Youth 220 Notes 1
8/29/18
1. Where did adolescence originate?
a. “adolescent” is derived from the Latin word “adolescere”, meaning
“to grow into maturity” or to “grow up”
b. G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924) First psychologist to advance in its own
right. He described it and a period of storm and stress” (Strum and
Grang/German)
c. Adolescents as we know them are a phenomenon.
2. Specific ages for adolescence
a. The age for puberty has significantly dropped since WWII. Over a 20
year period (45-65) this dropped by 19 months. Boys mature later
than girls.
b. Cultural reason
i. Media- TV, Social, Internet, Cellular, Gaming
ii. Secular music- historically aimed at youth
iii. Broken home- abandonment (garage code kids) growing too
fast
c. Why age 25
i. Cultural reason:
1. Prolonged education
ii. 40s finish HS and get married
iii. 50s go to college and maybe college
iv. 60s finish college, marry, maybe grad school
v. 70s finish college, consider marriage and grad school
vi. 80s finish college, go to grad school, consider post-grad school,
and still consider marriage
vii. 00s finish college, go to grad school, get post grad degree, and
still consider marriage
d. Delayed marriage: early 60s
e. Joseph Fletcher- “loving concern”
i. Views were wrong
f. Cultural traits
i. Postponing adulthood. Do not desire responsibilities of adults.
Enjoy adolescent life.
ii. Postponing choices: marry later, go to school longer.
iii. Short term commitments. Do not want to give up freedom.
iv. Physically mature, emotionally immature.
Youth 220 Notes 1
8/29/18
v. Materialistic: Goal is to be well off financially. 30 years ago it
was “to develop a meaningful philosophy of life”
3. Why have Ministry to Adolescents
a. Because of their response to gospel
i. More than “75% of those who get saved do so before the age
of 21.” (Barna, 2004)
ii. Titus 2
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