Unsuccessfully Mastered Developmental Tasks and Stages that may Contribute to Behaviors Exhibited by "Troubled Teens": Installment One

Erikson's (1963) psychosocial theory asserts that, throughout the life cycle, individuals must successfully master specific developmental tasks and stages in order to possess the ability to live in harmony with society and create and maintain healthy relationships.

The psychosocial approach seeks to understand the internal experiences that are the products of interactions between the developing individual, formation of identity, and environmental and social factors (Newman & Newman, 2003).

Understanding developmental tasks and stages can provide insight as to underlying factors that could contribute to core pathologies and maladaptive coping and defense mechanisms exhibited by troubled teens; these mechanisms may manifest in behaviors that place the adolescent at odds with society and/or their family systems.

The heartening news is that ineffective or destructive behavioral patterns can be successfully treated through specific intervention strategies, especially if addressed prior to early adulthood. At times, the most effective means of correcting harmful behavioral patterns in teens is through the utilization of a wrap-around therapeutic in-house program, such as the approach implemented at Turning Winds Academic Institute. This is often true because many troubled teens will not remain consistent in their efforts to comply with, or personally invest in, traditional therapy.

Each life stage, beginning in infancy, brings a normative crisis that can result in the creation of a new set of social and internal abilities. These abilities enhance the individual's capability to successfully advance to the next developmental stage (Newman & Newman, 2003). Without the tools to master each stage, the mastery of following stages is impaired. Therefore, the adolescent, or adult, can remain fixed at an earlier developmental stage without the internal means to move toward stability and maturity.

Upcoming articles will explore relevant developmental stages and the outcome of successful or unsuccessful mastery of these stages.