Chapter 7: What Adolescents Need: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Development within Families, School, and Society

Adolescence is characterized first and foremost by change. Arguably at no other time in development are so many factors in flux. Changes in physical, emotional, and intellectual capacities are manifold. Among the critical developmental and psychological challenges that adolescents face are relational tasks, such as transforming childlike ties in familial relationships into ones of adult mutuality, and forming enduring and satisfying extrafamilial relationships with partners and friends. Also, competency-relevant tasks, such as meeting the demands of school and work, and successfully choosing and developing vocational and avocational interests become more pressing (Csikszentmihalyi & Larson, 1984). Finally, internalizing specific norms and practices—shifting from mere compliance to self-regulated, willing adherence and endorsement of a coherent set of social values—is a central task toward identity formation and passage into adulthood.