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My name is Tanya and I am 16 years old. Many people tell me that I am smart,though I prefer to be called beautiful – no one ever calls me that, though. I am inall of the advanced placement classes at school and have a group of friends thateveryone else ignores. We stay to ourselves mostly and that’s OK. Lately, I havebeen feeling depressed because my friends are not exciting, we never doanything that is, you know—daring. It seems like everyone else is having a bettertime in high school than I am.So, last week, I decided to start hanging around with other kids, you know, tohave some fun. It was hard to get them to talk to me at first. I had to bring clothesto school to change so they would notice me (my parents would kill me if theysaw how I dress in school now). Then, I had to stop spending time with my othersfriends. I even started skipping classes! I know they are still using me, becausewe use my car for skipping, but I don’t care. For the first time, I have a boyfriendwho doesn’t care if I’m smart. In fact, he lets me do his homework.Yesterday, Kim, the leader of this group, told me I could go to a party with themthis weekend (my first) if I promise to steal booze from my parents. I love how Ifeel when I am with them, but I also know that my parents will ground me for life ifI raid their liquor cabinet. I really want to go and stealing from my parents just thisonce should be fine. After all, I have never done anything like this before—howmuch trouble could I get in?

• Using Kohlberg’s or Gilligan’s theories, explain the developmental stage that Tanya seems to be experiencing. Use examples from the scenario and the theory in your response.
• What are she and other adolescents who put themselves in this position trying to figure out? What mistakes stem from this need to be accepted by others?