Adolescence: The Time Of Development In The Film 13, Directed By Catherine Hardwicke

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Adolescence is the time of development and mental advancement that happens between the onset of puberty and the fulfillment of physical and emotional development. Despite the fact that young ladies experience more dramatic physical change throughout adolescence than do young men, they have a tendency to achieve puberty prior and take less time to achieve development. Immaturity in girls start around the age of eleven and proceeds through about age sixteen. In youthful men, the same period starts about the age of thirteen and proceeds through about age eighteen. After about age fourteen, guys are,normal, heavier and taller than females. The motion picture film Thirteen, directed by Catherine Hardwicke introduces a correct and important point of view on the post-millennial adolescent experience and also displays many issues teens face in today’s society such as peer pressure, teenage sexuality, and drug use,
Teenagers enter into adolescence feeling insecure and unsure of themselves. They desire to fit in and belong. If they don't, they see themselves as abnormal. Children seek to become independent from their parents and immerse themselves in their own social environment during adolescence. According to Psychologist Erik Erikson “Peer groups fulfill the adolescent’s need for validity and acceptance and provide space and opportunity for exploration and experimentation.” This is likewise to the Protagonist Tracy because in order for her to get Evies acceptance she stole a purse from an old lady and afterwards went on a shopping spree. Tracy explored and experimented many things with her new found peer group however, from there, it all spirals down as Tracy experiences and responds to a variety of pressures and situations not uncommo...

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...t for an adolescent young lady, her other more unsafe conduct might be a sign to less delicate teenagers to stay as far away as could be expected under the circumstances. This is the turning point that seals the girls' friendship and starts Tracy on an intense downhill path, into drugs, alcohol, and exploration of sex, shoplifting, and a general transformation from, innocent school girl to corrupt girl. Tracy did things like getting her tongue and her belly button pierced because that’s what her new friend Evie had. If her friend did a drug, she tried it too. Thirteen depicts the Social Learning Theory extremely well. She sees her friend’s tricks on how to get guys, and how to steal, and she imitates what she thinks will help her fit in. This theory is all about imitation and following what you see being done. Thirteen is a great example of Social Learning Theory.

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