Adolescent Motivation

Dr Vijay Sardana MD,DM(Neurology)

Professor & Head,Deptt. Of Neurology,

Medical College, Kota

Adolescent

• Period of transition from childhood to adulthood.

• 10-19 Yrs

• Begins in Biology & ends in society.

• 29%

Adolescence

“Period of stress & strain, storm and strikes”

Indian Family Characteristics

• Emotional interdependence among family members, respect for elders, Family solidarity

• Caring for old parents, Protecting sisters, providing support to other dependents-Traditional duties.

• Girls groomed to become good wives & mothers having sacrifice, tolerance & dependence is an integral part of disposition.

• general acceptance of double standards for male & female regarding premarital sex and selection of marriage with more freedom to males.

Indian Family: Changes over time

• Weakening of social support from kinship

• Higher standard of achievement

•Exposure to media

• Increasing competitive demand of market

•Movement of women empowerment

Outward form changing but core has well defined value system related to social relations and prescription of ideal

way of life.

Education

Indians perspective

• Necessary for building one’s character

• Financial and social advancement

• Better job perspective

Western perspective

• Education considered as one of the values

Adolescent

•Often torn between what they are told by their parents, what they find outside & what they actually want to do.

• Its easier and less confusing for an youngster to cope with an honest praise or honest criticism than dishonest mixture of them

Female Adolescent

• Inferior Status

• Lesser privileges

• Puberty – More restriction on her movement Fewer interaction with boys More active participation in household chores

Adolescent Boys

• Greater freedom to move about

• Expected to seek educational &vocational pursuits as priority

• Take adult role

Adolescent

• Rich Urban –close to western counterpart• Lower-class Urban – Health issue/malnutrition Antisocial activities Sex exploitation • Rural – Disparity between boys & girls more Female education Participation in adult activities at early age Early marriage

Adolescent : changes

• Physical changes

• Group formation

• Attraction towards opposite sex

• Active participation in mature discussion

• Negative – Emotional imbalance, fickle- mindedness

Adolescent

• Rapid changes- - Physical Sexual Maturation - Biological psychological Maturation

- Hormonal Behavioral Maturation• Length – Individual & Cultural Variation - Begin - onset of Puberty - Ends - Achievement of adult status & privileges Marriage End of education Beginning of economic Independence

Adolescent changes

• extended relationship beyond parents & family.

• Influence of peers & outside world

• Desire to experiment & explore

•Anxiety & stress associate with achievement failure

years of creativity, empathy, idealism & spirit of adventure

Adolescents : Tasks

• Adjust to a new physical sense of self

• Adjust to new intellectual abilities

• Adjust to increased cognitive demands at school

• Develop expanded verbal skills

• Develop personal sense of identity

• Establish adult vocational goals

Adolescents : Tasks

• Establish emotional & psychological independence from his/her parents

• Develop stable and productive peer relationships

• Learn to manage her/his sexuality

• Adopt a personal value system

• Develop increase impulse control and behavioral maturity

Motivation

Motivation – Drive that encourage action or feeling. Process of inducing and improving anyone to perform more productively and efficiently.

Catalyst

Motivation

Responsible for

• choice – why people decide to do something

• Persistence – how long they sustain it

• Efforts – how hard they pursue it

Motivated person

• Look for the better way to do a job

• More Quality Oriented

• More Productive

• Better suited to face changes of adolescence

Motivational Factors

• 1 Year - Toy• 5 Year - Chocolate• 12 Years - New cricket Bat• 15 Years - New Cycle• 20 Years - Education, Job, Lovely Girl Friend• 30 Years - Stability, Career & Personal Growth• 50 Years - Respect & Recognition• >50Years - Son’s Career

Adolescent helpful motivation

• Mastery goal pursuit v/s performance goal

• Family and teachers support

• High self esteem – positive values about cognitive and social capabilities

• clarity about class rules and consequences

• Positive values of peers

Mastery Goal

• Positive attitude towards learning

• Preference for risk taking and challenging work

Motivating factor: Interest

• Definition – Stable evaluative orientation towards certain domain, object, events or idea

• Individual interest - High level of knowledge & values

• Situational interest - Short lived and superficial

Motivated Teachers

• Enthusiastic

• humor

• Ability to convert complex looking topic to simple one

• love for learning

• Ability to cultivate positive emotions

Ideal Science Classroom

Teaching learning environment characterized by –

• Enjoyment• fulfillment• Mutual respect between teacher and students• Engagement of learning

Adolescent : Role of Family

Family is an Institution & anchor – has a direct influence on adolescent development.

