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Stages of Adolescent Development: Research Facts and Findings, May 2004
Stages of Adolescent Development: Research Facts and Findings, May 2004
StagesofAdolescentDevelopment
ResearchFactsandFindings,May2004
ApublicationoftheACTforYouthCenterofExcellence
bySedraSpano
Adolescenceisatimeofgreatchangeforyoungpeoplewhenphysicalchangesarehappeningatanaccelerated
rate.Butadolescenceisnotjustmarkedbyphysicalchangesyoungpeoplearealsoexperiencingcognitive,
social/emotionalandinterpersonalchangesaswell.Astheygrowanddevelop,youngpeopleareinfluencedby
outsidefactors,suchastheirenvironment,culture,religion,school,andthemedia.Anumberofdifferent
theoriesorwaysoflookingatadolescentdevelopmenthavebeenproposed(seebelow).Therearebiological
views(G.StanleyHall),psychologicalviews(Freud),psychosocialviews(Erikson),cognitiveviews(Piaget),
ecologicalviews(Bronfenbrenner),socialcognitivelearningviews(Bandura),andculturalviews(Mead).Each
theoryhasauniquefocus,buttherearemanysimilarelements.Whileitistruethateachteenagerisan
individualwithauniquepersonality,specialinterests,andlikesanddislikes,therearealsonumerous
developmentalissuesthateveryonefacesduringtheearly,middleandlateadolescentyears(AmericanAcademy
ofChildandAdolescentPsychiatry).
Thenormalfeelingsandbehaviorsofthemiddleschoolandhighschooladolescentcanbecategorizedintofour
broadareas:movingtowardindependencefutureinterestsandcognitivedevelopmentsexualityandethicsand
selfdirection.Specificcharacteristicsofnormaladolescentbehaviorwithineachareaaredescribedbelow.
EarlyAdolescence(Approximately1214yearsofage)
MovementTowardIndependence
Strugglewithsenseofidentity
Moodiness
Improvedabilitiestousespeechtoexpressoneself
Morelikelytoexpressfeelingsbyactionthanbywords
Closefriendshipsgainimportance
Lessattentionshowntoparents,withoccasionalrudeness
Realizationthatparentsarenotperfectidentificationoftheirfaults
Searchfornewpeopletoloveinadditiontoparents
Tendencytoreturntochildishbehavior
Peergroupinfluencesinterestsandclothingstyles.
FutureinterestsandCognitiveDevelopment
Increasingcareerinterests
Mostlyinterestedinpresentandnearfuture
Greaterabilitytowork
Sexuality
Girlsaheadofboys
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Shyness,blushing,andmodesty
MoreshowingoffGreaterinterestinprivacy
Experimentationwithbody(masturbation)
Worriesaboutbeingnormal
EthicsandSelfDirection
Ruleandlimittesting
Occasionalexperimentationwithcigarettes,marijuana,andalcohol
Capacityforabstractthought
PhysicalChanges
Gainsinheightandweight
Growthofpubicandunderarmhair
Bodysweatsmore
Hairandskinbecomemoreoily
Breastdevelopmentandmenstruationingirls
Growthoftesticlesandpenis,
Nocturnalemissions(wetdreams),
Deepeningofvoice,
Growthofhaironfaceinboys
MiddleAdolescence(approximately1516years)
MovementTowardIndependence
Selfinvolvement,alternatingbetweenunrealisticallyhighexpectationsandpoorselfconcept
Complaintsthatparentsinterferewithindependence
Extremelyconcernedwithappearanceandwithone'sownbody
Feelingsofstrangenessaboutone'sselfandbody
Loweredopinionofparents,withdrawalfromthem
Efforttomakenewfriends
Strongemphasisonthenewpeergroup
Periodsofsadnessasthepsychologicallossoftheparentstakesplace
Examinationofinnerexperiences,whichmayincludewritingadiary
FutureInterestsandCognitiveDevelopment
Intellectualinterestsgainimportance
Somesexualandaggressiveenergiesdirectedintocreativeandcareerinterests
Sexuality
Concernsaboutsexualattractiveness
Frequentlychangingrelationships
Movementtowardsheterosexualitywithfearsofhomosexuality
Tendernessandfearsshowntowardoppositesex
Feelingsofloveandpassion
EthicsandSelfDirection
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Developmentofidealsandselectionofrolemodels
Moreconsistentevidenceofconscience
Greatercapacityforsettinggoals
Interestinmoralreasoning
PhysicalChanges
Continuedheightandweightgains
Growthofpubicandunderarmhair
Bodysweatsmore
Hairandskinbecomemoreoily
Breastdevelopmentandmenstruationingirls
Growthoftesticlesandpenis,
Nocturnalemissions(wetdreams),
Deepeningofvoice,
Growthofhaironfaceinboys
LateAdolescence(approximately1719years)
MovementTowardIndependence
Firmeridentity
Abilitytodelaygratification
AbilitytothinkideasthroughAbilitytoexpressideasinwords
Moredevelopedsenseofhumor
Stableinterests
Greateremotionalstability
Abilitytomakeindependentdecisions
Abilitytocompromise
Prideinone'swork
Selfreliance
Greaterconcernforothers
FutureInterestsandCognitiveDevelopment
Moredefinedworkhabits
Higherlevelofconcernforthefuture
Thoughtsaboutone'sroleinlife
Sexuality
Concernedwithseriousrelationships
Clearsexualidentity
Capacitiesfortenderandsensuallove
EthicsandSelfDirection
Capableofusefulinsight
Stressonpersonaldignityandselfesteem
Abilitytosetgoalsandfollowthrough
Acceptanceofsocialinstitutionsandculturaltraditions
Selfregulationofselfesteem
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PhysicalChanges
Mostgirlsfullydeveloped
Boyscontinuetogainheight,weight,musclemass,bodyhair
Teenagersdovaryslightlyfromtheabovedescriptions,butthefeelingsandbehaviorsare,ingeneral,
considerednormalforeachstageofadolescence.
