Is Adolescence a Myth?
Posted By: Adam McLane on April 07 2010
Youth ministry is built upon the assumption that there is such a thing as adolescence.
But one Psychologist, former Psychology Today editor Robert Epstein, is questioning this basic assumption that the teenage years are a time of turmoil where a person figures out who they are as an individual. His theory is that adolescents aren't that different from adults after all, we just don't expect them to exhibit adult competencies.
In a recent U.S. News and World Report interview, Epstein says:
I started looking at the research done on teenagers in this country, which is very, very misleading. The researchers are just trying to confirm the cultural stereotypes [originated] by G. Stanley Hall 100 years ago, who said that the teen years are necessarily a time of storm and stress. That stuck, and that's been the model used by psychologists and social workers ever since. [Back in Hall's time], there was massive immigration, and lots of young people on the streets making trouble. By the 1930s, biologists had discredited the notion that the teenage years were a time of turmoil, but the people in the mental health field never got the message. I started doing research on this with a doctoral student named Diane Dumas, and we started collecting data on the capabilities of teens vs. adults. Read the rest of the article
I like people willing to stand up against a mountain of evidence and question, "Hey, do we have it wrong?" That takes a certain amount of bravery. Of course, my cynical mind also recognizes it as a brilliant way to sell a lot of books. Either way, it's an interesting hypothesis.
So what do you think? Have we built and supported the theory of adolescent brain development on false assumption originally presented by Stanley Hall? Is this merely a classic deconstructionist attack? Or do we mostly have it right about adolescence and Mr. Epstein's theory just meant to move the needle a little towards adolescent responsibility?
Comments
From Scott Townsend on April 07, 2010
Yes. I believe so. We do use the term adolescent as a distinguishing term, but thanks to Hall and others throughout history, we have segregated the youth from the very relationships that move them from childhood to adulthood, the adults themselves. Since they are labeled as adolescents, we must have professionals care for them, the youth pastor. Unfortunately, this has served to further define and separate the youth from adult interaction.
In the past, pre-Hall, youth were either children or young adults. Maybe we ought to get back to that terminology. If we call them young adults, and truly expect maturity from them, and as mature adults (assuming we are mature adults) we show them how to be mature adults we will see less ‘adolescent’ behavior and more mature adult behavior.
Good question.
From Erik Ullestad on April 07, 2010
I don’t think Mr. Epstein is entirely wrong; though I do believe in the “mountain of evidence” that makes a case for the developmental period we call adolescence.
But…
What if we’ve extended adolescence so far that there is no distinction between adolescence and adulthood?
Perhaps this is a better question - “Is ADULTHOOD a Myth?”
From Matt Beeman on April 07, 2010
First of all, everyone should check out the book “Do Hard Things” about the Myth of Adolescence.
To the main point, the misunderstanding of the adolescent development is thinking that everything develops evenly. If you look at research into brain development, you will find that by 13 or 14 years old, a basic identity has been clearly established and they have reached their maximum capacity for intellect (they can continue to learn, but a 14 year old and an adult have the same ability to assimilate new information). What is misunderstood is that their are a few areas of the brain that continue to grow after 14, and those have to do with emotional intelligence and situational reasoning. The turmoil that Hall described was not a turmoil of identity, but issues dealing with how they fit their identity into the world at large, learning how their actions affect others, and how to properly respond to their own emotions and the emotions of others.
Our society 100 years ago understood this better than we do today. Many people stopped schooling after 8th grade (age 14) and went out to work to gain experience in the world (to better teach them things about emotions and how their actions affect others).
From Jon on April 07, 2010
Adam,
Are you trying to argue your way out of a job. Or will they just change the name to Young adult specialties?
From brian on April 07, 2010
Your “mountain of evidence”? = riiiiiiighht…
From Crystal Kirgiss on April 07, 2010
G. Stanley Hall may have been the first MODERN scholar to identify youth and adolescence as a time of “storm and stress” (according to the article) but there are countless classic and medieval texts that describe youth and adolescence (and yes, they used those very terms) exactly the same way. So the real question isn’t whether we’ve been stereotyping youth and adolescents for the past 100+ years, but for the past 2000+/- years. And more importantly, have we been stereotyping them (implied: incorrect assumptions) or merely describing them (implied: accurate observations) or a little bit of both (implied: we’re only human, after all, and almost never get it exactly right.)
