Chapter Six of our textbook, Understanding Human Behavior was filled with information based on “Biological Development in Adolescence” (as the title of the chapter was even titled). In this chapter I personally found it all to be interesting, and full of information from physical changes an adolescent faces to how sexual activity/prevention. Adolescences go through a lot of changes, not only physically, but psychologically, and socially. These changes are never experienced the same from one person to another, but there does seem to be common ground. It is easy to see how all the information in chapter Six is essential and relevant to the social work profession. The main area that shocked me was the “Major Methods of Contraception”(p300-309).
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I also found this section to be thin, and expected there to be more coverage, mainly because this seems to be a huge issue for many starting in the adolescent age. It was interesting to see the research show that both male and female adolescents face self-esteem issues, but females tend to be more critical. (Newman & Newman, 2009) (p.282) Self-esteem is a very delicate aspect for an adolescent, which is influenced by so much. I felt that the text missed a huge opportunity to discuss this. The media, social media, family roles/values, and other social factors play a key role in an adolescent’s body image, and …show more content…
Every social worker should have a general knowledge of the biological development in adolescents, whether or not they are working with adolescents directly. In the social work profession, no matter what avenue you take you end up addressing a person’s background and history (which includes their adolescent stage). If a social worker tries to understand and interpret a persons history without at least a general knowledge of the biological development in adolescents it could negatively impact finding a proper treatment. I feel that the most crucial aspect of this chapter to the social worker practice would be how the physical changes during adolescents cause psychological reactions during this period. The brain of adolescents is evolving at the same time that their hormones are, and there are many outside factors (family, friends, media, etc.) that affect them psychologically. When the impacts are negative it puts them at risk for the use/abuse of substances. I personally feel that when getting information from a client, such as their background, knowing about the biological development in adolescents is important. The social work practice involves being knowledgeable of the many stages of life and development, no matter what stage of life and development the client is currently at. In some aspect knowing about the biological development of adolescents makes that social worker more competent, and results
I also found this section to be thin, and expected there to be more coverage, mainly because this seems to be a huge issue for many starting in the adolescent age. It was interesting to see the research show that both male and female adolescents face self-esteem issues, but females tend to be more critical. (Newman & Newman, 2009) (p.282) Self-esteem is a very delicate aspect for an adolescent, which is influenced by so much. I felt that the text missed a huge opportunity to discuss this. The media, social media, family roles/values, and other social factors play a key role in an adolescent’s body image, and …show more content…
Every social worker should have a general knowledge of the biological development in adolescents, whether or not they are working with adolescents directly. In the social work profession, no matter what avenue you take you end up addressing a person’s background and history (which includes their adolescent stage). If a social worker tries to understand and interpret a persons history without at least a general knowledge of the biological development in adolescents it could negatively impact finding a proper treatment. I feel that the most crucial aspect of this chapter to the social worker practice would be how the physical changes during adolescents cause psychological reactions during this period. The brain of adolescents is evolving at the same time that their hormones are, and there are many outside factors (family, friends, media, etc.) that affect them psychologically. When the impacts are negative it puts them at risk for the use/abuse of substances. I personally feel that when getting information from a client, such as their background, knowing about the biological development in adolescents is important. The social work practice involves being knowledgeable of the many stages of life and development, no matter what stage of life and development the client is currently at. In some aspect knowing about the biological development of adolescents makes that social worker more competent, and results