Phillip November 1, 2025 No Comments

PSYC FPX 2720 Assessment 2

Name

Capella University

PSYC-FPX2720 Adolescent Psychology

Prof. Name

Date

Case Studies

The following case studies explore complex and layered interpersonal conflicts among three adolescents—Paula, Kevin, and Luis. Each case reflects distinctive personal, cultural, and developmental challenges that contribute to misunderstandings and disagreements in their interactions.

The first disagreement arises when Paula urges Luis to acquire alcohol for them to drink. When Luis declines, Paula mocks him by calling him cowardly. The second conflict occurs when Kevin expresses curiosity about trying Paula’s makeup, which prompts Luis to question Kevin’s masculinity. The final argument happens when Luis flirts with Paula, leading to her responding with a slap. These scenarios collectively illustrate the interplay between insecurity, self-concept, and social dynamics during adolescence.

Development

Kevin

Kevin was raised in a traditional Nigerian American household, where cultural expectations often clash with his evolving personal identity. As a second-generation American, Kevin respects his parents’ hard work and their commitment to preserving cultural traditions, yet he frequently resists adhering strictly to these norms. During puberty, Kevin developed self-consciousness about his changing voice, particularly in public or group settings. This insecurity led him to focus on physical fitness, using the gym as both a coping mechanism and a confidence builder.

Kevin maintains strong online friendships but rarely meets these friends in person, highlighting a preference for virtual socialization over face-to-face interaction. He is also navigating uncertainty about his sexual orientation, questioning whether he may be gay but feeling unsure about how to discuss it with his family. While he believes his parents would likely be accepting, Kevin struggles with how to reconcile this part of his identity with his traditional upbringing.

Paula

Paula is a third-generation Lithuanian American who has grown up hearing stories from her grandparents about their lives in the Soviet Union. However, she finds little personal meaning in these accounts and rarely invites friends to her home. Paula experiences significant body image concerns—standing at 5’3”, she wishes to be taller and fears exceeding 100 pounds, leading her to maintain a restrictive diet. Additionally, she has not yet begun menstruation, which contributes to feelings of immaturity and insecurity about her physical development.

Paula dreams of achieving fame and actively pursues performing arts opportunities, consistently earning leading roles. Her ambition is reinforced by a strong belief in her talent and desire for public validation. Despite having one close friend, Lori, whom she deeply relies on, Paula also socializes with a larger circle during weekends but is cautious about engaging in risky behavior such as drinking and driving.

Her romantic relationship has been a source of tension at home, as her parents disapprove of her boyfriend. Frequent conflicts with her parents and teasing from her brother about the relationship create emotional strain, prompting Paula to spend as little time at home as possible.

Luis

Luis was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States at age two. At home, both English and Spanish are spoken, though neither language is used fluently, creating occasional communication challenges. Due to constant parental conflicts, Luis eventually moved out to live with his best friend. Transitioning to college has been a significant adjustment for him, characterized by feelings of isolation and disconnection, despite being praised for his intelligence and achievements.

As the first in his family to attend college, Luis feels misunderstood by his relatives, believing they cannot fully relate to his experiences. He lives with two close friends, and while one frequently smokes marijuana, Luis has only experimented with it a few times. His friendships revolve around social activities like trying to meet women, but Luis yearns for a deep, meaningful romantic relationship, which he has struggled to find.

Due to ongoing familial conflict, he avoids spending time with his parents, instead choosing to bond with his younger brother, whom he admires and mentors.

Research

Source 1: Early Adolescents’ Social Goals in Peer Conflict Situations

Study Overview:
Dunn et al. (2022) conducted a mixed-methods study to examine how early adolescents set goals in response to peer conflicts. The research included 160 seventh-grade students (85 female and 75 male) from both urban and rural schools.

Findings Summary:
The study identified several goal categories, including instrumental control, relationship maintenance, image protection, revenge, tension reduction, and moral reasoning. Although both genders shared similar social goals, female students were more likely to prioritize maintaining relationships and seeking additional information during conflicts. This aligns with prior findings suggesting that girls often emphasize relationship preservation in conflict resolution.

Table 1
Summary of Adolescent Conflict Goals (Dunn et al., 2022)

Goal Type	Description	Gender Trend
Instrumental Control	Achieving dominance or control in a conflict	Similar across genders
Relationship Maintenance	Preserving friendship or connection	More common among females
Image/Reputation Defense	Protecting self-image and avoiding embarrassment	Equal among males/females
Conflict Avoidance	Avoiding escalation or confrontation	Slightly higher in females
Revenge	Retaliating for perceived wrongs	Slightly higher in males

Overall, the study highlighted more similarities than differences between male and female adolescents in social goal formation during conflicts (Dunn et al., 2022).

Source 2: Children’s Goals and Strategies in Friendship Conflicts

Rose and Asher (1999) examined how children’s social goals and behavioral strategies influence their friendship quality and adjustment. Their research emphasized the conflicts that arise when children’s personal needs conflict with those of their peers.

Key Findings:
Boys generally reported larger social circles, whereas girls tended to form deeper, more intimate friendships. Female participants were more likely to seek understanding and maintain closeness during disputes, while males focused more on maintaining group cohesion rather than emotional intimacy. Despite these differences, both genders demonstrated comparable numbers of friendships overall (Rose & Asher, 1999).

Individual Influences

Kevin

Kevin’s worldview reflects the struggle of bicultural identity development. He navigates the expectations of his Nigerian heritage while embracing American social norms. His insecurities about appearance and voice drive compensatory behaviors such as rigorous fitness routines. According to Arnett and Jensen (2023), adolescents often use self-presentation as a means to establish social belonging and counter self-doubt. Kevin’s questioning of his sexual orientation demonstrates his exploration of identity—a central theme in Erikson’s stage of “identity versus role confusion.”

Paula

Paula’s self-image and worldview are heavily influenced by societal beauty standards and familial pressure. Her ambition for fame reflects a desire for validation and control amid a turbulent home environment. She balances her confidence in performance with deep-seated body insecurities, creating an internal conflict between self-assurance and vulnerability. As Arnett and Jensen (2023) explain, adolescents often rely on external validation to define self-worth, particularly when familial relationships are strained.

Luis

Luis demonstrates the challenges of acculturation and emotional independence. Growing up in a bilingual but unstable household, he learned early to navigate emotional chaos by seeking connection outside the family. His transition to college symbolizes both autonomy and alienation—common experiences for first-generation students. His avoidance of family conflict and search for deeper companionship indicate a yearning for stability and understanding. Arnett and Jensen (2023) note that such emotional distancing is often a self-protective response during emerging adulthood.

Conclusion

The core of these interpersonal conflicts lies in personal insecurities and identity struggles. Paula’s need for validation, Kevin’s uncertainty about identity, and Luis’s search for belonging collectively create a volatile social dynamic. When Paula calls Luis cowardly, it triggers his feelings of inadequacy. Luis’s teasing of Kevin becomes a defensive act to restore his social standing. Finally, his flirtation with Paula and her rejection illustrate recurring cycles of insecurity-driven behavior and emotional miscommunication. These interactions highlight how unresolved personal issues can manifest as conflict within peer groups during adolescence.

References

Arnett, J. J., & Jensen, L. A. (2023). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach (7th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://capella.vitalsource.com/books/9780138063061