Adolescence Essay

•       During the western societies before the 1900´s, the transition from childhood to adulthood was very short and stressful. It wasn’t until after the 1900´s that the western society required longer education period of time and adulthood was delayed. They called this transition from being a child into an adult, adolescence. They divided adolescence into  3  categories; early adolescence (ages from 11-14), middle adolescence ( 15 to 18), and late adolescence ( from 18 to 21).

The biological changes

•       The biological changes that occur during adolescence are more noticeable than those of any other time of life, with the exception of infancy.

•       Every teenager grows at different rate

•       During adolescence the stable growth pattern in height and weight that mark early and middle childhood comes to an end.

•       Stability is replaced with adolescent growth spurt. This means that usually last two to 3 years and is when the teenager´s body start to show change.

•       Girls adolescent growth starts from, ages 11 or 12. While boys start much more later, about 2 years later than girls.

Later, in middle adolescence, most boys catch up and grow taller than females.

•       This time of adolescence might be awkward for the teenager.

•       Their hands and feet grow before the arms and legs, so many might feel disproportionate

•       As they grow, and become older, the bodies usually reach their correct proportion.

•       Psychologist believe that no more tan 15% of teenagers had difficulty adjusting to the adolescent growth spurt.

Sexual development

•       Entering the teenage years is associated with entering puberty.

•       Puberty refers to the specific developmental changes that lead to the ability to reproduce.

•       During puberty the reproductive organs of both, males and females, changes.

•       Primary sex characteristics are characteristics that are directly involved in reproduction.

•       Secondary sex characteristics are other characteristics that are not directly involved in reproduction.

•       The changes are connected to changes in hormone levels

•       All hormones are present in children of both sexes from births

•       Males produce more testosterone

•       Female more estrogen

Difference in maturity rate

•       Some adolescents reach maturity at a relatively early age, but others might react it earlier in the adolescence.

•       Researches have determine that boys that mature earlier have certain advantages over boys that mature later.

•       However, boys who mature early physically are not necessarily more mature tan their peers in some other ways, such as in how they approach and handle problems.

•       Early maturation is somewhat different for girls. Girls who mature early may feel awkward because they are taller.

•       This trend of early maturation, might make girls go and spend more time with older teenagers, and some girls are not emotionally ready to such event.

•       Although, the early maturing girls usually do not last long. They will be reach by their Friends and the problem will be gone for good.

Social development

•       Researches suggest that the hormonal changes of a adolescent do have some effect on the activity levels, mood swings, and aggressive tendencies.

•       Adolescence is a psychological concept as well as a biological concept. Certainly, adolescence can be challenging time of life.

Relationship with parents

•       During adolescence, parent and child relationship undergo redefinition. However, the picture of adolescence as a state of rebellion is exaggerated. There are more good changes than bad changes.

•       During the adolescence time, many teenagers want to become more independent from their parents, and this decision of great freedom might cause some conflicts.

•       Wanting more freedom might lead to less time spent with the family, great emotional attachment to people that are not family ( mostly Friends)

•       Adolescence, males and females, tend to interact with their mothers than they do with their fathers. They also see their mothers as more supportive than their father.

Adolescences friendships

•       The transition from childhood to adolescence involves an increase in the importance of Friends

•       Friendships is a very important part of a teenager.

•       Most teenager tend to have one or two best Friends as well as they have a lot of great Friends

•       Teenagers also have loyalty as a key aspect of friendship .

•       Having Friends means more to a teenager tan just having people to spend time with.

•       Teenagers usually choose Friends who are similar to themselves in age, background, education, goals and attitude towards drinking, drug use, and sexual activity.

Cliques and crowds

•       Adolescent not only have close Friends, they also tend to belong to one or more large groups called cliques and crowds.

•       A clique is a group of people of 5 to 10 people that spend a lot of time together and are very close to anyone who tries to enter the group.

•       A crowd are larger groups of people but they share attitudes and groups identity.  The crowds are not as close as the cliques.

Dating and romantic relationships

•       Many people begin dating in their teenage years

•       People date for several reasons, obviously learn how to relate positively to other people. It might help prepare for more serious relationships that come later in life.

•       Among younger adolescents, dating relationships tend to be casual and short. But in later adolescence, relationships tend to be more stable and committed.

Challenges of adolescence

•       Eating disorder

•       Anorexia nervosa is a life threatening disorder characterized by self starving and a distorted body image.

•       Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent cycles of binge eating followed by dramatic measures of eliminated food, such as vomiting .

•       This two disorders mostly affected Young women.

•       Many psychologist believe that Young women that have this disorders are because, they undergo the peer pressure of society and their ideal of beauty and perfection.

•       Substance abuse usually begins with experimentation in adolescence.

•       Drugs are also a a fear factor in the teenage lives. Many schools have drug prevention programs but what they can do por a teenager is limited.