From Adam McLane on April 07, 2010
@brian- I wouldn’t just say that the articles that I link every week are a “mountain of evidence.” But I would say that almost 100 years of adolescent research makes it pretty tough to stand up and say, “Hey guys, maybe we’re wrong?”
@jon- I think a lot of things would have to change before we’d consider becoming YaS or working our way out of job!
From Barb on April 07, 2010
God expects children to look up to their parents according to Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and mother… He wants us to give respect to them.” In the last 30 years or so it has been ingrained into our young peoples minds to be disrespectful to adults, and to believe whatever they have to say is irrelevant, and that we as adults do understand them. Sadly it’s blamed on adolescence. I call it sin. Our world expects our teens to act that way, and they will live up to our expectations. Why would God command that children obey your parents and give them the ‘adolescent’ mind to do the opposite? He wouldn’t. If we are all to be ‘like’ Jesus, then that would not be attitude of disrespect. We as parents should NEVER say we are not looking forward to our children becoming teens. We should embrace it and celebrate it with them. Tell them how much we are looking forward to the coming years, as they grow in the Lord and to adulthood.
From marko on April 07, 2010
i’ve been stewing on epstein’s contentions for a couple years now, since i first saw his articles and quotes (first in response to jay geidd’s discoveries about adolescent brain development, most clearly reported in barbara strauch’s book, the primal teen). at first, i was angry. after all, i’ve spent my adult life pouring into this age group. and, as an adolescent development buff, have always viewed adolescence as a distinct life phase.
but, over time, epstein’s thrust has found some resonance in my thinking. i’m not ready to chuck adolescence as a unique life stage; but i have started viewing it (and talking about it) as a cultural construct, rather than merely a physio/psychological phase. it’s a chicken-and-egg question, really. i DO think we (our culture) “created” adolescence, in a sense (though there are god-design aspects built in also). but even if it is a social or cultural construct, it’s still the reality that our real life teenagers are living in! epstein’s stuff has implications, to be sure; and i really need to get around to reading his massive book that has been sitting on my shelf for almost 2 years (The Case Against Adolescence). but i also want to live out my youth ministry calling by doing ministry WITHIN the culture i and teens live in.
an important quote from Epstein’s book, fwiw:
“…Until about a century ago… adolescence as we know it barely existed. Through most of human history, young people were integrated into adult society early on, but beginning in the late 1800s, new laws and cultural practices began to isolate teens from adults, imposing on them an increasingly large set of restrictions and artificially extending childhood well past puberty. New research suggests that teens today are subjected to more than ten times as many restrictions as are most adults, and adulthood is delayed until well into the twenties or thirties. It’s likely that the turmoil we see among teens is an unintended result of the artificial extension of childhood.”
From Matt Beeman on April 07, 2010
@Marko - I absolutely agree that adolescence is a social construct, but I think the church is the only place that can even come close to breaking this down. It is obvious that the society at large has set low expectations on teenagers, so I think the church should be that voice telling them to remove the barriers and to be what God has called them to be, regardless of their age, rather than reinforcing the low expectations of their culture. The church in the U.S. has been counter cultural for decades, and although there are many churches who are now attempting to be cultural relevant (sometimes to the detriment of true spiritual growth), this is one area I would be happy to hold my ground against the prevailing “wisdom” of the culture.
From Matt Beeman on April 07, 2010
@Crystal Kirgiss - I am aware of literature and discussions of youth going all the way back to Socrates, but I am not aware of anything pre-1900 that refers to teenagers or adolescence. Please let me know what that is, as I would be most interested to see it.
From Matt Murphy on April 07, 2010
I strongly believe that adolescence does exist. But we allow young adults to use it as a crutch and we don’t push youth towards responsibility and healthy lifestyle changes. Their needs to be a balance in youth ministry that pushes adolescents from youth huddles into healthy relationships with adults in both groups and individual mentoring scenarios.
