PSYC631 Adolescent Psychology

PSYC 631

Reflection Paper Assignment Instructions

Tips for success this week:

You’ll see that this week’s Reflection assignment requires you to use a chapter from one of our online sources that we will be using frequently throughout the term ( The handbook of adolescent psychology).

Côté, J. E. (2009). Identity formation and self-development in adolescence. In R. M. Lerner &

L. Steinberg (Eds.),  Handbook of adolescent psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 266-304). John Wiley

& Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479193.adlpsy001010

Also note that your Reflection Paper Assignment requires the use of 3 sources: the Côté reading, an outside scholarly source published within the last  seven  years, and the Bible.

Overview

The purpose of this paper is to apply the course content of this module to your own life. Information can be better internalized and learned more fully when the content is found to be meaningful to the learner. Therefore, you will explore the theories covered this module by reflecting on your past personal experiences as an adolescent.

Instructions

Your paper will focus on the topic of Identity and Self Development in adolescence (see course reading Côté, 2009), and will require you to apply various theories and research findings of your choice to your personal experiences when you were navigating adolescence. Your paper needs to use and cite 3 sources:

· The module reading by Côté (2009)

· An outside scholarly source not included in module readings (academic books or peer-reviewed articles only) that has been published within the last seven years

· At least one Biblical scripture reference

Be sure that your paper demonstrates critical thinking and integration of course content. It should not be simply a collection of personal stories. Although the specific content of your papers will vary depending on your experiences, below is a list of some questions you may wish to consider when you are completing your reflection:

· Did you progress through the various stages of identity development as theorized by Marcia (see module presentation and Côté, 2009, p. 272)? What stages were you in as you began/ended adolescence?

· Do you feel your experiences were typical of most other adolescents? Why or why not?

· What environmental factors might have contributed to or altered the trajectory of your identity or self development in adolescence (e.g., family, peer, school influences)?

· How do findings related to positive or negative outcomes apply to your experiences?

· How do findings regarding any age/gender/ethnicity differences reflect your experiences?

· What were some of your experiences with self-esteem/self-concept during adolescence, and how well does this align with research?

· How well do the major research findings/theories apply to your personal experiences? Do your experiences fit with what research suggests? What are the specific ways your experiences match or diverge from certain findings?

Additional paper requirements include:

· Your paper must be 2–3 pages (double-spaced) in current APA format. This length requirement does not include the title or reference pages.

· An APA-style title page and reference page must be included.

· First person is allowed for this assignment.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.