Adolescence

First of all, adolescence is characterized by intense changes both physically and psychologically. The growth rate during adolescence is comparable to how a child grows up to 2 years old, while the peculiarity of adolescents is the faster growth of the skeleton. Muscle tissue grows somewhat more slowly, which is why many teenagers seem awkward and awkward. Internal organ systems are also developing intensively.

An important point is puberty, which begins precisely in adolescence and is accompanied by intensive production of hormones in adolescents of both sexes. Since the changed hormonal background affects the mood, this period is characterized by sharp emotional swings, as well as a tendency to conflict and aggression.

Communication with peers comes to the fore, while study becomes secondary for some. Under the influence of external factors, as well as the internal formation of one's own "I", there is a reassessment of values ​​and self-determination for the future. The contradiction of adolescence lies in the fact that the child seeks to demonstrate his own growing up, but at the same time is not ready to take responsibility.

The period of adolescence covers the time period from 12 to 17 years. Due to the fact that a large number of changes occur during this time, it is advisable to divide this stage into two periods - younger and older adolescence.

younger adolescence

Early adolescence refers to children between the ages of 12 and 14. This time coincides with the transition of the child to a new system of education: if in elementary school the lessons were held under the guidance of one teacher, then after the 5th grade, students get acquainted with a large number of subject teachers, which makes it necessary to adapt to new conditions.

More and more important is communication, which is primarily focused on peers. In the process of this communication, a teenager learns certain social norms of interaction, and on the basis of feedback from peers forms a certain self-esteem.

older adolescence

The period from 15 to 17 is defined as the older adolescence, sometimes also referred to as early adolescence. The main neoplasms of older adolescence include professional and life self-determination, because it is in high school that a teenager needs to decide what he will do in the future after school. At this age, the image of one's own "I" continues to form, which is based primarily on what assessments the teenager receives from those with whom he communicates. Emotional contacts become extremely important, including getting recognition from the opposite sex.

What is the difference between adolescence and adolescence

Although adolescence is separated from adolescence, defining it as a period from 17 to 20 years old, the line of transition from a teenager to a young man is rather vague. Adolescence and adolescence are next on the age scale, and they have some differences. If a teenager is still in the process of forming his own worldview, which is why it is often difficult for him to decide on certain decisions, then in adolescence the psyche becomes more stable, there is a tendency to logically think about his own actions and their consequences. Physically, young men also differ from teenagers. Their body loses its teenage angularity, the differences in terms of male and female physique are more pronounced.

During adolescence, noticeable psychological changes occur, which are a necessary part of the process of growing up.

Personality in adolescence

The emerging own "I" is most often perceived by the teenager himself as an inevitable stage of growing up. He feels like an adult and at the same time strives to prove it to everyone around him - both parents and peers.

A feature of the psychology of adolescence is a fairly strong dependence on the opinion of a certain group of significant persons. It is noted that adolescent boys are more likely to rely on the opinions of their peers, while adolescent girls gravitate towards the usual way of life established in their own family. However, the authority of parents in both cases becomes significantly lower, and communication with peers comes to the fore. If it is acceptable for a teenager to cheat in front of an adult, for example, to come up with some kind of reason for leaving class, then lying to your friends is considered unacceptable behavior of adolescence.

An important point in the psychology of adolescence is increased criticality to their own shortcomings and the search for ways to eliminate them. Dissatisfaction with oneself, concerning both external manifestations and internal features, is characteristic of the vast majority of adolescents, therefore, reflections on oneself become constant companions during this period.

Adolescence behavior

Intimate interpersonal communication becomes the leading activity in adolescence, during which the teenager receives the necessary material for the formation of his own picture of the world, a system of values ​​and an image of his own "I". This change of interests can negatively affect academic success, which is why many parents make the mistake of starting to limit teenagers in communication. This should not be done, because without sufficient communication, full-fledged psychological development in adolescence is impossible.

