The Views of Parents and Adolescents on the Granting of Behavioural Autonomy to Adolescents: Some Normative Data

Abstract

Psychologists working with families experiencing serious parent adolescent conflict often find themselves being asked about community views regarding the ages at which adolescents ought be permitted to engage in a range of behaviours. Given the general lack of normative data in this regard, the current study has attempted to provide some. Data from two studies involving families of children attending a total of 17 Victorian schools are reported, and discussion is given to the use that might be made of such data by psychologists working with families experiencing parental adolescent conflict.