Now That Stella Is an Adolescent, She Has Changed the Way

Essay

Now that Stella is an adolescent, she has changed the way in which she thinks about religion, morals, and politics. Specifically, she disagrees with her parents and believes that a protest blocking the construction of coal-fired power plant is acceptable because protecting the environment is more important than living in accord with the law. She knows that breaking the law is wrong, but she believes that the enforcement of certain laws should depend on the context in which the law is being evaluated. She believes that some laws are outdated and should be reexamined and perhaps amended. Stella's parents think she is just trying to rebel against them. How can you explain Stella's change in political ideology based on cognitive research in adolescence? Compare the political thinking of younger adolescents to that of older adolescents who are developing moral reasoning and cognitive autonomy.