MODULE 26: Socio-emotional Development

INTRODUCTION

During adolescence, the teen shows manifestation of growth he/she begins to

have friends in school, attends parties, goes to discos and keeps intimate friends with
the same or with the opposite sex. These external manifestations are signs of socio-
emotional growth which usher in self-knowledge, self-identity, social relationships, and
what scholars see as an intensification of stereotypical gender roles (males tend to be
different from females).

Self – Understanding

The formation of self-concept is of paramount significance since this related to enduring

traits that makes the person fully human.

Early Adolescence (10-13 years old) -the teens begin to acquire a reflective idea
of one’s self, not only in terms of the immediate present which younger children also
see, but in terms of their past and their future. During the adolescent years, the teen also
begins to see his/her role and importance to society. This development requires self-
thought or introspective thinking along generalized ideas, such as in thinking that one is
bright, flexible, intelligent, etc.

Stereotypes in gender differences

Girls Boys
 Congeniality  Higher self-esteem in achievement
 Sociable and leadership
 Help seekers  More self-sufficient
 Higher self-esteem in relation to competence  More competent in math subjects
in spelling, penmanship, neatness, reading
and music
 Prefer social and verbal skills
Hispanic American Girls Adulthood - more easily know their own
 Dependent and submissive needs and their genuine desires in life.
European American Girls
 Stronger
 More Active
 Nurturing
 Expressive
Adulthood – tend to give way to the wishers of
others, even sacrificing their own interests
Developing Self-esteem

 Self-esteem means to appreciate one’s self or self-love, regardless of genetic

potential endowments (physical, mental, emotional)
 Potential endowments can be developed to a great extent through family
formation, school education, and social influence.
 The personal attitude-and-will to grow depends on the individual, although
motivational influences can help progressive growth.
 Popularity and external appearance, admiration by others, social position and
prestige, are among the many external factors that contribute to self-esteem but
these are passing or vanishing contributions to growth. Self-esteem has to grow
from internal appreciation of oneself regardless of external circumstances in life.
 Self-appreciation, self-reliance, autonomy, energy, courage, and other internal
positive motivators are more permanent factors which can lead the adolescent to
the progressive self-concept he/she needs in adult life.

Friendship and intimacy

Teenage friendship is a social system which can be wholesome in terms of

sharing of thoughts and feelings, caring for one another, and responding to one’s
another deeper psychological needs.

Several types of friendship can be distinguished;

a) Acquaintance who meet periodically

b) Companion who share common interest
c) Intimates or best friends with depth of self-disclosure/ feelings/ caring, romantic
partners in intimate heterosexual relationship.

Girls Boys
More capable in forming intimate Less intimate, as they put less trust in
relationship, benefiting more from social friendship and care less about being
support they can get from close friends. listened to and being understood.

Identity Issues

This is active search which adolescents engage in to try to gain a new

understanding of self along sexual, occupational, religious, political self-image. The
major task in developing self-identity is the formation of inner sameness and continuity in
personality. Self-identity, however, is not a stagnant end-point, but rather a continuous
change and evolvement of oneself throughout life’s course.

It is important to view the development of self-identity to be gradual and

cumulative throughout life. During early adolescence, there is often the case of over-
identification that leads to conformity with peers, resulting in a stereotypical or carbon
copy teenager.