Adolescence A Time of Transition

ADOLESCENCE
The Origin of the word Adolescence is from the Latin verb 'adolescere', which means, "to grow up." It can be defined as the transitional stage of development between childhood and full adulthood, representing the period of time during which a person is biologically adult but emotionally not at full maturity. Major physiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes take place during this period. "Adolescence" is a cultural and social phenomenon. It varies by culture.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as the period of life between 10 and 20 years of age and in terms of a phase of life marked by special attributes. These attributes include:
Rapid physical growth and development Physical, social and psychological maturity, but not all at the same time Sexual maturity and the onset of sexual activity Experimentation Development of adult mental processes and adult identity Transition from total socio-economic dependence to relative independence

The Physical Self Do I look all Right

Concerned about his looks and changing body. Takes an unusual amount of time to complete his bath or dress up . Have their own concepts of a body image

Dont be a Baby, you are big enough --- do it

Physical development bring in expectations about behaviour. - Looking after siblings or households. - Controlling emotions. - May feel stressed.

Just leave me alone

Want to be with themselves. May resort to childish ways. Need time to register, understand and find ways to deal with them. Reflects to newer methods of coping.

I am in love
Sexual maturation brings in natural attraction towards opposite sex. Passing fancies, crushes and relationships are common. See saw changes in relationship and attachments. Provide opportunity to improve interpersonal and social skills. Also a way of maintaining status

Friends Friends and More Friends

Peers are very important. Sounding board for ideas, thoughts and feelings. Take care of loneliness and facilitates identification. Restrictions on peer interactions are taken strongly.

Intelligence
Ability to deal with different aspects of life in an appropriate manner. Youngster continues to grow in intelligence up to 16 years of age. Deal with abstract situations. Thrill of making a discovery. Excelling in academics Enjoy competitive and creative tasks Want to explore talents & other interests.

Fantasies
Switch off their minds. Conversing with themselves Dreamy, faraway looks, smiling to himself Become a famous actor, singer or a model. Possessing, unimaginable, wealth, riches and power. Provides solace during difficult times

Emotions
Extremely sensitive and emotionally liable. May burst into tears on flimsy grounds. Get excited at trivial matters May start laughing or smiling in the midst of a serious discussion Swings from one mood to another. Expressing emotions helps feel relaxed. Constricting emotions leads to frustrations.

Anger Fear and Anxiety

Negative experience easily sparks off a negative emotions. May respond to frustrating situations with anger and fear. Criticisms restrictions, unfairness, favouritism to a sibling or classmate. They may often sulk , not talk or cooperate or withdraw. May also yell,, shout, cry, punch hit, swear, use sarcasm.

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 11 to 14 years
Due to hormones being released there is a spurt in growth: height, weight, increases, limbs may grow disproportionately compared to the rest of the body. The teenager will be constantly worried about the changing body, become selfconscious, may not want to go out Parents may interpret this pre-occupation with the body as self centredness

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 11 to 14 years
Sexual secondary characteristics develop: facial and pubic hair; breasts grow and menstruation may begin in girls; cracking of voice and muscle development in boys. Acne and pimples The hormonal changes may also bring about mood swings. The earlier easy going and gentle teenager may display aggression and will be difficult to talk to mood swings may be further aggravated if the teenager finds no support to deal with the changing body. Parents may be taken aback by the sudden alterations in mood and find it difficult to cope with the teenagers' highs and lows

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes A

Age 11 to 14 years
Try and assert himself as an individual with a mind of his own and demand more freedom. Experiments with speech, manners and clothes to set him apart . May be defiant and rebel if independence is thwarted . Parents may not feel comfortable in accepting the childs individuality and desire to be different. Striking a balance when it comes to giving enough freedom to the child may not be easy, as parents for their own reasons may not want to encourage

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 11 to 14 years
Will want to hang around with friends as much as possible Will want to do everything and have the same stuff, as does his friends. Having a friend makes the teenager feel wanted and special. Will use friends and their parents as a yardstick for measurement. Comments such as My Friends mother is so nice..look at you, will be often heard Parents may feel irritated and angered by teenagers preoccupation with their friends. Some may feel threatened by this shift in interest from family to friends. Parents may be intolerant of such criticisms and comparisons made by child.

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 15 to 18 years Learns to think Will show independently reluctance to and make his parental own decisions. interference or control.

Parents have to gradually let to go of the child and trust his decisionmaking capacity

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 15 to 18 years
Will continue to experiment and search for a bodyimage or self-image that he feels comfortable with. Choice of clothes, music, hairstyles may change as and when the teenager wishes to adopt something new. Parents may worry that these changes are going to last forever and complain about the money and time spent by the teenager.

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes

Age 15 to 18 years Will take risks May Anxious experiment parents will set with cigarettes, limits. alcohol and soft drugs.

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Psychological and Behavioural changes Familys reaction to the changes A

Age 15 to 18 years
Will feel more comfortable with his body image, hence may be less selfconscious and accept his own sexuality Feels less awkward and hence may be more social. May start dating though the relationships may short. Will want absolute privacy Parents may find it easier to deal with the child as anger against the bodily changes subsides; however they may worry about the childs well-being particularly if the child is sexually active. The teenager may see their

MILESTONES OF ADOLESCENCE
Developmental changes Age 15 to 18 years Psychological and Familys reaction to Behavioural changes the changes

Has set for himself a course to achieve financial or emotional independence

May feel confident about his future to some extent. May wish to move out of home either to a hostel or set up house for self in whatever way possible.

Parents may feel at ease as the adolescents future takes shape but the same time resent the role reversal where the adolescent is capable of making decisions for himself.