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(3) Social relationship

The growth and development of social relationship of young people is, by and large,
centered around their interaction with siblings, parents, peer group and members of
the opposite sex. Early experience of social relationship is usually centered around
home. However, as young people enter into their teens, physical and emotional
development which takes place in them is marked by changes in the patterns of
interpersonal relationship.

Parents continue to have control over their teenage children and provide protection
and guidance. However, teenagers try to assert their independence by shifting away
from parents and trying to be on their own within their families. It is common for
young people to have more frequent conflict with their parents over the amount of
freedom they think they deserve. Some parents treat these changes in behaviour
pattern as a challenge to their authority.

Many parents tend to think their growing child is inexperienced and therefore, cannot
make right decisions. Such parents therefore, can also generate stress and strain for
their children. Social development is easier for those teenagers who feel that their
parents love and trust them. An over-protected teenager is likely to have greater
difficulty in learning to act independently.

To a great extent, peer group relationships help teenagers to learn to interact with
people in a healthy manner. It is also seen that adolescents look to their peer group
for approval. During this period there is a tendency to have fiends from both sexes.

While the peer influence helps in establishing independent identities, peer pressure
at times can generate negative orientation in teenagers. Studies indicate that most
people who indulge in drugs, alcohol and teenage sex do so under peer group
pressure or orientation.

Therefore, an appropriate sexual health education package is required for young

people which will enable them to adopt healthy behaviour pattern.

(4) Personal identity

During adolescence every child tries to establish his/her own identity. The
establishment of identify is a gradual process during this stage of development. It is
possible that the physical and psychological changes taking place during the
teenage period can interfere with the process of establishing personal identity.
However, as they grow into adulthood, they normally develop a strong sense of
personal identity.

Parents and teachers need to help and support young people to develop and
maintain a high sense of self-esteem and self-concept. Self-

esteem is closely identified with self-respect. It is the realisation of oneself as a

human being and the identification of one's self within the society. The social
development of a person is primarily based on this self-esteem.

(5) Emotional development