Adolescence : The Fourth And Final Stages Of Adolescents

Adolescence is popularly known to be a very tumultuous stage in a person’s life. In the adolescent stage (also coined the identity vs. role confusion stage by theorist Erik Erikson) bodies are changing rapidly, emotions are unfamiliar and unexplainable, and refraining from succumbing to peer pressure is more challenging than ever.

The last stage of Piaget’s cognitive development is known as the Formal Operational Stage, which occurs between the ages of eleven and sixteen. Adolescents have now gained the ability to think in an abstract matter, and can now understand things such as science and algebra. The most distinct difference between the

The sensorimotor stage infants develop their schemas through sensory and motor activities. Followed by the preoperational stage where children begin to think symbolically using words, to represent concepts. Next concrete operational stage children display many important thinking skills, like ability to think logically. Finally, formal operational stage young adolescences formulate their operations by abstract and hypothetical thinking. Piaget’s theory provides ample and insightful perspectives, so it remains the central factor of contemporary

Puberty in essence is a life changing event for males and females, typically following a time of significant physical growth. Puberty is the stage in life when secondary sex characteristics are developing, sexual organs mature due to production of sex hormones. This naturally occurs during adolescence, the stage in life between childhood and adulthood. Nonetheless, Feldman (2014) points out the fact that physical changes begin earlier for girls typically at the age of 10, with sexual organ development generally around the ages of 11-12. On the other hand, physical changes for boys, frequently occurs later, around the age of 12, with development of sexual organs around the age of 13-14. Nevertheless there has been a trend towards early maturation of both male and females, this can bring about advantages and disadvantages for both sexes (Feldman, 2014). This author will discuss the pros and cons of early versus late maturation in boys versus girls in 21st century U.S. society as well as how media reinforces maturation for pre-teens and teens.

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, made substantial findings in intellectual development. His Cognitive Theory influenced both the fields of education and psychology. Piaget identified four major periods of cognitive development: the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operations stage, and the stage of formal operations. The preoperational stage includes children two to four years of age and is characterized by the development and refinement of schemes for symbolic representation. During the preoperational stage lies, what Piaget coined, the intuitive period. This phase occurs during the ages of 4-7 and during this time, the child’s thinking is largely centered on the way things appear to be rather than on

Abdallah. Ayda Critical Reflection Essay Introduction Within the context of nursing there has been a significant change in nursing in the last two decades, where nursing and medical knowledge has led to changes where patients can no longer stay in hospital and reduction in hospital beds. Professionals who are employed in the healthcare industry are dealing with acutely ill patients who are in more need of care (usher et al 2009). As professionals we must discover the nature that is offered to us by responding and using reflective thoughts to enhance the important aspects in society (Lauder et al 2004). And qualified nurses, acknowledge and understanding is essential for their practice to remain current, continuous improvement in reflecting

In this paper I plan to discuss the developmental stages of adolescence. Adolescents are also referred to as "teenagers" or "young adults." Adolescence begins after the childhood stage and ends right before adulthood. The years of adolescence range from 12 years old to 21 years old. The years of adolescence can be quite a roller coaster ride. Young people in this stage encounter a great deal of changes in their life as they prepare for adulthood. I will discuss emotional, intellectual, physiological, and social domains of development and how it relates to adolescents. I will also discuss some helpful tips for teachers to aide in communicating effectively to adolescents and understanding their

Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is one the most influential theory of cognition in social work and psychology. In his cognitive theory, our capacity for reasoning develops in stages, from infancy through adolescence and early adulthood. Piaget used four different stages; sensorimotor state, preoperational stage, concrete operations stage and formal operations stage. According to Hutchison, Piaget saw these four stages as sequential and interdependent, evolving from activity without thought, to thought with less emphasis on activity- from doing, to doing knowingly, and finally to conceptualizing.

By age 11, I had increased thinking abilities that were due to Piaget’s last stage of cognitive development, formal operational. By this age I had the ability to think abstractly with hypothetico-deductive reasoning, I could problem solve based on certain hypothesis and I started to master deductive reasoning based on logical conclusions. I also developed propositional thought, a way of evaluating the logic of propositions without using real world situations. I definitely remember a gain in my information processing; increased attention, inhibition, strategies and knowledge that led me to come to conclusions based on logic. Psychologist David Elkind, expanded on Piaget’s cognitive-developmental theory. Elkind describes how young adolescents are preoccupied because they are going through major psychological changes within their body. Elkind noticed adolescents were self-conscious during this time of change. I can remember that I started to get embarrassed about the changes associated with my body. During this time period egocentrism is reappearing in our life, I became self-focused and self-absorbed, I was definitely a unique person in the world and I wanted everyone to know it. I can remember that I made rash decisions partly due to my frontal lobe not being fully developed. Looking back I probably drove too fast as a teenager and made some decisions I look back on now. Some of these consequences of the formal operational stage, recognized by Elkind, could create distortions in ones thinking during this time

