from: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology Each teenager is an individual with a unique personality and special interests, likes and dislikes. In general, however, there is a series of developmental tasks that everyone faces during the adolescent years. A teenager’s development can be divided into three stages — early, middle, and late adolescence. The normal feelings and behaviors of adolescents for each stage are described below. *Improved abilities to use speech to express oneself *More likely to express feelings by action than by words *Less attention shown to parents, with occasional rudeness *Realization that parents are not perfect; identification of their faults *Search for new people to love in addition to parents *Tendency to return to childish behavior, fought off by excessive activity *Peer group influence interests and clothing styles Mostly interested in present and near future Same-sex friends and group activities Experimentation with body (masturbation) Occasional experimentation with cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol *Self-involvement, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept *Complaints that parents interfere with independence *Extremely concerned with appearance and with one’s own body *Feelings of strangeness about one’s self and body *Lowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from them *Strong emphasis on the new peer group with the group identity of selectivity, superiority and competitiveness *Periods of sadness as the psychological loss of the parents takes place *Examination of inner experiences, which may include writing a diary Intellectual interests gain importance Some sexual and aggressive energies directed into creative and career interests Concerns about sexual attractiveness Movement towards heterosexuality with fears of homosexuality Tenderness and fears shown towards opposite sex Development of ideals and selection of role models More consistent evidence of conscience Ability to make independent decisions Higher level of concern for the future Concerned with serious relationships Capacities for tender and sensual love Stress on personal dignity and self-esteem Ability to set goals and follow through Acceptance of social institutions and cultural traditions Teenagers will naturally vary slightly from the descriptions in the charts above, but the feelings and behaviors listed for each area are, in general, considered normal for each of the three stages. The mental and emotional problems that can interfere with these normal developmental stages are treatable. If a teenager seems very different from the descriptions presented here, it may be appropriate to consult with a mental health professional.
The Term Paper on Parenting Teenagers
Parenting teenagers can be a difficult thing, but it doesnt have to be if it is approached correctly. There are four major parts in parenting. These are: education, discipline, communication, and letting go. Each of these is an equally essential part of the Researchers and scholars have marked adolescence as a very important period in human development- the fork in the road which forever shapes an ...