From Crystal Kirgiss on April 07, 2010
(If this is a repeat post, apologies. I’m having a hard time submitting.)
to Matt Beeman—
The Middle Ages was very interested in the Ages of Man. J. A. Burrows has a great book that outlines the various schema familiar to the medieval world. Each of the schema had a category known as either “adolescence” or “youth” (though in the appropriate language of either Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, Old French, etc.) The term “teenager” is new, of course, and the marketing structure surrounding it is also new. But the descriptions of youth in the various schema are surprisingly similar to many of the descriptions that get thrown around today (whether accurate or not is a point of debate) that we hear today. Byrtferth wrote about them in his “Enchiridion.” Shakespeare wrote about them in “As You Like It.” The Middle English poem “The Parlement of the Three Ages” outlines youth, maturity, and old age. Chaucer alludes to youth and adolescence throughout the Canterbury Tales (often either stereotyping them as wholly bad or idealizing them as wholly good). Conduct literature and “mirrors for princes” were popular texts intended to help train youth and adolescents in how to live wisely and honorably. Homilists and other religious writers regularly warn against the evils of youth and the dangers of adolescence. The age group was defined as being sanguine (of the 4 humors) and controlled by Venus (lust lust lust!) I’m not saying they had it all right, but they were talking and writing about it regularly. What they needed back then were some good youth pastors. I agree with much of what’s been said above—“teenagers” are perhaps more separated from adults in today’s world, but youth were regularly marginalized in both the texts and artwork of the middle ages. At the same time, they were the stars of most of the romances…sound familiar?
From tom on April 08, 2010
interesting stuff. i’m wondering…the whole nature vs nurture on this conversation. as we talked through this stuff at seismos a few weeks back with Marko (http://samgamgee.org/seismos-2010-the-adolescent-brain-day-1) when we charted out the transition from hall’s work in 1904 to today…i kept seeing a overlay in mind with the breakdown of the family. as dad’s become more absent and marriage is being pushed to a later age…(27) just wondering if the human mind has adapted to that construct. and that epstein may be offering more of assessment of what that has wrought?
From Marv Nelson on April 09, 2010
@Marko—-I fully agree with you and Epstein on the fact that culture has created adolescence. Our culture has also created words such as “boring” and “dull” which 100 years ago weren’t in the English vocabulary.
The split between teens and adults is so great now that most adults negelect to feel the need to connect themselves with teenagers (or are afraid to?), which only serves to perpetuate what Epstein said “new laws and cultural practices began to isolate teens from adults, imposing on them an increasingly large set of restrictions and artificially extending childhood…”
Because our culture has created this new “age dichotomy” I would be hard pressed to say its a myth, but rather an ever present reality that didn’t need to be created but has been created so we must work within that reality.
@Tom I do think the abscence of fathers has perpetuated the cultural construct of teen/adult seperation and was a huge part of the “age dichotomy” that we now see.
Seeing the need to reconnect as adults to teens I would say that Epsteins findings are very important because without what we do (getting in the midst of the lives of teens) this seperation would be far greater and who knows what age breakdowns we would have. This work we do is extremely important and I am blessed to be a part of it!
From Evan on April 13, 2010
read “do hard things” by alex and brett harris
http://www.home-school.com/Articles/PlattTeenagers.html
you can disregard the end of this link where he goes on about homeschooling. The main article speaks powerfully to parents.
