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What Ever Happened to the “Cool” Kids? Long‐Term Sequelae of Early Adolescent Pseudomature Behavior
Author(s) -
Allen Joseph P.,
Schad Megan M.,
Oudekerk Barbara,
Chango Joanna
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12250
Subject(s) - psychology , juvenile delinquency , developmental psychology , popularity , normative , longitudinal study , term (time) , longitudinal sample , adolescent development , social psychology , philosophy , statistics , physics , mathematics , epistemology , quantum mechanics
Pseudomature behavior—ranging from minor delinquency to precocious romantic involvement—is widely viewed as a nearly normative feature of adolescence. When such behavior occurs early in adolescence, however, it was hypothesized to reflect a misguided overemphasis upon impressing peers and was considered likely to predict long‐term adjustment problems. In a multimethod, multireporter study following a community sample of 184 adolescents from ages 13 to 23, early adolescent pseudomature behavior was linked cross‐sectionally to a heightened desire for peer popularity and to short‐term success with peers. Longitudinal results, however, supported the study's central hypothesis: Early adolescent pseudomature behavior predicted long‐term difficulties in close relationships, as well as significant problems with alcohol and substance use, and elevated levels of criminal behavior.