PSYC FPX 2720 Assessment 2

Student Name

Capella University

PSYC-FPX2720 Adolescent Psychology

Prof. Name:

Date

Case Studies

Conflicts often emerge as a result of personal insecurities, differing values, and cultural influences. The three case studies below illustrate how personality development, identity formation, and interpersonal dynamics intertwine in early adulthood.

The first disagreement involves Paula urging Luis to acquire alcohol, calling him cowardly when he refuses. The second occurs when Kevin expresses curiosity about trying Paula’s makeup, prompting Luis to question Kevin’s masculinity. The final dispute arises when Luis flirts with Paula, leading her to slap him in response. Each of these conflicts reflects deeper emotional insecurities and differing approaches to identity, gender roles, and self-expression.

Development

Kevin

Kevin grew up in a traditional Nigerian American household under the guidance of hardworking immigrant parents. As a second-generation American, Kevin respects his parents’ resilience but struggles with their insistence on adhering to cultural norms. His adolescence brought challenges with self-esteem—particularly when his voice began to change during puberty, making him anxious about speaking publicly. To counter this insecurity, Kevin channels his energy into physical fitness, often working out at the gym to maintain an impressive physique.

He enjoys online gaming and maintains a virtual social circle, though he avoids in-person meetups, perhaps reflecting social anxiety or fear of judgment. Kevin is also exploring questions about his sexual orientation, uncertain about whether he identifies as gay. Although he anticipates that his parents would be supportive, he feels unsure about disclosing this aspect of himself.

Aspect	Details
Cultural Background	Nigerian American, second-generation
Major Insecurity	Fear of being judged, especially about his voice
Coping Mechanism	Physical training and gaming
Key Conflict	Struggling with self-identity and sexual orientation

Paula

Paula, a third-generation Lithuanian American, grew up hearing stories from her grandparents about life in the Soviet Union, though she finds little relevance in them. She rarely brings friends home and often feels insecure about her body image. Standing at 5’3”, she wishes she were taller and struggles with a fear of gaining weight over 100 pounds. Her preoccupation with physical appearance is coupled with anxiety about her delayed physical development, as she has yet to experience her first menstrual period.

Paula aspires to fame and actively seeks opportunities to perform, consistently earning lead roles in productions. While she projects confidence on stage, she heavily depends on her best friend Lori for emotional support. Paula also has a broader social network that she engages with mainly for parties, though she demonstrates responsibility by never driving under the influence. Her romantic life is complicated; she continues to date a boyfriend whom her parents disapprove of, leading to frequent household conflicts. To escape family tension, Paula often stays away from home, seeking validation and independence elsewhere.

Aspect	Details
Cultural Background	Lithuanian American, third-generation
Major Insecurity	Body image and physical maturity
Aspirations	Fame and public recognition
Coping Mechanism	Performing arts and external validation
Family Dynamics	Strained relationship due to parental disapproval of boyfriend

Luis

Luis was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States at the age of two. His household was linguistically and culturally mixed, with both Spanish and English spoken but neither fluently mastered. The constant conflict between his parents led him to move out and live with his best friend. Starting college was a major milestone but also a challenge, as Luis feels disconnected and isolated despite being academically talented.

As the first in his family to attend college, he carries the burden of representing his family’s aspirations, yet feels misunderstood by them. He shares an apartment with two close friends, spending time socializing and occasionally experimenting with marijuana. Luis desires a meaningful, long-term romantic relationship but has yet to find emotional fulfillment. While he distances himself from his parents, he maintains a positive bond with his 17-year-old brother, finding comfort and companionship in that relationship.

Aspect	Details
Cultural Background	Cuban immigrant
Major Challenge	Family conflict and social isolation
Coping Mechanism	Close friendships and independence
Aspirations	Meaningful romantic and family relationships

Research

Source 1 – Early Adolescents’ Social Goals in Peer Conflict Situations: A Mixed Methods Study

Dunn, Pittman, Mehari, Titchner, and Farrell (2022) conducted a mixed-methods study examining early adolescents’ goals during peer conflicts. The sample consisted of 160 seventh-grade students (85 females and 75 males) from both urban and rural schools. The study explored various social conflict goals, including relationship maintenance, image protection, revenge, and moral reasoning.

The findings revealed that male and female adolescents displayed similar conflict resolution goals, with females slightly more likely to prioritize relationship maintenance and seeking information during conflicts with close friends. Overall, the study highlighted that gender differences in conflict goals were minimal, suggesting that adolescents share common social motivations when navigating peer-related challenges (Dunn et al., 2022).

Source 2 – Children’s Goals and Strategies in Response to Conflicts Within a Friendship

In their research, Rose and Asher (1999) explored how children set social goals and adopt behavioral strategies when conflicts occur within friendships. They found that goals act as motivational forces, influencing how children approach or avoid disagreements. Boys were more likely to maintain larger peer networks, whereas girls preferred smaller, more intimate friendships.

Interestingly, despite different social structures, both genders expressed similar emotional investment in their friendships. The findings indicate that while boys value social dominance and group belonging, girls emphasize closeness and relational harmony (Rose & Asher, 1999).

Individual Influences

Kevin

Kevin’s development reflects the intersection of cultural expectations, gender identity, and self-esteem. His struggle with body image and masculinity illustrates Arnett and Jensen’s (2023) theory of identity exploration during emerging adulthood. His desire to balance traditional Nigerian values with Western individuality highlights a bicultural identity conflict. Furthermore, his questioning of sexual orientation signifies an internal struggle between self-acceptance and cultural conformity.

Paula

Paula demonstrates characteristics consistent with adolescent egocentrism, particularly the imaginary audience phenomenon, where individuals believe others are constantly observing them (Arnett & Jensen, 2023). Her strong ambition for fame and perfectionism may be coping strategies for low self-esteem and a lack of family emotional support. Her preoccupation with weight and appearance also aligns with contemporary research on body image dissatisfaction among young women influenced by media and peer pressure.

Luis

Luis’s experiences reveal the psychological effects of family conflict, acculturation stress, and social displacement. As a first-generation college student, he experiences the “cultural bridge” dilemma—feeling obligated to succeed academically while emotionally distant from his family’s struggles (Arnett & Jensen, 2023). His tendency to avoid familial engagement and seek companionship elsewhere represents both resilience and emotional withdrawal.

Conclusion

The conflicts among Kevin, Paula, and Luis stem primarily from personal insecurities and social pressures. Paula’s criticism of Luis’s refusal to buy alcohol reflects her need for control and peer validation. Luis’s teasing of Kevin about his makeup interest reveals his own struggle with masculinity and insecurity. His subsequent flirtation with Paula—and her physical retaliation—demonstrates a cycle of emotional projection and rejection.

Ultimately, these interactions emphasize how emerging adults navigate complex intersections of identity, gender norms, and self-worth. Their disagreements mirror broader developmental challenges where individuals seek belonging while striving for independence and authenticity.

References

Arnett, J. J., & Jensen, L. A. (2023). Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach (7th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://capella.vitalsource.com/books/9780138063061

Dunn, C. B., Pittman, S. K., Mehari, K. R., Titchner, D., & Farrell, A. D. (2022). Early adolescents’ social goals in peer conflict situations: A mixed methods study. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 42(5), 647–670. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316211064516