Adolescence, the maturation process between childhood and adulthood, spans from the onset of puberty to maturity and typically covers the ages of 11 to 21. It is a period in which our children begin to see themselves as adults and independent.
Therefore, we must consider that it is one of the most complicated stages in human life, not only for our children, but also for the parents, where on many occasions we will find that they are an unrecognizable person or we will even long for that innocent child who was always by our side.
For this reason, and in order to understand everything that is happening to us, we must know the different stages of adolescence.
Stages of Adolescence:
Pre-adolescence, between 8 and 11 years old.
Is the final stage of childhood, where internal adolescent conflicts begin to manifest themselves.
There is uneven growth of bones, organs, and muscles, resulting in a somewhat awkward appearance. You have logical thinking and a tendency to dismiss the imaginative thoughts of childhood. Your ability to process major events and apply new concepts increases, along with a greater interest in learning life skills.
Regarding their moral development, they tend to be egocentric in general, although they already possess a conscience. They understand the concepts of fairness and negotiation. Their moral capacity is not always reflected in their behavior. And as for what is related to the concept of themselvesWe can say that this is largely influenced by relationships with family members, teachers, and increasingly, peers. Many boys tend to imitate the male stereotype. Many girls' self-image can suffer with the onset of puberty.
Finally, it should be noted that both their relationships with their parents and with their peers are affected in the following way:
- Relationship with their Parents: Affectionate and dependent relationship with both parents. Desire to participate more in decisions that affect them. Tendency to argue about chores, duties, and tidiness. Conflicts with siblings.
- Relationship with their compañerosThey choose friends with similar tastes and hobbies. Girls tend to have fewer but closer friends than boys. At this stage, cliques of friends form that may exclude other children.
Early Adolescence between 11 and 15 years old.
It coincides with pubertyThis period marks the physical transformation of a child's body into that of an adolescent. Girls experience their first menstruation, and boys begin to experience voice changes and other signs of adulthood. They develop new abilities to see things in relative and abstract terms, and their sense of humor may become more focused on irony and sex. This is also a time of increased conflict with parents.
Regarding your moral developmentThey continue to be egocentric and seek social approval from their peers. They begin to understand concepts related to social order, but at this age they often question certain social, moral, and/or ethical principles, sometimes especially those held by their parents. And regarding the concept of selfIt depends on how they accept the changes that occur during puberty: a tendency to conform to male or female stereotypes, preoccupation with weight, skin, height, and physical appearance in general. They also begin to need more privacy at home, often experience intense mood swings, and can go from profound sadness to overwhelming joy in a matter of hours, without really knowing why.
Finally, it should be noted that both their relationships with their parents and with their peers are affected in the following way:
- Relationship with their ParentsThis is often the stage of greatest conflict with parents as they seek their own identity within the family, distinct from that of the child they once were. They seek more companionship with their friends. They sometimes reject displays of affection, even though they still need them. Their desire to make their own decisions and rebel against parental discipline increases, although they still require it.
- Relationship with their compañerosThe changes of puberty and how peers react can influence friendships. Teenagers are more likely to share confidences and form groups of two to six friends. Sexual desire begins to awaken, and some start forming romantic relationships.
Middle Adolescence from 15 to 18 years:
The adolescent begins to accept their new body and their new identity. They no longer see themselves as a child. At the same time, they begin to interact with the opposite sex and join mixed-gender groups. Their main concern is sex and attracting and seducing members of the opposite sex. Doubts about sexual orientation and experimentation with strong stimulants such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco are common.
They have a greater capacity to think abstractly and hypothetically about the present and the future, because they can better understand and share the events that surround them and that occur beyond their immediate social circle, and they can adopt a new social awareness.
Regarding your moral developmentThey tend to be less egocentric and place greater emphasis on abstract values and moral principles. Since emotional and cognitive development do not progress at the same pace, it is possible that the same adolescents who uphold certain values may simultaneously violate them. In this sense, it is a somewhat contradictory stage. And regarding what is related to the concept of selfAdolescence is the stage in which teenagers form their own identity. They experiment with different aspects, roles, values, friends, hobbies… Girls with weight problems may be prone to depression, so we can say they have a certain vulnerability to potential worries such as depression and disorders like anorexia.
Finally, I should mention that both relationships with their parents as with their peers they are affected in the following way:
- Relationship with their ParentsAs children progress through the final stage of adolescence, there tends to be less conflict between them and their parents, and greater respect, because they now see their parents as individuals and understand that their opinions are based on certain values. This leads to improved family relationships. They may still disagree with some limits set by their parents (such as money, chores, curfew, appearance, etc.), but these limits will ultimately benefit them in the long run.
- Relationship with their compañeros: Friendships between boys and girls are becoming more common, and peer influence remains key in the development of a person's identity. Antisocial friends can increase antisocial behavior in adolescents.
Late adolescence from 18 years old onwards.
Internal identity conflicts gradually resolve, and the peer group becomes less important compared to the search for a partner. Considering that, for some authors, adolescence ends when a young person is completely emotionally and financially independent from their parents, this stage can last a very long time. If we look at it with a touch of dark humor, we could say that you're not an adult until you have a mortgage.
Sources:
- Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence, Katheleenberger Stassen
- Adolescence: A Developmental Transition. Douglas Kimmel and Irving B. Weinner.
- ADOLESCENCE: A DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITION.
- www.euroresidentes.com
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