Biological Determinist Theory

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This report examines theories of adolescence developed by Margaret Mead and G. Stanley Hall. It will outline the position of Mead who theorised ‘adolescence as a social construction’, and Hall theory of ‘adolescence as biologically determined’. Evidence will be presented in support of each theory and critical evaluation then conclusions will be drawn as to whether social construction theory or biological determinist theories could the sole contributors to behaviours during adolescence, or whether a combination of both theories is a more feasible explanation of behaviours during adolescence.
2. The concept of adolescence

Puberty normally signifies the first stage of adolescence and is typically used to refer to ‘the period of development …show more content…
Meads book ‘Coming of Age in Samoa’ focuses primarily on the adolescent period (Mead, 1961). Meads book was the end product of an empirical field study, utilising anthropological methodology, but had no clearly quantified theory of adolescence (ibid). Mead did however concluded adolescence was not a period of stress for Samoan females, this was in contrast to the experience of females within the USA during experiencing the same developmental stage, as Samoan cultures and expectations were distinctly different from those in the USA (ibid). Benedicts "Continuities and Discontinuities in Cultural Conditioning" gave an explicit theory of adolescence from a cultural perspective in which she associates her theory directly to Mead's study (Benedict, 1954). Meads position of "cultural relativism" specified the importance of cultural factors in the developmental process. It highlights cultural influences and social traditions in human development (Dascal, 1991). Mead upheld that the period of adolescence comprised of the search for a meaningful identity (Mead, …show more content…
Hall deemed adolescence to be a shift in human experience (Keniston, 1971, p. 4-5). Halls work contained vast amounts of information regarding human development that is still relevant today, and has been verified by more contemporary studies (Eveleth & Tanner, 1990). This consistent alignment with current scientific psychology is seen as a major strength of Halls work His correlation with current theorists in relation to depression, crime, increased risk taking and the harmful effects of the media are seen as remarkable (Arnett, 1999). Thomas Hines supported Halls work, stating Halls definition of adolescence as ‘Hall's boldest, most original, and most influential idea." (Hine, 1999). Weaknesses in Halls work mainly derive from the time period during which his findings were produced. The cultural basis of his psychological research, his basis of adolescent development on Lamarckian inheritance, theories of adolescent sexual development and his assertion regarding religious conversion during adolescence have all been criticisms of Halls work (Arnett, 1999 p.5). Time has proven these views to be flawed (ibid,1995). In evaluation of Hall’s theory it is evident that at the time of publication Halls age range for adolescence as being from puberty to 25 was an extremely
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