TheoriesofAdolescence(Muuss,R.,et.al.,1996RiceandDolgin,2002)
DevelopmentalAreaBiological
PrimaryTheoristsG.StanleyHall,ArnoldGesell,JamesTanner
MainFocusPhysicalandsexualdevelopmentdeterminedbygenesandbiology
DevelopmentalAreaPsychological
PrimaryTheoristsSigmundFreud,AnnaFreud
MainFocusAdolescenceasaperiodofsexualexcitementandanxiety
DevelopmentalAreaPsychosocial
PrimaryTheoristErikErikson
MainFocusIdentityformationadolescentsstrugglebetweenachievingidentityandidentitydiffusion
DevelopmentalAreaCognitive
PrimaryTheoristJeanPiaget
MainFocusFormaloperationalthoughtmovingbeyondconcrete,actualexperiencesandbeginningto
thinkinlogicalandabstractterms
DevelopmentalAreaEcological(interactionbetweenindividualandenvironment)
PrimaryTheoristUrieBronfenbrenner
MainFocusThecontextinwhichadolescentsdevelopadolescentsareinfluencedbyfamily,peers,
religion,schools,themedia,community,andworldevents.
DevelopmentalAreaSocialCognitiveLearning
PrimaryTheoristAlbertBandura
MainFocusTherelationshipbetweensocialandenvironmentalfactorsandtheirinfluenceonbehavior.
Childrenlearnthroughmodeling.
DevelopmentalAreaCultural
PrimaryTheoristsMargaretMead,CarolGilligan
MainFocusThecultureinwhichthechildgrowsup.
WhatParentsCanDo
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Whenyoungpeoplefeelconnectedtohome,family,andschool,theyarelesslikelytobecomeinvolvedin
activitiesthatputtheirhealthatrisk.Parentalwarmthandstrong,positivecommunicationhelpsyoungpeopleto
establishindividualvaluesandmakehealthylifedecisions.
Nurtureapositiverelationshipwithyourchild.Whenparentchildinteractionsarecharacterizedbywarmth,
kindness,consistency,respect,andlove,therelationshipwillflourish,aswillselfesteem,mentalhealth,and
socialskills.
Encourageindependentthoughtandexpressioninyourchild.Teenswhoarecompetent,responsible,andhave
highselfesteemhaveparentswhoencouragethemtoexpresstheiropinionsandwhoincludetheminfamily
decisionmakingandrulesetting.
Showgenuineinterestinyourchild'sactivities.Thisallowsparentstomonitortheirchild'sbehaviorinapositive
way.Parentswho,togetherwiththeirchildren,setfirmboundariesandhighexpectationsmayfindthattheir
children'sabilitiestoliveuptothoseexpectationsgrow.
References
AmericanAcademyofChildandAdolescentPsychiatry(AACAP)websiteat
http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/develop.htm
FocusAdolescentServiceswebsiteathttp://www.focusas.com/Parenting.htmlAClearinghouseof
Information,ResourcesandSupport
Rice,P.andDolgin,K.AdolescentsinTheoreticalContextfromTheAdolescent:Development,
RelationshipsandCulture,10thedition.Boston:AllynandBacon.2002.
ResnickMDetal.Protectingadolescentsfromharm:findingsfromtheNationalLongitudinalStudyon
AdolescentHealth.JAMA1997278:82332.
SteinbergL.Weknowsomethings:parentadolescentrelationshipsinretrospectandprospect.Journalof
ResearchinAdolescence200111:119.
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