Introduction
Adolescence is a critical period in a person’s life. During this phase, an individual learns how to interact with others, develop their social, emotional, and intellectual capabilities, and find their place in society. At the same time, the development of these skills depends on factors that influence a person, such as family, society, values, and culture.
For this reason, adolescents from various countries will have different characteristics and social and emotional reactions. These divergences are linked to differences in settings that influence young people and shape their personalities. Thus, comparing adolescents from the USA and China, it is possible to admit the impact of these factors on adolescent development.
Cultural Comparison of Adolescents
Adolescent development depends on the configurations of the environment and the person. Thus, the first factor might be highly diverse due to the number of cultures, traditions, and settings worldwide. Furthermore, family, as the central institution shaping the transition to adulthood, serves as a key tool for cultivating specific skills, psychological adjustment, and emotional responses in individuals (Quintigliano et al., 2022).
As a result, a unique personality, defined by a set of constructs, is formed and continues to evolve. Other people in the setting, such as peers, also influence adolescent development and shape individuals’ views. For this reason, every country has a unique mentality.
Thus, when comparing young Chinese and U.S. people, it is essential to acknowledge the strong influence of family. As for the first group, strong family ties and traditions mediate adolescent materialism and egocentrism (Shek et al., 2022). As a result, they acquire more altruistic and society-centered values that are important for their future socialization (Shek et al., 2022).
The situation in the USA is different because the culture emphasizes egocentric values. Adolescents’ happiness is directly linked to family functioning and wealth levels (Izzo et al., 2022). This means that, for both cultures, social development is influenced by the family; however, there is a divergence in the values they cultivate, such as individualism and collectivism.
Peers are another vital group that influences a young person’s socialization and emotional development. The research shows that for Chinese adolescents, the incidence of self-injury is higher compared to adolescents in Western countries (Xu et al., 2022). The strong impact of peers and collective interactions can explain this.
At the same time, the practices accepted within a specific group impact their emotional development (Xu et al., 2022). In the USA, peers’ influence also remains strong; however, their decision-making is less dependent on the opinions of other young people in their setting, while in some situations it can cultivate prosocial behaviors (Ciranka & van den Bos, 2019). It can be explained by the focus on tolerance and the importance of others’ views and beliefs.
Conclusion
Altogether, it is possible to admit that family, peers, and the environment are strong factors influencing adolescent development. Emotional and social aspects are shaped by the values dominant in society and the family, which explains differences in mentality. As for China, it is possible to admit that its strong traditions and culture, along with its focus on collectivism, mitigate egocentrism in early childhood.
It is a surprising discovery that helps to understand the current culture in the state and the Chinese people’s readiness to support others and belong to a specific community. In general, there are similarities and differences between adolescents in the USA and China, which can be attributed to natural development within the existing frameworks.
References
Ciranka, S., & van den Bos, W. (2019). Social influence in adolescent decision-making: A formal framework. Frontiers in Psychology, 10.
Izzo, F., Baiocco, R., & Pistella, J. (2022). Children’s and adolescents’ happiness and Family functioning: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24).
Shek, D. T. L., Leung, K. H., Dou, D., & Zhu, X. (2022). Impact of family functioning on adolescent materialism and egocentrism in mainland China: Positive youth development attributes as a mediator. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17).
Quintigliano, M., Carone, N., Speranza, A. M., Tanzilli, A., Baiocco, R., Barone, L., Pastorelli, C., & Lingiardi, V. (2022). Adolescent development and the parent-adolescent relationship in diverse family forms created by assisted reproduction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24).
Xu, J. B., Jiang, N., Qin, Q., & Jiang, Q. (2022). The relationship between negative peer relationship and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents: A moderated-mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.