"S" stands for Social

The first developmental area that you may want to know more about is the “S" in SPICE”, which stands for Social. This is the area that addresses them wanting to find out more about who they are. This focuses on their friends, as well as the people around them. The students will strive to have acceptance with their peers, and they will do whatever they can to earn that. There are various relationships that students may encounter during this phase in their life. The two that we are going to focus on are the Adult Relationships and the Peer and Group Relationships.

Adult Relationships-

According to Sara Powell Davis this is when, “young adolescents often find themselves caught between their desire to be safe and secure (as in childhood) and their desire for freedom and independence” (37).

Also, even though children want affirmation from both their parents and teachers, they also will end up getting into arguments with them. The reason for this is because they want to show that they have a mind of their own. Sara Powell Davis also states that, “even as young adolescents tend to disassociate themselves from family; they may seek to emulate other adults” (37).

Peer and Group Relationships-
Another type of relationship that students will come across at this age period is a relationship between their peer groups. This is the point when the adolescents start to realize that they can’t always please both the adults and their peers that they hang out with. The peer will also realize that friends play a greater significance in their lives at this time.

According to Sara Powell Davis, this is a time when, “fear of being different and therefore not accepted by peers, is a drive that for most is unavoidable. They adopt personalities and appearances that will win them placement in a group” (37).

This is extremely important and a big choice for the child, because it is the time when they chose their friends and who they want to associate themselves with. Also, “being part of a group provides security and is a source of feedback when experimentation and dilemmas occur” (37). For a peer it also is more important for them to be in a group than on which group they actually are a part of. Also Davis notes that, “since most of us don’t choose our families or teachers, choosing friends and a peer group takes on importance as a factor in establishing identity and independence” (37).

Students also will be faced with peer pressure around this age, because of the groups that they chose to associate themselves with. Therefore, the peer pressure can have a positive or negative effect on the individual, For example, “if peer pressure dictates that good grades, church attendance, and politeness are the norm, then most adults cheer the influence. However, if peer pressure leads to smoking, drinking, drugs, vandalism, or early sex, then it is viewed as negative.

It is also important to note that the beginning stages of early adolescence ages 10-12 that the friendships between same sex friends is vital in an adolescent’s life. Therefore, the child will strive to find a best friend that they can look up to and spend time with.

Overall, “the social development of early adolescence includes some notable paradoxes in their quest for independence, adolescents will freely conform it fit in. They rebel against adult authority while doing what they can to become adult like” (37).