This is actually something i am seriously mulling over right now for my youth group- I am calling it “Death to Teenagers” which is 2 fold. first society an a whole- 3+ generations deep at least has continually lowered the expectations of children as they enter the “teen years”. Previously, (~75 yrs ago) this time was called adolescence- (to grow up). It was a time to grow up into adults. However in each generation, parents began giving more to their teens with less in demand. Teenagers have always been on the hunt for freedom. Since the beginning of time, developing adults have wanted to cut the ties and restraints of development and launch head long into the adult world. In the past, much more was expected of the teens and these expectations kept teens attached to responsibility, decision making, and a general sense of intelligence as to how the world worked, how to raise a family, pay bills etc. But as more is given to teens and less expected, compounding from generation to generation- blown wide open by rampant developments in technology, 75+ years later we have teen aged kids that have learned “ignorance keeps me immune to responsibility”, they have become masters of manipulation- (part because the parents are products of an “ask and receive at no charge” upbringing, and part out of instinct. we look for what we want. its human nature to put me first, over you. Kids havent gotten dumber, if anything they are more intelligent- leaping off the intelligence of their parents, they are more rebellious- again, taking the cue from their parents, and compounding that, you have a mass media that encourages rebellion right out the your tv in your living room- or bedrooms)
The second fold of “death to Teenagers” is the notion to put to death (figuratively) the product of low expectations. I think the reason kids love sports so much is because those lunatic coaches that suck up every free minute of their time drive them, push them, demand more again and again. The kids moan and groan and LOVE IT. finally someone pushes them to excel in something. Someone sees more in them and doesn’t settle for an “A”. That nut wants an A+ and wont stop until he gets it. We tend to get bent out of shape at these demanding coaches who steal the best kids into the athletic programs and away from church and eat up their time. But I think they are on to something.
Not every kid is an “A+” student- but somewhere at something evey kid is A+ material. It is our job as youth pastors to reverse apathy and complacency, and help kids find where that A+ material is inside of them, and how they can use it to glorify God. Chariots of Fire is a great example of this. another is Captains Courageous.
From Adam McLane on April 13, 2010
I’m just starting to read this text. (Book arrived yesterday) So I will be able to comment on it in a more educated way later.
I will say this, I think this discussion is very important to the future of youth ministry. Like Evan alludes to above, it’s my prayer that the church be a place where teenagers can come to grow up to become full and contributing members of the body of Christ. None of us wants to be a part of developmentally delaying our students… just the opposite! To that end, we may need to expect more from our students.
Oh, that we may lead our students to bring Good News to their neighborhoods, schools, and families in ways that previous generations have not.
From Andy on April 14, 2010
I absolutely believe adolescence is a myth. We have created a culture for our teens in which they are exposed to more and more opportunities and freedoms at earlier ages, while at the same time we are doing more to keep them dependent on mom & dad for as long as possible. No wonder there is confusion and turmoil.
Never mind that in Biblical societies adulthood began in the early teens (adult responsibilities and adult expectations), it wasn’t so far different from that in our country 60 or 70 years ago. Children were expected to help around the home, children were expected to earn money to help support the family, the family’s needs superceded individual needs. It was not uncommon for girls to get married at 14 or 15 and start their own family.
These are concepts that are foreign now and would be considered in most peoples’ minds to range from archaic to abusive. Obviously we live in a different time, and I am grateful for so many improvements. For example, I think it is a positive that a high school education is generally a “given” opportunity for males and females, college is much more accessible to females than it was many years ago, and males & females alike have chances to experience things that their grandparents and parents never did.
That said, we have created a monster in our youth. 10 year-olds are carrying cell phones. Kids have their own TVs with cable or satellite, no programming block, and no adult supervision (some parents even accompany their children to inappropriate movies or purchase the DVDs). Students’ lives are dominated by text messaging, Facebook, and video games.
Heaven forbid if a teacher gives too much homework; we will call the Board of Education and threaten a lawsuit. If a child does something wrong, parents are more concerned about what happened to the other kid involved (or irate that someone had the audacity to confront my angel in the first place). Parents want to be popular in their kids’ eyes. We expect next to nothing from them, and continue to dole out the electronics and name brand clothes and cash. When trouble comes, we bail them out - repeatedly. We pay for 6 1/2 years of college and three graduate degrees. When they do establish a modicum of independence they live beyond their means on credit and we still support them with financial supplements. Others just live with mom & dad into their 30s or 40s. Why? Because we LOVE our kids. They DESERVE it.
Adolescence is a myth. It is a creation of post-industrial western cultures. After we tackle this, we can delve into the myriad of emotional/mental diagnoses that have erupted in the past 25 years to take the place of personal responsibility.
From Craig on April 14, 2010
Be very careful about the face value of all that Dr. Epstein has to say. Do you know that he argued in favor of a 14 year old girl marrying an adult in Kansas? Do you know he has a new teenager bill of rights where he is convinced that teenagers are mature enough to marry, live alone, be emancipated etc?