Adolescence is both a social and cultural construct as well as biological one, it is the developmental period where one transition from being a child to adult and face biological, psychological, and social challenges. This challenging, and important time in between childhood and adulthood has caused a lot of interest in the psychological field and a number of theories have been developed in order to try and explain the different stages of development. One of the most significant models of psychosocial development was created by Erikson (1963) and the stage related to adolescents is known as the “Identity vs. Role-Diffusion”, where the one is in constant pursuit of a coherent sense of self during the teenage years. When the teenager is unable to put together aspects of themselves they experience role-diffusion. Later on Elkind (1967) introduced his theory of adolescent egocentrism, explaining the increase in preoccupation with oneself during the teenage years. Kohlberg (1969) quickly followed up with his theory of moral development, in order to examine how adolescents develop their ability to solve ethical dilemmas. Another challenge teenagers need to face is mental health. The psychological part of striving for independence, while still struggling with identity formation and having poor coping strategies can have serious consequences and lead to mental illnesses, such as depression which is a growing concern among youths. This essay will further examine to what extent

The fourth stage of Piaget’s Cognitive Stages of Development is the Formal operational stage. This stage is normally reached at age 11. These children are usually able to logically use symbols related to abstract concepts, such as algebra and science. These children can think about multiple variables in systemic ways, form hypotheses, and consider possibilities. Although Piaget believed in lifelong intellectual development, he insisted that the formal operational stage is the final stage of cognitive development, and that continued intellectual development in adults depends on the accumulation of knowledge (Shroff, 2015).

1. Chapter 10, Adolescence: The Social World goes in depth with human relationships among adolescents; teenagers are social beings, in which they rely on others’ opinions, company, and validation, in order for them to seek and find their true identity; who they are and where they belong (Berger, 365). Identity is the state of achievement when a “person understands who he or she is as a unique individual, in accord with past experiences and future plans,” they figure out their own goals, values, and ambitions, eventually leading them to the path in finding self-actualization (Berger, 351). Continuing on, relationships between parents and adolescents are not always peaceful due to arguments that have to do with teenagers’ “drive for independence, arising from biological, as well as, psychological impulses and social expectations clashes with the parents’ desire for control,” (Berger, 357). This section states that bickering indicates a healthy family due to conflicts indicating close relationships. Of course consequences and many factors that alter and influence adolescents’ thinking and behavior are present. Furthermore, this section explains the results of neglect, mental, emotional, and physical abuse to an individual, in which peer pressure can happen. Peer pressure is when “people of the same age group encourage particular behavior, dress, and attitude,” peer pressure is usually seen as a negative influence upon an individual’s growth and behavior that is contrary to

There are various cognitive aspects and socio-cultural aspects vital for shaping the adolescence journey to the adulthood. Hoffnung et al., (2016) explained that cognitive aspects include the development of formal operational thoughts which originates from early adolescence, more advanced in middle adolescence and late adolescence. Due to the immature frontal lobe of the brain, temporal lobe does the decision making and logical reactions in adolescence (Barkway, 2013). Hypothetical thinking develops and do not worry about the consequences and are more perspective takers. In the middle years, they start to think logically by identifying and rejecting the hypothesis and trying to find possible outcomes based on logic (Barkway, 2013). Abstract thinking develops in late adolescence,

1. Chapter 9, “Adolescence” Body and Mind,” section Puberty explains the physical and mental changes that teenagers go through, it’s the state in which they transition from children to young adults, incapable of completely just one or the other (Berger, 315). The first changes of puberty, physically-wise, begins around the ages of 9 – 13 years’ old for both boys and girls, which include facial and body hair, deepening of the voice, and of course body growth; such as the hands, feet, face, and private parts. Although genetics do play a role of the timing of these body changes, environmental, emotional, and cultural factors can also affect the time and age when puberty happens. Sometimes it’s delayed, other times the process is quicker than norm. “About two thirds of the variation of age of puberty is genetic, evident not only in families, but also in ethnic groups…precocious puberty is genetic, but the cause of the increase is largely unknown – perhaps childhood obesity or new chemicals in the environment” (Berger, 320-321). Among puberty, adolescents’ nutrition become poor due to body image…In addition, there eating disorders that teenagers discover during their transition, they are more “vulnerable to unhealthy eating,” and unlike childhood, “eating disorders increase drastically during puberty” (Berger, 325). This part of the chapter explains two major and serious types of eating disorders. Anorexia Nervosa is a voluntarily starvation in which a person will starve him or

Adolescence is the distinct transitional stage between childhood and adulthood in human development, extending primarily over the teenage years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached (Rathus, 2014). However in some instances, this biological, cognitive, social and emotional maturity may not be reached until a later stage and may be dictated by gender. Adolescence is characterised by rapidly changing and unpredictable behaviour (Freud, as cited in Rathus 2014), heightened and unstable emotions (Hall, as cited in Rathus 2014), disturbances in identity, the gradual development of one’s moral reasoning (Kohlberg, as cited in Rathus, 2014) and the gradual establishment of one’s independence. Several of these changes may occur at differing phases in adolescent growth. This development is categorized into three separate stages; early adolescence, middle adolescence, and late adolescence. Early Adolescence, commencing from the ages of eleven or twelve until the age of fourteen, comprises of several features such as rapid biological development and maturity, heightened stress levels and limited coping capabilities. On the other hand, middle adolescence, from the approximate age of fourteen to sixteen, involves the gradual cease of biological change, an increase in coping strategies and declined stress levels. Furthermore, late adolescence, commencing from the age of sixteen until the age of eighteen or nineteen, encompasses physical maturity, whereby the