Adolescent Development: Physical, Psychological, and Social Aspects
Physical and Psychological Changes in Adults
Adult physical and psychological changes involve not only physical maturation but also shifts in moral reasoning, personality adjustments, and emotional and sexual behavior.
Physical Changes in Puberty
Puberty begins with hormonal secretions, leading to the development of primary sex characteristics (maturation of reproductive organs) and secondary sexual characteristics (non-reproductive traits).
Psychological Changes
During adolescence, there is a strong desire for independence and freedom. Teenagers seek greater autonomy and new experiences. They also need to break away from maternal dependence and challenge paternal authority.
Search for Identity is a key task in adolescence.
S. Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, believed that self-identity has psychosexual origins in two key puberty transformations:
- The shift from childhood sexuality to normal genital sexuality.
- Freedom from parental authority and Oedipal ties.
E. Erikson posited that adolescence is a period of crisis marked by extreme sensitivity and vulnerability.
Personal characteristics include physical attributes like height and weight.
What causes the rise of an identity crisis?
- Developing masculinity or femininity according to one’s sex.
- The need to navigate various social roles.
- Ideological commitment versus confusion of values.
- The ambiguous social status of teenagers.
Moral Development According to Kohlberg
J. Piaget viewed moral development in adolescence as a transition from heteronomous morality to autonomy. Heteronomous morality considers moral rules as absolute and immutable, while moral autonomy perceives rules as flexible and conventional.
Kohlberg researched moral judgment abilities through moral dilemmas or conflicting cases.
The author establishes three levels (preconventional, conventional, and postconventional).
Level I: Premoral (4 to 10 years) – Rules imposed by others are followed to receive rewards or avoid punishment.
- Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation – Actions are wrong if they lead to punishment.
- Stage 2: Naive Hedonism – Rules are obeyed for self-interest and to meet needs.
Level II: Conventional Morality (10 to 13 years) – Children identify with their group and seek to meet others’ expectations.
- Stage 3: Approval of Others – Correct behavior aligns with role models and is valued based on intent.
- Stage 4: Social System and Conscience – People fulfill their duty to respect authority and maintain social order.
Level III: Moral Autonomy (Age 13+) – Moral judgments go beyond the authority of individuals or groups.
- Stage 5: Orientation Towards Social Consensus – Conduct is based on maintaining societal rights and values.
- Stage 6: Targeting Universal Principles – Ethical principles are assimilated as universals.
Irrational Beliefs and Ideas
G. Kelly proposed that humans cannot know reality directly, only through a personal theory of acting.
Each individual develops a theory or map of reality to navigate the world. Ideas and beliefs provide stability to this theory.
Albert Ellis argued that maladaptive ways of constructing the world, pessimistic beliefs, and irrational ideas cause suffering.
According to Ellis, rational thinking is clear, consistent with reality, verifiable, non-absolutist, produces moderate emotions, and helps achieve goals.
Irrational thoughts:
- Produce intense and lasting negative emotions.
- Exaggerate the negative consequences of events.
- Reflect unrealistic demands on oneself and others.
- Are absolutist, using words like everything, nothing, always, and never.
Development of Social Behavior: Assertiveness
Social skills (HS) are specific behaviors used in relationships. V. Horse identified these characteristics of social skills:
- No one is born knowing how to interact with others.
- Social skills include observable motor (gestural), emotional (anxiety or happiness), and cognitive (social perception, self-talk) components.
- Social skills are behavioral features, not personality traits; they are specific responses to specific situations.
Passive behavior involves not expressing thoughts or feelings.
Aggressive behavior involves protecting oneself without considering others.
Assertive behavior involves expressing needs, rights, or opinions without attacking or violating others’ rights.
Interpersonal Relationships
- Desire is a biologically rooted instinct to resolve tension.
- Attraction is distinct from romance and can have multiple objectives.
- Love combines desire and attraction.
Interpersonal attraction is the evaluation of another person along an attitudinal dimension.
What variables influence attraction between people?
- Proximity: People closer to us are more likely to be attractive.
- Physical appearance: Important for initial impressions.
- Similarity: Individuals are attracted to those similar to them.
- Reciprocity: Attraction depends on whether it is reciprocated.