Before you back over yourself deciding whether or not adolescence is a myth and just how advanced the teenage brain truly is, realize that the Dr. has taken this line of thinking to a very dangerous and dubious end.
Do more research before you quote something that fits an agenda.
From Adam McLane on April 14, 2010
@craig- from the post.
“I like people willing to stand up against a mountain of evidence and question, “Hey, do we have it wrong?” That takes a certain amount of bravery. Of course, my cynical mind also recognizes it as a brilliant way to sell a lot of books. Either way, it’s an interesting hypothesis.”
There’s more danger in not having a civil discussion than having one.
Likewise, I’d suggest sharing some links to back up your statements so as to add to the discussion. 
From Craig on April 14, 2010
http://drrobertepstein.com/Teen20/billofrights.html - Here is Epstein’s bill of rights. On the surface we can all agree that what he says on one read through is great.
However, I find it unsettling. And in some ways counter-productive to his argument that adolescence is a myth in that he also allows for that stage of “immaturity” as a disqualifier.
And all of this data for his latest book has been compiled from a sampling of 30,000 people. Seems like a lot. However, there are a lot variables and control questions dealing with age, location of the samplings etc.
“Dr. Epstein is currently analyzing data from more than 30,000 people between ages 9 and 83 who have taken his online test of adultness (http://HowAdultAreYou.com). These new data confirm his earlier finding: that many teens are at least as competent as adults across a wide range of competencies. The new data also show a positive relationship between scores on the test and measures of happiness, personal success, and professional success.”
http://drrobertepstein.com/downloads/Epstein-Teens_as_Adults-Lincoln_Journal_Star-2005.pdf
Here is his letter to the editor of a Nebraska paper calling the marriage between a 14 year old and a 22 year old a success. It isn’t my business to make that judgment. Epstein could be right. But are you completely comfortable, Adam, telling the parent of any 14 year old, “Yes, let your daughter get married.”?
Anything else I can do for your research, chief? Besides figure out how to punctuate the last sentence in the previous paragraph?
From Craig on April 14, 2010
Adam, I am not saying what Epstein has found is flawed. In fact, it is encouraging as far as the direction many of our ministries are going.
The issue I have is by quoting someone who has taken the information info a dangerous area. I am not completely confident in where Epstein is headed with his info and findings and data.
The data itself is eye-opening and to someone who has been working with students shouldn’t truly be a revelation. However, having worked with teenagers for well over 15 years, the end or the conclusion that Epstein is headed is borderline disturbing to me.
We can all work with the data. I found it highly informative about five or six months ago when I heard Johnny Derouan speak on it at a conference. I did some research and saw that Epstein is wading quickly into a deep end of the youth pool that I am very concerned about.
From Adam McLane on April 14, 2010
Thanks for that Craig. That perspective really adds a lot to the discussion.
Even if he’s a complete creeper, (which I’m not saying) if the research is solid we need to take it seriously. I’m not passing judgement on what I think about Epstein’s book until I read it. It just arrived and I’m just starting to read the text.
My reaction is really because the opposite of your first comment is also true. Some people look at Christian assumptions to devalue the facts of Christians doing research on adolescent development. “Look at where they are going with ____.”
From Mike on April 14, 2010
I agree with Craig. I believe that precedence can lead to the opening of Pandora’s box here. What must be understood is that regardless of when adolescence was redefined; it has been. I have served in student ministry for 18 years and one thing that I am convinced of is that there is a huge difference between a seventh grader and their parents or student ministry workers. This is also the case with older students. Because this is the generation(s) we have been given, we must deal with them where they are. Dr. Epstein appears to have an agenda with his trojan horse being the teaching of maturity and responsibility. Those important disciplines of life must be taught, but as mentors preparing them for life and not peers.
