Adolescent Development in an Age-graded Context: The Role of Personal Beliefs, Goals, and Strategies in the Tackling of Developmental Tasks and Standards

Abstract

There is growing interest in how sociocultural context influences personality development, and in how people influence their own development as agents. This article represents an attempt to integrate recent models of social age systems and cognitive personality research with research on adolescence. The objective is to provide a framework for understanding adolescent development in an age-graded context. It is suggested that adolescents develop during the process of setting personal goals by comparing their individual motives with age-graded developmental tasks and role transitions. In order to realise their goals, they construct plans by considering different institutional opportunities in relevant domains, such as school, work, peer relationships, and society in a broader context. Developmental standards and beliefs concerning age-appropriate behaviour provide an eventual basis for the evalution of success along various developmental trajectories. This process also provides a basis for new self-definitions and identity. Related research is reviewed and, in conclusion, some future directions for research on adolescence are suggested.