Adolescent Years

Adolescence is a transitional stage of becoming an adult by going through puberty. Hence, an adolescent is an individual going through the stages adolescence. This is a critical stage for physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development. Since the onset of puberty varies, it is difficult to give a specific age range for an adolescent. There is crucial evidence of substance use among boys and girls during this transition. The use of drugs

Adolescence describes the transitional stage in a teenager’s life, from childhood to adulthood, where an individual evolves physically, psychologically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. It is a defined social category that is expressed through immaturity and unpredictability and allows an individual to learn and discover their sense of self and identity. The idea of adolescence came into perspective after children were expected to take on adult roles as soon as they were mature enough to, going straight from puberty to adulthood. As society changed and moulded, so did the ideas about life stages, which is evident in Erikson’s theory.

Studies show that the national average for an adolescent’s first sexual intercourse encounter is seventeen years old. Despite this number being very close to the average age in other industrialized countries, the United States holds a higher percentage of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction than those countries (Harper et al, 2010, p. 125). It’s becoming evident that while a majority of the nation’s youth is sexually active, they are not doing so with the appropriate knowledge to keep themselves and others healthy.

Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and early adulthood, beginning at about age 11 or 12 and lasting until around age 18. Puberty marks the beginning of adolescence. During puberty, hormonal changes happen in the body, prepare the body for reproduction and change the size and proportions of the body. As the body undergoes this dramatic transformation, major changes happen in the brain as well.

At this stage in development, adolescents are at a very critical point in life. It is an accepted belief that adolescents are very vulnerable at this time. Therefore it is easy to see that they would imitate their favorite celebrities, or other role models in the media, in their dress, actions, and speech. This example is a clear depiction of Bandura’s “Social Learning Theory”. According to the “Social Learning Theory”, humans are naturally developed to mimic any behaviors that they frequently see as positive and see performed unless there are negative, undesirable consequences to the behavior (Arnett, 2013). Essentially based on the Social Learning Theory, adolescents are especially driven by this pattern of behavior because they are at a critical point in the development of their identity. As a result they will copy almost anything that seems to benefit the image of the people who do them. In our current society, female adolescents are especially at risk. The media shows woman as thin, beautiful, sexy, figures that are meant to be glorified for meeting that criteria. Many comprise their health in order to fit into this ideal standard. It is dangerous, but young females do not see this. Instead they see a beautiful woman that they look up too, a woman who is considered the desirable female prototype. This portrayal in media not only affects a young female adolescents self-esteem, and body image but it also is dangerous because of the vulnerability of adolescents at this

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

Adolescence is the period between childhood and emerging adulthood (Sigelman & Rider, 2015). According to Behm-Morawitz and Mastro (2008), this period is generally categorized by development in different spheres of life and often revolves around an increased independence and freedom. In addition, during this period adolescents start to forge a sense of identity. The concept of identity refers to who you as a person and

Society has taken over women and teen girls live. Popular culture deliberately portrays an unrealistic body image to teen girls in order to create a desire that drives women and teen girls to do anything to have that body image. Celebrities have a great impact on a teen girl’s life. Many celebrities have done cosmetic surgery to have the look that is considered as the perfect body. Popular culture is harming society, teen girls are buying magazine to see what the latest news on celebrities is.

Adolescence is the transitional period in a persons life time that links childhood and adulthood. The factors that influence development during adolescence include genetic/biological and environmental/social. There are many developmental issues that take place during the transition from an adolescent to a young adult. The issues of emerging adulthood(18-25) are characterized by new experiences, experimentation, exploration as well as new developmental tasks.

Adolescence is the period of development beginning at puberty and ends in adulthood, conatinig many new physical changes. Puberty involves physiological changes in height, weight, body composition, sex characteristics, and circulatory and respiratory systems, which are influenced by hormonal activity. In the 2007, Psychology eight edition book, Myers states:

Adolescence is a period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to maturity. The adolescent is no longer a child, but they haven’t yet reached adulthood. Adolescence is considered people between the ages of 13 and 21. Puberty is the physical maturing that makes an individual capable of sexual reproduction. Puberty is important to adolescence because when a child hits puberty, that’s when the child is becoming an adolescent. Puberty is a big part of an adolescent’s life.

Adolescence changes in a child in various ways, physiological, culturally, cognitively. The adolescence years are a period of rapid growth unlike middle childhood. This is the stage where puberty and hormones hit a growing child. Pubic hair and budding of breast is seen in girls while in boys the growth of pubic hair and the penis growing

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

Adolescence is the period of development from ages 10-21, it is the period between childhood and adulthood (McGraw Hill Education, 2015) It is a time of confusion and exploration. This stage continues until a person is holding a full time job, economic independence, and taking responsibility to oneself (Santrock, 2011, p. 344). As a 16 year old female I am in the midst of all these changes and can relate many themes to myself and my own experiences.

Media such as the internet, broadcasting, and publishing is a way to express opinions and keep up to date with the latest fashion trends. While these trends continue to go on, new trends are thought of, the trends may be a little tricky to keep up with even for celebrities. While the thought of being perfect for society, cause many adolescents to breakdown for following the false beliefs of society. Some people may use the media to be updated on important news. On the other hand, others believe the media is a horrible setting, resulting in adolescent to do whatever it takes to become just like them, poisoning their minds to become something they are not. The media produces bad influences for body image and messes with adolescents’ minds.