From zac on April 14, 2010
i think it is interesting that @craig brings up a point that does attack the credibility of the source but is also viable to the conversation….
the question of adolescence is also the the question of “innocence” and an incultured/included adolescence does breed a preparatory transition from childhood to adulthood but the problem (like politics) is term limits
i dont think the question of adolescence is in question but as to what culturally significant term should we define its length… school used to seem like a good and fair period but that has changed in the wave of extended schooling/necessary graduate programs
our role of parents/ministers/youth workers/cultural analysts/critics/and bloggers is to find ways to equip the transitioning for the transition….
adolescence is only a healthy phase if we get to grow out of it…
From Tiger on April 14, 2010
The fact that adolescence is a part of a social construct does NOT mean it is a myth—as Andy might suggest. It IS a result of the post-industrial, western cultural shifts but it is imbedded into this culture. To assume we will shift our children into adulthood just like in the bible may sound good, but it is unrealistic and basically unhelpul to this context.
I share many of these concerns about adolescence, but it is a part of the life journey. How we navigate it in our famiies and churches is a key issue. Yes, we need to expect more, build inter-generational connections and help parents let go.
That is different that just taking a pot-shot and calling it a myth.
Caring for this age group is way more than fun and games—and we must recognize that the transition to adulthood is getting riskier for most teenagers. Myth or not—it is a tough time. What does our gospel say to them? What do we do to care for them?
From Adam McLane on April 14, 2010
I’m loving this discussion. It’s lively and thought provoking.
“Here is his letter to the editor of a Nebraska paper calling the marriage between a 14 year old and a 22 year old a success. It isn’t my business to make that judgment. Epstein could be right. But are you completely comfortable, Adam, telling the parent of any 14 year old, “Yes, let your daughter get married.”
Just for the sake of arguement, it should be pointed out that in many places in the world today, and certainly in America prior to say… 1900… a 22 year old male marrying a 14 year old female was not all that rare.
Most of us could look back in our own family trees just 2-3 generations and see it. I wouldn’t label my great great grandfather a pedophile. (Or a whole bunch of folks in the Bible)
Today this is taboo in America. Beyond taboo, it’s illegal. (And as the parent of a 9 year old… I’d have a Louisville Slugger to any young man asking—just so we’re clear!)
But for the vast majority of human history that wasn’t taboo, illegal, or even against a cultural more.
Like I said before, I think its dangerous to throw out someone’s research simply because we’re unclear what the ramifications/hypotheticals are. The exact same reasoning could be volleyed to discredit the research of any person.
From Craig on April 14, 2010
“Like I said before, I think its dangerous to throw out someone’s research simply because we’re unclear what the ramifications/hypotheticals are. The exact same reasoning could be volleyed to discredit the research of any person. “
Please re-read the following:
“Adam, I am not saying what Epstein has found is flawed. In fact, it is encouraging as far as the direction many of our ministries are going.
The issue I have is by quoting someone who has taken the information info a dangerous area. I am not completely confident in where Epstein is headed with his info and findings and data.
The data itself is eye-opening and to someone who has been working with students shouldn’t truly be a revelation. However, having worked with teenagers for well over 15 years, the end or the conclusion that Epstein is headed is borderline disturbing to me.”
Here is where I am terribly concerned with where Epstein is headed with the information gleaned from his research. This is taken from Epstein’s own Teenager’s Bill of Rights:
6. All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to engage in risky behavior legally permissible for adults, such as driving, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
7. All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have basic rights associated with property ownership and work, such as the right to sign contracts, the right to start a business, the right to seek employment and the right to make a will.
8. No person, of any age, shall be subjected to a curfew simply because of his or her age.
9. All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to make decisions about participating in social institutions, such as decisions regarding religion, education and marriage.
10. All minors who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity shall have the right to become emancipated from their parents or guardians and to acquire full majority rights.
Also, today is the First Ever National Youth Rights Day. Is this a mere coincidence that this issue was written about a week before, and emailed out on the exact day? I hope and assume so.
I never said throw out his research. And I think it is very clear what Epstein’s ramifications and hypotheticals are. We can be quite skeptical of the direction he takes with his information.
I am not really ministering to the vast majority of human history. I am ministering to this current generation, they are missionaries in a lost and dying generation and they too need someone to equip, encourage and challenge them to meet those Kingdom needs. So I will rest certain in job security.
