During adolescence, individuals undergo rapid development and experience major changes in their physical and psychological areas. The stage, which begins between 10 and 14 years, can be accompanied by various challenges, including identity and relationship issues. Puberty can cause complicated relationships with the opposite sex as the individuals try to understand themselves. As a result, inappropriate sexual relationships are common, which lead to teenage pregnancies. Angela’s case is an example of the many teen mothers struggling with developing attachment with babies born during a time when they are developing and needing parental support.
Review
Piaget’s idea of adolescent egocentrism and Bowlby’s attachment theories are relevant to Angela’s case study. Piaget suggested that adolescents experience “adolescent’s egocentrism,” which is a conflict within them. They have a feeling that they are the only ones going through certain feelings and events in life (Alberts et al., 2007). The feeling that they have unique experiences leads them to premarital sex and the risk of getting pregnant. As a result, they bear children, such as Sarah in the case study, who lack the necessary attachment to their parents. According to Bowlby (1980), the psychological attachment to a significant other (especially parents) helps children become secure as they grow.
Application
As more teenagers, such as Angela, become sexually active, they risk getting pregnant and raising children very early. Their children lack necessary attachment since teenage moms raise them, and most of the time, their fathers are absent. Due to the lack of attachment, the children become troubled teenagers and at a high risk of repeating the same mistakes as their parents, most likely repeating the cycle of teen pregnancy.
Connection
Teenage pregnancy has a close correlation with poverty. Social mobility is very difficult in low-income families, creating hopelessness and a void teenagers mostly fill through inappropriate relationships. Besides, parents from low-income families spend most of their time trying to feed their families that they neglect their teenagers, leading to the risk of premarital sex. As a result, the risk of teen pregnancies is higher in families from low socio-economic statuses than from high socioeconomic statuses.
Reflection
I should say that I was fortunate enough to grow in a family where my moral foundation was strong. My parents were strict regarding opposite-sex relationships. As a result, I was able to navigate through adolescence without having inappropriate sexual encounters. However, I still had a relationship during my teenage, but in a well-guided environment. My parents always discussed sexual issues with us, and we understood the dangers of sex, including pregnancy and STIs. Somehow, the situation appeared unfair because many of our peers appeared to have sex-related to tell while we had none.
Conclusion
Adolescence is a very complicated stage in any individual and can cause problems, including teenage pregnancies if not carefully guided. Piaget’s idea of adolescent egocentrism explains the reason why teens become sexually active obvious of the dangers. While sex seems exciting during teenage years, many girls become pregnant at the risk of bringing forth children with attachment issues, as Bowlby (1980) explained. The two theories explain how the cycle of intergenerational pregnancy continues from one generation to another. Besides, it is difficult to break the cycle of poverty in Angela’s situation since Sarah will lack opportunities due to her family’s current deprivation.
References
Alberts, A., Elkind, D., & Ginsberg, S. (2007). The personal fable and risk-taking in early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(1), 71-76.
Bowlby, J. (1980). Loss: Sadness and depression. Attachment and Loss. III. New York: Basic Books.
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