If you could describe in one word your teenage period, what would it be like?
This is one of the most significant stages for people because, they are able to feel the way in which the changes that occur on a daily basis affect them, not only physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. Transforming them into unstable beings who seek their way forward in the best possible way, in the midst of feeling proud of their parents and having their own identity.
We also know that this is a stage marked by all those acts that are decided and even more by the consequences that can benefit or affect the perception of the world of young people. Therefore, some may feel that they are walking on tiptoe, disoriented and with a lot of pressure on their shoulders to become an ideal person, although they do not yet know what it is like to be one.
- You may be interested in: “Differences between men and women during adolescence”.
So you should not be afraid if your children suddenly answer you wrong to your questions or demand more space to have their own privacy, because it’s all part of that same process. In this article you will learn about all the stages of adolescence and its main characteristics to talk about. and its main characteristics, which we will talk about next.
Why do changes affect teenagers so much?
The answer to this is as simple as it is complex and is due to the hormonal changes they go through, which not only alter their physique, but also affect their emotional processes. So they are constantly in a struggle to discover their identity, while battling with the sudden changes in their body or even the lack of them.
For, where one person may be bothered by increasing curves (in the case of women) or height growth (in the case of men), their peers may be affected because these changes are not coming to them yet and they feel incomplete.
At the same time, adolescents find themselves questioning the way the world is run and the way their own world is run. and the way their own world is run. They seek new arguments, knowledge and experiences from which they manage to create their own opinions. Although many times these may have differences with the beliefs and values imposed at home, so they must also find a way to balance them or make the difficult decision to choose one.
Stages of adolescence and their main characteristics
Here are the stages through which people who are in the complicated stage of adolescence must go through. who are in the complicated stage of adolescence must go through.
Early adolescence
This is the first stage of adolescence and is comprised between 10 or 11 years old and 13 years old, so it also includes the stage known as pre-adolescence and puberty. In which the sexual hormones begin to develop for men and women, so the physical changes begin to be quite visible.
In the case of men there is what is known as ‘pubertal growth spurt’ in which the extremities of the body grow suddenly, so they have problems to control their movements with their ‘new body’, they also begin to notice changes in their voice, which becomes deeper, as well as a change in their body odor.
On the women’s side, they begin to perceive the transformation in their body with the growth of the breasts and the widening of the hips, as well as the generation of more fat around the abdomen and legs. As well as the long-awaited menstruation, which gives the green light to female fertility.
An interesting anecdote in this stage is that young people tend to give more importance to friends than to the family itself, since they feel more affinity with them.They feel more affinity with their peers of the same age who are going through similar changes to them. So they enjoy and are inclined to spend more time with them.
2. Middle adolescence
The stage of the search for self-identity begins here, where young people experience new experiences, acquire deeper knowledge of different topics and begin to generate criticism of the world around them. So they begin to create their own belief system, which is a mixture of the values learned at home and their personal opinions about everything. It ranges between 14 and 16 years of age.
This is because abstract thinking is fully formed and young people can make full use of their higher mental capacities, from creativity to reasoning. This leads them to be able to absorb more information, analyze it, memorize and be influenced by what they have learned.
However, they have the particular characteristic that they can be attracted by different themes and that is why we can see them one season with a particular style and at another time with a totally opposite inclination.
On the other hand, adolescents at this stage tend to return to egocentric attitudesThis time it is to reinforce their need for freedom, independence and intimacy. Therefore, it is normal for them to have rebellious tendencies and even generate tensions in family relationships.
Although they are also more exposed to risky behaviors and consumption, especially if they are pressured by friends or to fit into a certain social group. That is why it is important that, from an early age, young people are taught to be careful with the friendships they generate and try to relate to those who bring positive things to their lives.
Another interesting point to note is that some people may begin to experience physical and emotional changes at this stage, rather than in early adolescence. This is because not everyone develops at the same time and some may take a little longer.
3. Late adolescence
This is the last stage of adolescence and is established between 17 and 21 years of age, marking the end of adolescence to give way to early adulthood. It is a key stage for people because their youth acquires a new meaning and they must choose a path to follow. Since it is the door that begins the future they will have to live, so their choices will be key to achieve their dreams.
At this stage, all those psychological, physical, sexual and emotional changes come to an end, to settle in a balance that remains in constant dynamism. But, the foundations of their own belief system are already established and now the quest to reinforce them begins.
During this period, there is also a significant change in interpersonal relationships and young people are more inclined to develop personal relationships, with a smaller circle of friends and intimate relationships with people whom they consider a potential emotional partner. They are more interested in romance and in maintaining a good physical appearance, but at the same time in having a strong and attractive personality, in order to be able to relate to those they consider similar in this aspect.
But above all, they are inclined to have a strong interest in finding and developing viable projects for their own development.They are excited to generate money and have financial independence, to reach a professional goal and to study a career that has an affinity with their abilities or preferences. This is part of their identity that they have already discovered.
In addition, the relationship with parents reaches a point of greater calm and understanding than in the two previous stages of adolescence. They can understand a little better the point of view of adults regarding their decisions and attitudes.
Some interesting facts about adolescence
As you have been able to see and perhaps remember, adolescence is a changing stage, where each event has its own impact on the lives of young people. But it also has a few interesting characteristics.
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Not all teenagers go through such drastic emotional changes, this is because the hormones released have more balance and contrast with the organism in general and therefore, they do not go through heavy emotional situations.
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Although adolescents have rebellious and oppositional tendencies. They are always looking for advice from their parents, as they never stop wanting their approval and affection.
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Self-esteem and self-esteem are essential and very delicate at this stage. It is very easy for them to fall because of negative comments, although they can also feel proud of their abilities.
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Many young people tend to get into trouble out of ignorance, even if they don’t know what they are doing, they still experience it just to prove their worth.
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One of the biggest challenges for adolescents is not succumbing to social pressure from peers or older youth to fit in with a group or circle of friends.
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Although hormones awaken sexual interest and appetite, not all adolescents who dare to experiment with sex at an early age. Some choose to wait until late adolescence.
As you can see, this is a very significant stage in the lives of young people, so it is necessary that you offer your support in a subtle but always present way.
- You may be interested in this post by psychologist Bertrand Regader: “The 5 most frequent psychological disorders in adolescence.”