One might say that if Epstein were to have his way and we were to be seeing a large majority of teenagers emancipated, I would assume that my job would become that much more essential to the future of the Church.
Did he collect important and informative data? Yes.
Can we use this information going forward to help strengthen the roles and opportunities students have to serve? Yes.
Are students more than competent planning, undertaking and evaluating events, programming and activities? Yes, yes and yes.
All of his data is fantastic. However, Epstein’s application of the data is troubling. How many more ways can I say this? How about once more.
Epstein has done us a huge favor by gathering and collecting data which reveals the potential students have to serve, simply by unlocking the internal potential they possess by harnessing those big, fat, beautiful brains of theirs. However Epstein pushes to a negative extreme which I think is irresponsible and bothersome.
The research speaks for itself. It is essential and important. What Epstein pushes for does as well. We must be certain we are not advocating something we don’t fully comprehend quite yet.
From Evan on April 14, 2010
this has turned into quite a chit chat. a few thoughts that crossed my mind… (not directed at anyone in particular)
1- although a few gen. ago 14 and 22 yr olds used to get married, those 14 year olds were most likely as competent, if not exceeding most college grads in the fields of home economics, work ethics and general maturity. they didnt spend a single day sitting around “relaxing”, or vegging out. they worked, studied, grew up.
so the comparison between a 14yr old today and a 14 yr old 50-75 yrs ago is invalid.
2- Adolescence- by definition means to grow up, the time in ones life before the onset of puberty in which a child learns o become like an adult. There is no myth in adolescence.
The TIME FRAME of adolescence has been severely stretched.
Go watch the movie “Failure to Launch”- in the extras there is a 10 min clip about where the inspiration for the movie came from that is very thought provoking. Matthew McConaughey is by no stretch someone to taken as foundational, but to step back and get a glimpse into how these 38yr old men justify living in their parents house still and the parents love it- hurts the brain and makes you think.
Adolescence, at one time, was finished before you left the teen years. Then it grew to consume, but not cross the teen/ twenty-something barrier. Then it lasted through college… but what is college and when does it really end? How many of your youths have gone off to college, gotten married by their jr/ sr year (prob because they couldnt hold out on sex any longer), bringing the adolescent development of college life into the first year or so of their marriage? Thus building the foundation for the rest of their married life in “married housing”, cafeteria food, all night study sessions, guys nights, and open door policies, all of which prevent the maturity of a man and a woman in marriage. Yes as all married peoples, you leave and cleave- to people crashing on your couch, raiding your fridge, drinkin all the beer, and hanging out all night in the name of good discussions and “accountability”.
Moving “forward”- this pushes the culmination of adolescence well into the 20’s, but maybe to 30 and beyond.
fact- adolescence does happen. does it take too long- YES.
3- The “MYTH” we are referring to- I believe, lies in the fact that youth are afforded to option of squandering the time intended to transform from kid to adult (adolescence), In doing so, maturation isnt avoided, it is just prolonged, resulting in the season od adolescence over-running other crucial stages of life, like college, returning home to your parents house to realize you dont fit here anymore, getting established on your own, or with a friend, finding a spouse and getting married. We all have our personal ideals and time tables, but another day, another discussion…
4- As a society that idolizes a winner and a loser, (and dont let that loser be you) we have bred people afraid to fail. Now- in no way shape or form am I saying “oh everyone should pass the grade, we cant discriminate…” I feel people should be rewarded for REAL excellence, and you must use shrewd judgment in how you reward a lack of excellence; too much reward and you get complacency but no reward at all sews seeds of defeat. To many of those, you become a product of defeat. (A product of defeat will never grow out of adolescence. Their youthfulness may shrivel and die, but they will never move out of the tunnel.)
____________
Im amazed your still reading at this point:) but it sounds like Epstein has some interesting information and POV. I will take time and check out all the links you guys have posted, they look chock full of info.
