ADOLESCENCE UNIT -IV

 

ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is the word that derived from Latin "adolescere" that means grow up. 

The period between childhood and adulthood is called adolescence. WHO defined adolescents as people within the age group of 10-19 years.

 According to Saundra K. Ciccarelli Adolescence is the period of life from about age 13 to the early 20s,

Although in the past, adolescence was always defined as the “teens,” from ages 13 to 19, adolescence isn’t necessarily determined by chronological age. 

It also concerns how a person  deals with life issues such as work, family, and relationships. So although there is a clear age  of onset, the end of adolescence may come earlier or later for different individual.

Definition

Stanley Hall " Adolescence  is the period of great stress and strain,storm and strife."

A.T. Jersild "Adolescence is that span of years during which boys and girls move from childhood to adulthood -mentally,emotionally,socially and  physically."

Developmental Characteristics of Adolescence  

Physical Development

Physiological changes at puberty promote rapid growth, the maturity of sexual organs, and development of secondary sex  

characteristics.

Cognitive Development

 During  adolescence,  formal operational thinking becomes well developed and integrated  in a significant percentage of adolescents.  

Social Development

Social relationships in early adolescence are centered in the peer group. Group values guide individual behaviour. 

Friends are more often selected on personal characteristics and mutual interests. The peer group declines in importance,individual friendships are strengthened.

characteristics of adolescence 

Auto-Eroticism

The adolescents love their body.they wear  costly dress to attract the attention of others

Hero-worship;

In this period it is  prominent characteristics to worship their ideal man or woman and try to follow as role model  for their life.

they are 

Creative 

Introspective

challenge everything 

need respect from others 

Risk-taking behaviour 

group loyalty

interest in social welfare 

explore spiritual matters 

vocational interest

identity formation