Adolescence

1 Pages 342 Words

Adolescence is a long period in a person’s life when they are making the transition from childhood to adulthood. This socially constructed period of growth is a time that entails a lot of transformations, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. This time period lasts almost a decade and I have to agree that this stage in a developing child’s life is a very stressful period of unquestionable adjustment and change.
Physical and biological changes that occur during adolescence are a rapid growth in height and weight, changes in body proportions and form, and attainment of sexual maturity. Hormonal changes during this time are associated with heightened moodiness and emotionality, aggression, and depression.
A cognitive change that occurs with the adolescence period is a change in the thought process. The speed of information processing continues to increase and thinking may remain somewhat immature, but they are now capable of abstract reasoning and sophisticated moral judgments
At a psychosocial level adolescents are often in search for their own identity. This process of finding one’s self is a vital process that builds on achievements of earlier stages in development and lays the foundation for coping with the crises of adult life. Relationships with family and peers, sexuality, and values all influence a person’s achievement of identity. Self image, attitudes, and personalities are all factors in determining one’s identity.
After reviewing each developmental part of adolescence, it is obvious that there is a lot of change happening at this stage of maturity. This period causes stress for adolescents because of the new experiences and feelings they are being exposed to. Besides all of the unexpected biological changes, the social and cognitive changes that are occurring cause uneasiness and anxiety among them. Are they children or are they adults? This question is not clearly answered by...