Asking for some help with my Psych homework, please read

[chicken_china_mom]

Ok, I have a group assignment this week where we have to study Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development, and I have the task of writing about stages 5 and 6, so I have to write about an adolescent on a tv show, and use them as an example of this stage of development:

Psychosocial Stage 5 - Identity vs. Confusion

* During adolescence, children are exploring their independence and developing a sense of self.


And then I have to write about someone on a tv show in early adulthood that match this stage of development: Psychosocial Stage 6 - Intimacy vs. Isolation

* This stage covers the period of early adulthood when people are exploring personal relationships.

Now here is my problem. I watch tv, but I can't recall a single adolescent that fits that description of stage 5. I asked my kids, but they couldn't recall a single one on their shows. All the kids they like fit more into the young adulthood phase. How old exactly IS an adolescent? I always pictured them as being around 10 to maybe 14, and if I'm wrong, and it's puberty to legal adulthood, like it says on Ask.com, then I could probably use someone like Miley Cyrus, but that leaves me without someone in stage 6! Young adulthood? I tend to watch shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, House, etc. No real "young" adults on any of the shows I watch. Can anyone recommend any adolescents or young adult characters I could possibly use? It has to be on tv, and it has to be the character they play. I'm feeling so old right now being unable to think of any characters, lol. I guess I'm getting old if the kids aren't standing out to me anymore! Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks!

 

[FireTigeris]

Zach and Cody? Those twins that play twins that one is reckless the other obedient?

 

[justbugged]

last season there was a show called parenthood on one of the major networks. maybe you can find an episode or two of that online. Adolescent would be anyone from about 10 (maybe even younger) to a young adult that has not taken on adult responsibility yet. So maybe a show like two and half men. I agree I never watch shows with a bunch of kids in them anymore. I no longer watch sit-coms either. It just came to me Glee would count. I don't know what network, but episodes are online.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
prepuberty! I loved Psych in college-took 6 classes!!!

 

[teach1rusl]

Can it be cartoon characters on TV...like Bart Simpson for stage 5??? Or Chris or Meg on Family Guy? For stage 6 you could go with Haley from American Dad??? Can you tell what DH likes watching a lot of??? LOL

 

[the lemon tree]

I'm not sure if you watch Dexter on Showtime, but one character that I can think of is Dexter's stepdaughter, Astor. Even just last season (#3, in 2008), she's a very compliant, mild-mannered girl, but this past season it's noticeable that she's entering puberty-she's developed an interest in boys and is embarrassed by Dexter when she feels that he's treating him "like a little girl". I don't know her exact age, but she is definitely between 10-14, an age range that I too would characterize as adolescence. Wikipedia has a great description of this shift of her character: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dexter_characters Just scroll down to "Astor Bennett".

 

[chicken_china_mom]

I don't think we can use cartoons. That would be so much easier if we could. I don't watch Glee or Parenthood or Dexter. I'm beginning to feel VERY out of the loop, lol. I probably could use Zach and Cody though. That's a show I'm VERY familiar with since I have pre-teen daughters. I turned to my kids first and thought for sure they would be able to recommend good shows, and they both blanked on me! One suggested Selena Gomez's role as Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, but I watch that show with my kids, and that kid is very sly and manipulative, and I don't think she's a proper example. The other one suggested Miley Cyrus' role as Miley Stewart on Hannah Montana. Other than that, they had no good suggestions. I think I might use Miley, since she's big enough that even the teacher should recognize her, but who should I use as the early adulthood example? Early twenties, any shows come to mind? PLEASE don't suggest soap operas, I refuse to watch those, I feel like I lose a few brain cells just watching the commercials! Any young adults on prime time? I'm blanking. Shows that come to my mind are CSI, Criminal Minds, Law and Order, House (can you tell what I like to watch?), The Glades (recently discovered that show, the main character is so handsome and sarcastic, I love it), Haven, Warehouse 13, Sanctuary, and the bazillion home improvement shows that my mother stays tuned in to while I'm trying to do my homework.

Apparently I don't watch enough prime time comedies.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

What about the boys from Home Improvement? I forget the name of the character he played, but it was the boy Jonathan Taylor Thomas played. He was the middle child and trying to find his place in the family, while also trying to find his independence. It's an older show, but such a good one!

 

[BWKatz]

Watch The Middle tonight It has a girl that fits for stage 6 and the youngest is in puberty to use for stage 5. Good luck.

(for Homework)

 

[lizzy06019]

I don't know if this will help but what about "The Secret Life of the American Teenager". It's a great show about what teens go through in high school... all the pressures about sex, mostly... even about teen pregnancy. It's an ABC Family show. I'm sure you could find episodes online or watch it on TV on Monday nights at 8pm on ABC family. I hope this helped at least a little.