Introduction
Parent-adolescent relationship is an important aspect of growth and development in a child. Without a healthy and active participation of family and adults in the life of an adolescent, it is very likely for them to become stunted in social, physical, intellectual, and emotional development (Sawyer et al., 2018). The purpose of this paper is to reflect on my past experiences with parents as an adolescent, and relate them to the development theory of attachment.
Brief Explanation of Concepts
Attachment theory postulates that caring relationships are necessary for the future social, cognitive, and emotional development of a child. It has long-term consequences for shaping one’s psychological functioning (Popov & Ilesanmi, 2015). Strong attachment between parents and children makes the latter regard them as examples and mentors when managing one’s behavior, identifying goals, and emulating them in social situations, which happen during adolescence.
Self-Reflection
As I remember my own experiences with parents as an adolescent, I know that I looked up to them in many things. At the same time, as I grew older, their authority to me changed from being absolute to conditional. My parents themselves started this trend, as they allowed me to become more independent in my decision-making, while still letting me know I could rely on them should I encounter trouble. Attachment theory characterizes this period as the period of permissiveness, which allowed me to learn self-regulation and self-control, which became internalized rather than externalized (Popov & Ilesanmi, 2015). While adolescence is characterized as a period of storm and conflict between parents and children, I managed to avoid much of that due to a deep bond and trust between parents and myself (Sawyer et al., 2018).
Conclusion
Adolescence is a difficult period which allows the child to transition from being a parent-reliant individual to an independent person. This often involves conflicting and opposing parental authority. Parents should seek to nurture independence and self-regulation, rather than seek to impose authority. My adolescence lacked such a conflict due to my parents acknowledging me as a person and trusting me to make my own decisions.
References
Popov, L. M., & Ilesanmi, R. A. (2015). Parent-child relationship: Peculiarities and outcomes. Review of European Studies, 7(5), 253-263.
Sawyer, S. M., Azzopardi, P. S., Wickremarathne, D., & Patton, G. C. (2018). The age of adolescence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(3), 223-228.