WHO AM I? WHO WILL I BECOME adolescence WHO AM I? WHO WILL I BECOME

DEFINITION OF ADOLESCENCE The transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth. The process or state of growing to maturity. 3. A period or stage of development preceding maturity.

Adolescence describes the teenage years between 13 and 19 and can be considered the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. However, the physical and psychological changes that occur in adolescence can start earlier, during the preteen or "tween" years (ages 9 through 12). Adolescence can be a time of both disorientation and discovery.

The transitional period can bring up issues of independence and self-identity; many adolescents and their peers face tough choices regarding schoolwork, sexuality, drugs, alcohol, and social life. Peer groups, romantic interests and external appearance tend to naturally increase in importance for some time during a teen's journey toward adulthood.

What are some of the difficult choices, decisions, life changes that occur during Adolescence?

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT Adolescence, these years from puberty to adulthood, may be roughly divided into three stages: early adolescence, generally ages eleven to fourteen; middle adolescence, ages fifteen to seventeen; and late adolescence, ages eighteen to twenty- one. In addition to physiological growth, seven key intellectual, psychological and social developmental tasks are squeezed into these years. The fundamental purpose of these tasks is to form one’s own identity and to prepare for adulthood.

Early adolescence Early adolescence is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. Hormones change as puberty begins. Boys grow facial and pubic hair and their voices deepen. Girls grow pubic hair and breasts, and start menstruating. They might be worried about these changes and how they are looked at by others. This will also be a time when your teenager might face peer pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and to have sex. Other challenges can be eating disorders, depression, drugs, and family problems.

Emotional/social changes More concern about body image, looks, and clothes. Focus on self, going back and forth between high expectations and lack of confidence. Moodiness More interest in and influence by peer group. Less affection shown toward parents. May sometimes seem rude or short-tempered. Anxiety from more challenging school work. Eating problems sometimes start at this age.

Mental/cognitive changes More ability for complex thought. Better able to express feelings through talking. A stronger sense of right and wrong. Many teens sometimes feel sad or depressed. Depression can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, and other problems.

Middle adolescence Middle adolescence is a time of blossoming development – the insecure, inwardly focused 13-year- old becomes a cheerful, charming 16-year-old looking toward the future. During this time your child’s thinking skills take a decidedly adult turn, his/her body matures, and friends and social networks outside the family become increasingly important.

Middle adolescence Boys and girls still exhibit markedly different levels of physical maturity as they enter middle adolescence. Girls’ rapid growth is generally tapering off, while many boys have yet to see the beginning of their much anticipated growth spurt. By the end of this period most girls will be near their adult height; boys may continue to grow until age 18 or 19.

PHYSICAL CHANGES always hungry; appetite is great need for sleep increases; may sleep quite late on weekends oily skin and acne may be problematic sweating increases rapid growth may cause clumsiness and lack of coordination sexual development

MENTAL/COGNITIVE CHANGES arguing skills improve (and are demonstrated often and with great passion) reasoning skills improve: begins with the ability to apply concepts to specific examples learns to use deductive reasoning and make educated guesses focus on the future develops learns to recognize that current actions can have an effect on the future

MENTAL/COGNITIVE CHANGES starts to set personal goals (and may reject goals set by others) decision-making skills improve: begins to independently differentiate right from wrong and develops a conscience learns to distinguish fact from opinion learns to evaluate the credibility of various sources of information may challenge the assumptions and solutions presented by adults

MENTAL/COGNITIVE CHANGES Why are the changes in your Mental/Cognitive abilities so important. How do you believe these changes affect your life and future? Have you noticed any of these changes yet? How have they affected you and your relationships with others?

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHANGES Firmer identity; Ability to delay gratification; Ability to think ideas through; Ability to express ideas in words; More developed sense of humor; Stable interests;

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHANGES Greater emotional stability; Ability to make independent decisions; Ability to compromise; Pride in one's work; Self-reliance; Greater concern for others

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHANGES Capable of useful insight; Stress on personal dignity and self-esteem; Ability to set goals and follow through; Acceptance of social institutions and cultural traditions; Self-regulation of self esteem

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHANGES Concerned with serious relationships; Clear sexual identity; Capacities for tender and sensual love Most girls fully developed;

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHANGES How do you believe the Social/Emotional changes you may experience might affect your life? Will some of your friendships/relationships change? Are you experiencing some changes now? How has this made you feel? Why is Personal Maturity so important before entering dating relationships?

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Puberty is defined as the biological changes of adolescence. By mid-adolescence, if not sooner, most youngsters’ physiological growth is complete; they are at or close to their adult height and weight, and are now physically capable of having babies.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT Most boys and girls enter adolescence still perceiving the world around them in concrete terms: Things are either right or wrong, awesome or awful. They rarely set their sights beyond the present, which explains younger teens’ inability to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT By late adolescence, many youngsters have come to appreciate subtleties of situations and ideas, and to project into the future. Their capacity to solve complex problems and to sense what others are thinking has sharpened considerably. But because they are still relatively inexperienced in life, even older teens apply these newfound skills erratically and therefore may act without thinking.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT If teenagers can be said to have a reason for being (besides sleeping in on weekends and cleaning out the refrigerator), it would have to be asserting their independence. This demands that they distance themselves from Mom and Dad.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT The march toward autonomy can take myriad forms: less overt affection, more time spent with friends, contentious behavior, pushing the limits—the list goes on and on. Yet adolescents frequently feel conflicted about leaving the safety and security of home. Teenagers may yo-yo back and forth between craving parent’s attention, only to spin away again.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Until now, a child’s life has revolved mainly around the family. Adolescence has the effect of a stone dropped in water, as her social circle ripples outward to include friendships with members of the same sex, the opposite sex, different social and ethnic groups, and other adults, like a favorite teacher or coach. Eventually teenagers develop the capacity for falling in love and forming romantic relationships.

MORALITY principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

Moral development Throughout the course of puberty, teens' moral development advances just as surely as their bodies are changing. From the start of early adolescence teens begin to think abstractly. This new ability leads them to begin to question rules and standards, whether from school, religious authorities or parents, which they had previously easily accepted.. They will usually be more likely to match their behavior to their beliefs by the end of this period.

Moral development By middle adolescence (around 14-18 years old), teens have begun to develop their own moral code. Their behavior early on during middle adolescence may not be consistent with some of their moral conclusions. This isn't hypocrisy; they really just haven't made the connection yet. It's the reason they may genuinely believe smoking is bad, but they'll try it anyway

Moral development As they move to late adolescence they will begin to develop their moral ideas about the world, thinking about such concepts as justice, peace and patriotism.

Moral development Why is moral development so important? How has your moral development affected your relationships? Has your moral development caused you to end/begin friendships?