Conditioning

• Book we read • Movies & Music we wanted to listen• Company we keep

Theories of Motivation

• Mosley's theory – Hierarchy of Motivational Need - Physical Need – Food, clothing, sexual urge

- Safety - Shelter, security, Health

- Social - Friends, family, love

- Self Esteem - Recognition, Achievement - Self Actualization

Theories of Motivation

Herzberg's Theory

- Hygiene - Status, job security, salary & future security

- Motivators – Challenging work, recognition, responsibility

Attitude formation

Home- positive or negative influencesSchool- peer pressureCultural backgroundReligious backgroundMedia- TV etc.Work environmentSocial and political environment

Maintain and raise your self esteem

Self esteem- way we feel about ourselves

Excellence has always been achieved by those who dare to believe that something inside

them is superior to circumstances

DEAR WENDY,

As you step out into the world you may find that there will be people who want you to be just like them, Those who will want you to think,be,speak,and act as they do. That is about who they are, not about who you are. Stay true to yourself,Wendy.To what’s most important to you, to what’s right for you. Acting from your own integrity takes great courage. And, you will be constantly challenged. Yet by coming from your truth and your heart’s desire, you will have real happiness. The journey ahead will include wars, tragedy & sorrow, to live in this world will require faith, love and courage.

I’m reminded of a quote by Renee Locks,” The Challenge is to be yourself in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else.” Rise to this challenge, rather than let it get you down. Always remember Wendy, that you are very unique with your own special inner brilliance. Let it shine through you day after day. It is a gift you give to yourself, your family, those close to you, and the community you will serve. Remember its far more honorable to fail then to cheat. Never put a price tag on your heart and soul.

There are many of us behind you who are loving you and supporting you as you begin this new stage in your life. Know that you are not alone. Know that you are blessed. Know that you are good enough. Know that the world is a much better place for you being in it. Remember for every scoundrel, there is a hero, and for every enemy there is a friend.

My wish for you is that your 18th year, your graduation, your college years, and the years beyond will bring you a wondrous song in your heart and a lively dance in your step. You are a very special young woman,Wendy.may all your dreams and more come true.

LOVE, JEANNE

Influence of Friends

Our friends are not what we want but kind of people what we are

• Man is recognized by his friends

• AVOID Negative friends

How value system change

Intolerable

Acceptable

Involvement

Constant Exposure

Constant Exposure

Self justification

Believe in reasoning & have critical thinking

Reasoning

• Cognitive process of looking for reason, Beliefs, conclusion, actions & feeling

• Why reasoning – What we should believe - What we should do

Critical Thinking

• Involve determining the meaning & significance of what is observed & expressed

•If adequate justification to accept argument, inference and conclusion as true

Success- Determination

• Not determined by how we are doing Compared to others , but by how We are doing compared with what we are capable of.

• Successful people compete against themselves.

Who is educated ( Socrates 470 – 399 BC)

True broad based education proposes student for life without losing their area of specialization & competence.

Persistence

• Nothing will take the place of persistence. Talent will not- nothing in more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not – Unrewarded genius in a proverb. Education will not – The world in full of educated derelicts Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Clavin goolidge

Hard Work

• Average person - Put 25% of energy of ability into work.

• Albert Einstein – “I think I used about 25% of my intelligence capacity during my life”

• William James – Human being use only 10-12% of their potential.

LUCK

• If you want to fail, believe in luck. If you want to succeed, believe in the principle of cause & effect, and you will create your own luck.

“The harder I work, the luckier I get” - Samuel Goldwyn

Lack of motivation in students : cause

• Poor self esteem

• Lack of love at home

• Home environment – curiosity & education is not given importance

• Academic pressure – constant poor performance lowers self confidence

• Career mismatch

• Teacher constantly dominating thought process of students instead of encouraging curiosity & giving student a freedom

Adolescent motivation for parents

• Don’t compare with other children

• Don’t force any career on him – just assist in decision making process, help him to chose proper career as per his mental abilities

• Bring out hidden talent in him

• Don’t be over ambitious

How to increase motivation (for teachers)

• Stimulate for mastery motivational goals , encourage career of interest.

• Supportive attitude.

• Build self esteem – Chose strategies\tasks for students so that each child can experience success

Learning Points

• Adolescence is foundation of adulthood

• Properly groomed adolescent is bound to be a well developed organised personality who can think and act rationally

• Teachers need to be great role models, parents great inspirers & elders humble advisors

• Content, instructional approach & assessment techniques should be designed to enhance student interest, engagement & sense of competence

Learning Points

• Family and parental support is key to smooth sailing

• Interest, attitude and self esteem are important motivating factors

• Imbibing Indian values, morality & ethics in childhood will make them strong futuristic responsible adults useful for self and society