Adolescence and music

Consider the song lyrics provided below, both lyrics and performance, looking for themes or messages for adolescents or relating to adolescent development. You should describe the music and use the lyrics to explain what the lyrics communicate to adolescents and about adolescents, including an argument for whether or not there are cultural, moral, and political messages conveyed in the song. Finally, using what you have learned about adolescence, make an argument for why would this music appeal to adolescents Name:

Course: Psychology 310, Fall 2006 Tutor: Date: University: Adolescence is a growth and development stage in ones life where a myriad of changes both in terms of psychological and physical terms take effect. However whether a teenager will successfully transit into adult hood or get trapped by the challenges of adolescence is shaped by amongst others, family, the trait of the adolescent, and the external environment with which the adolescent interact such as religious settings, as well as school (Steinberg, 1999)).

This lyric song is made to investigate the changes both behavioral and emotional that are undergone by adolescents. Personality development in adolescents changes the way an adolescent views his/her self and the way the same views the outside world. The myriad of challenges an adolescent undergoes shapes his/her relations with peers. The song provided develops certain themes, which are all central to the life of any adolescent; most of the themes revolve around culture, and morality. Sex. Adolescence is a period characterized by the acceptance of ones sex and sexuality.

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In the song this comes out when the lyrics mention sex in connection with adolescence. It reveals the fact that adolescents are of sex and sex matters and this is well manifested in the phrase that, “The timing/and structure/ did you hear/ he fucked her? ” Relations with peers. Adolescence is a time when teens depend on their peers for almost every decision they make. They constantly look for comments and recommendations from fellow adolescents whom they regard as their equal and have no fear for, unlike their parents whom they consider too “ old fashioned to understand them”.

In this lyric song, there is a line that, “I’ll turn to a friend, someone that understands”, that evidences this. Status transitions. Adolescence is a transitory period and a lot happens at the same time in the lives of adolescents (Arnett, 2004). In the song, this comes up clearly when the teen in the song juxtaposes and delves into the next stage of life, adulthood and even envisions a marriage life. Identity formation The many questions asked in the song point to the fact that the adolescent is in the process of discovering their identity in the society.

This is a common trait in adolescents who tend to attach a moral connotation to every single happening to their life (Arnett, J. A. 2002). The lyrics keep on addressing the issue of morality by asking questions on whether this or that is right and wrong. An example is found on the line, did you hear/ he fucked her? Changing personal relationships. Unlike in childhood when one can virtually associate with any one, teens are very selective of whom they enter into personal relationships with.

In the lyrics this is evidenced by the fact that the singer keeps talking of the relationship and in a way, protecting and shielding it from perceiving threats. This is evidenced by the statement that she will turn to a friend who is understanding. Individuation process. This is evidenced by the fact that the singer does not want to imagine any one taking his/her friend. It seems he/she is prepared to posses the friend alone and not any where near sharing the friendship. Forming and dissolving intimate relationships.

It is evident that, from the sentiments in the song, the singer is ready to make or break the relationship. This is characteristic of teenagers and it is evidenced by the the phrase that, The charade/ it won’t last/ I won’t come back. Psycho social problems. As the song progresses, it becomes clearer that the adolescent has some psycho social issues which needs to be addressed. Adolescence period is full of problems especially emotional and unless well handled, one can suffer from depression. This can be evidenced by the phrases, “on losing/ and failing”, and ‘we’ll pretend it’s okay’.

Cognitive development. There is clear evidence of developed abstract thinking since through out the song the adolescent is drawing his/her feeling from abstract analysis of situations and not from just observation. Evidence can be drawn from the line that, “and your pictures/ are falling down. ” Effects. There is increased self-consciousness, which is the cause of the imagined audience evident through out the lyrics. This can be shown from the lyrics by the fact that the writer decides to turn only to an understanding friend. Conclusion.

Adolescence is a challenging stage in life when a lot of psychosocial, cognitive and physical changes appear in the lives of adolescents. The song analyzed above will appeal to most adolescents because it addresses issues central to their growth and developmental needs. There is a need for more studies to be aimed at discovering remedies to the many challenges a teen is faced with. More over, it is crucial that the government comes up with programs geared at supporting the teens as well as the community in dealing with the challenges associated with adolelescence.

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