68).
❖ Vygotsky believed that children learn best from
instructional interactions from a more advanced
intellectual.(Snowman & McCown, 2013).
 Intellectual (Cognitive) Continued.

Recommended
❖ Parents should give advice and guidance so they can use their capability to form

thoughts consistently.

❖ Encourage the child to debate and analyze other children’s view points.

❖ Expect him to take time doing his homework.

➢ “... reflective students prefer to collect and analyze information before

acting.” (Snowman & McCown, 2013, p. 79)

❖ Expect an increase in political knowledge.

➢ Children from ages 12 - 16 wants to challenge themselves on what they

know about politics (Snowman & McCown, 2013).

 Social (Psychosocial)
Observed
❖ According to Erikson, Noah is going through “role confusion: having no clear conception of appropriate types of

behavior that others will react to favorably,” (Snowman & McCown, 2013, p. 19).

❖ Marcia’s “identity statuses: A style of approach that adolescents adopt to deal with such identity-related

issues…four identity statuses: identity diffusion, moratorium, foreclosure, and identity achievement.” is present in

Noah (Snowman & McCown, 2013, p. 20).

➢ Noah seems to be in the identity diffusion stage. He changes his mind about his future whenever he hears

about some “cooler” career.

 Social (Psychosocial) Continued.
Recommended
❖ Friendships are very important at this age. They “become a safe haven” to the child (Medline, 2018).

❖ Peers will have a bigger influence in decision making than parents or superiors.

❖ Many children in adolescence strive to obtain employment.

❖ Expect separation from parents in order to form their own identity (Medline, 2018).

❖ Parents,“They should be available to listen to the child's ideas without dominating the child's independent identity.”
(Medline, 2018).
 Moral

Observed Recommended
❖ Noah is aware that rules must be followed in ❖ Encourage the child to think beyond the rules and
order to keep societal order but thinks that some regulations set by the society.
➢ Act independently.
must be bent in order to do good.
❖ Kohlberg developed six stages of moral
reasoning (Snowman & McCown, 2013).
➢ Noah falls into stages 3 and 4.
❖ According to Piaget Noah has “Morality of
cooperation: Piaget’s term for the moral thinking
of children age 11 or older, based on flexible
rules and considerations of intent.” (Snowman &
McCown, 2013, p. 40).
References
Medline (2018). Adolescent Development. Retrieved

from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002003.htm

Snowman, J., & McCown, R. (2013). ED PSYCH. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.