Another great read- “The Jesus I Never Knew”- Philip Yancy
I think above all, we need to bring this back to the Bible over and over. The Bible speaks harshly about apathy, complacency, laziness, slothfulness, greed, lust, coveting etc. Digest and live out the teachings from the sermon on the Mount. If we sow these Biblical perspectives and principals into our kids, if we can open their eyes enough to see past their nose, there is no stopping what these kids can do for the Kingdom of God. Yes, the Bible is offensive, it is called “the sword” for a reason. If you hold the Bible to be the word of God, and you believe God is THE Sovereign Lord, there is no slew of clever words to get you free from the responsibility of Jesus’ teachings. They are harsh and they are hard and un-natural and weird and uncomfortable, but only because we made them that way.
Jesus was the embodiment of the path to restoration with the Father. Those “extreme” commandments are a depiction of the relationship man and God were created to have. Bring the word to your kids and demand more from them. BE salt and light. BE His witness until the end of the ages.
Help them be the action that defeats their laziness. Apathy begets complacency. An encounter with God destroys them both. Put your kids in the path of God and witness the death of the “teenager” as we know them to be. Put your kids in the path of God and witness the birth of purpose and vision. No matter what the cost, get your kids in the path of God.
It has been said that “you can lead a horse to the water, but you cant make him drink”. However, the flood washes the horse away, whether he wants to or not. May the Lord open the flood gates in your ministries.
From Dr. Robert Epstein on April 19, 2010
I mainly wanted to thank all of you for engaging in this very thoughtful conversation about adolescence - and for keeping an open mind about my views. I can tell you that this has been a difficult journey for me. I was one kind of parent with my two eldest children (now grown and on their own), and I’m a completely different kind of parent with my younger ones. By infantilizing our young, isolating them from responsible adults, and trapping them in the inane world of “teen culture,” our society does enormous damage to our young people and our families. For one thing, it creates an adversarial relationship between parents and their offspring - a dysfunctional relationship that often lasts for decades after the teens have grown up. I will never again become an adversary to my offspring. I now recognize what they really are: highly competent young beings - in some ways more competent than I am - who need me to escort them rapidly into adulthood. That’s my main job these days, and it’s a wonderful experience in every respect. You can get more information about the new book at http://Teen20.com. Sincerely, /r.e.
From Crystal Kirgiss on April 20, 2010
I attach the Young Person’s Bill of Rights, in its entirety, (http://drrobertepstein.com/NationalYouthRightsDay/YOUNG_PERSONS_BILL_OF_RIGHTS.html)
Note the phrase “who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity” implying that are are varying levels of said competence and maturity. Do we know who will determine whether or not these levels are appropriate in each specific situation? Will it be the courts? Educators? Medical professionals? And how will they 1) determine what those levels are, and 2) measure them? I’m guessing—and it’s just a guess—that parents are not going to be part of that process. I grant that many adolescents are subjected to irrational boundaries and rules. I also grant that too many adolescents are sequestered from the adult world (often by the adults themselves), with unfortunate results. I further grant that perhaps adults are in same way responsible for the extension and lengthening of adolescence, much to society’s detriment. But if the Young Person’s Bill of Rights is our best response and solution to what might be an unhealthy situation, then I worry. Greatly.
In Celebration of the First Annual
NATIONAL YOUTH RIGHTS DAY
April 14, 2010
Robert Epstein, Ph.D.
PREAMBLE: All persons shall be judged by their competence and maturity, not by their gender, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age.
All persons, of every age, shall have the right to free speech guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution.
All persons, of every age, shall have the right to due process guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have a right to privacy.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to exercise the civic duties expected of all citizens, such as serving in the military, serving on a jury and voting.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to make decisions about their own happiness and well-being, such as decisions affecting appearance, dress, body, and physical and mental health.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to engage in risky behavior legally permissible for adults, such as driving, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have basic rights associated with property ownership and work, such as the right to sign contracts, the right to start a business, the right to seek employment and the right to make a will.
No person, of any age, shall be subjected to a curfew simply because of his or her age.
All persons, of every age, who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity, shall have the right to make decisions about participating in social institutions, such as decisions regarding religion, education and marriage.
All minors who can demonstrate appropriate competence and maturity shall have the right to become emancipated from their parents or guardians and to acquire full majority rights.
©2009, Dr. Robert Epstein. All rights reserved. 10-22-09 rev.
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