Adolescent psychology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stylized Portrait Of an adolescent girl

Adolescent Psychology addresses the specific issues of adolescents.

1 Adolescence
2 Background
3 Psychological issues
4 See also
5 Further reading

[edit] Adolescence

Adolescence, the transitional stage of development between childhood and adulthood, represents the period of time during which a person experiences a variety of biological changes and encounters a number of emotional issues. The ages which are considered to be part of adolescence vary by culture, and ranges from preteens to nineteen years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence covers the period of life between 10 and 20 years of age.

[edit] Background

Adolescence is a specifically turbulent as well as a dynamic period of any person’s life. Adolescence psychology addresses the issues associated with adolescence. A number of associations of the psychologists across the world now recognize this phenomenon and requirement of a separate class of specialized psychologists to deal with the issues of the adolescence. The American Psychological Association has a special division to assist them.

[edit] Psychological issues

Psychological issues of adolescents may include:

Physical maturation resulting from puberty leads to an interest in sexual activities, sometimes leading to teenage pregnancy. Increasingly, teenage sexual encounters do not occur in the context of a romantic relationship, but in an impersonal, merely sexual "hook up." The "impersonality of twenty-first-century adolescent sex victimizes girls" and "plenty of harm" is done to boys as well.^[1] As adolescents are not mentally or emotionally prepared to handle feelings and emotions that come with sex, nor financially able to support children, "early sexual activity - whether in or out of a romantic relationship - does far more harm than good."^[2]

The harm done to teenagers who engage in sexual activities is especially true for girls. In a 2003 study, 89% of girls reported feeling pressured by boys to have sex.^[3] Girls will often become intoxicated before engaging in sexual activities because it "numbs the experience for them, making it less embarrassing and less emotionally painful."^[4] A girl is "far more likely to feel used and abused after a typical" hook up.^[5] Boys are less likely to see sex as connected to an emotional relationship. However, by the time a young man is "in his early twenties, he will rely on his girlfriend or wife to be his primary emotional caregiver." If he can not establish an emotional relationship with a woman who views sex as connected to intimacy, then he is more likely to become depressed, commit suicide or die from illness.^[6]

Tendency and possibility of drug and alcohol use.

In some cases mental problems such as schizophrenia, eating disorders and depression.

The emotional instability among some adolescents also sometimes causes youth crime.

Searching for a unique identity is one of the problems that adolescents often face. At this age, role models such as sports players, rock stars and movie and television performers are very popular, and adolescents often express a desire to be like their chosen role model.

Relationships with Peers

"90% of adolescent identify themselves with a peer group" (Palmonari, 1989)

If peers give emotional support, adolescents in a peer group are less likely to be depressed or have anxiety. Depressed individuals may find it difficult to make friends (Buhrmester, 1992)

Conformity peaks at 11-13 yrs (Costanzo and Shaw 1966)

Studied behavior and the influence of peers, results note that pro-social behavior occurs when encouraged. Peaks at 11-12 years or possibly anti-social 14-15 years (Bendt, 1979)