The changes taking place both in the psyche and in the physiology of a teenager leave an imprint on his behavior. Puberty, which occurs just at adolescence school age, leads to a change in hormonal balance, as a result of which behavior is often extremely unpredictable. Purposefulness in achieving the goal can be replaced by impulsive and thoughtless decisions, and self-confidence - by a sharply fallen self-esteem. If today a teenager craves communication, then tomorrow he may want to be alone with the same force. At the same time, adolescents show the most intense reaction in those moments when someone hurts their pride.

The crisis of adolescence is rightfully considered the most difficult crisis for both the child himself and his parents. It falls on the period from 12 to 14 years and is the longest of all other age-related crises. In rare cases, the manifestations of the crisis are absent or pass poorly. This is largely determined by the social situation and the model of education in the family.

Features of the manifestation of the crisis

The main manifestation of the crisis is the exacerbation of adolescent negativism. Adolescent children begin to come into conflict with adults more often, even in cases where there is no objective reason for confrontation. Against this background, there may be a desire to overcome previously set prohibitions, which is why many try cigarettes, alcohol or drugs in adolescence.

However, these are only external manifestations. At the same time, the inner world of a teenager also changes significantly: there is a reassessment of values, self-determination, a gradual and increasing separation from their parents, a feeling that no one understands them. This makes children withdraw into themselves, they become hypersensitive to any criticism, especially from significant people. The reaction to such criticism depends largely on the personality of the adolescent; the same remark can become a reason to prove the opposite in one teenager, and a reason for apathy in another.

Signs of a Crisis

The crisis of adolescence has two main features. The first is a significant decrease in productivity, which even affects the results in those subjects or activities for which the teenager had previously seen an obvious talent. The second and most noticeable symptom for adults is negativism, which consists in a tendency to quarrels and provocations. At the same time, a teenager may strive for isolation and loneliness.

Negativity can manifest itself in different ways:

• Pronounced.

According to statistics, negativism affects absolutely all areas of a teenager's life in about 20% of cases. This acute period can last several weeks.

• Medium pronounced.

Negative reactions are observed sporadically, as a response to a situation in the family or school. Such symptoms are typical for three adolescents out of five.

• Absent.

It happens that the teenage crisis is asymptomatic - about one in five children. Considering that such adolescent children, as a rule, live in families with a trusting atmosphere and the absence of excessive authoritarianism (democratic parenting style), it can be concluded that negativism during adolescence is, among other things, a consequence of education.

How to help a teenager overcome a crisis

The teenage crisis is a natural stage in the development of a personality, therefore it cannot be “cured” - during this period, a teenager needs help and support. In order to determine a plan of action, it is important to understand which version of the crisis the child is in.

There are two options for the course of the crisis in adolescence:

• Crisis of independence.

The most typical teenage crisis, in which the child seeks to prove to everyone his own adulthood. In this case, it is important to show maximum patience and provide the teenager with a sense of protection and trust.

• Crisis of addiction.

Recently, teenagers who do not want to grow up are more and more common; the condition is typical for families in which there is overprotection. The child becomes infantile, does not want to grow up, but excessive obedience can please adults. However, in adolescence, absolute obedience and the absence of one's own opinion negatively affect the child's psyche and may indicate a lack of maturity. In this case, it is necessary to help the child to accept new social roles, to interest him in something new and to provide reasonable support.

It is necessary to leave a teenager alone with his own thoughts during this period, but not always, because parents and the atmosphere in the family are still very important.

How to behave to parents

How to behave as parents of a teenager during a crisis? Psychologists recommend accepting the fact that the child is growing up, and, accordingly, requires a different attitude. At the same time, to show aggression and force means only to demonstrate one's own impotence, moreover, such reactions clearly do not contribute to the formation of a trusting atmosphere. The following tips will help you connect with your teen during a crisis:

• Treat your child sincerely. Teenagers are very sensitive to falsehood and respond in kind.
• Accept it as a fact that a teenager needs a lot of time to communicate with friends, and do not be offended by his busyness and inattention.
• Do not arrange interrogations with partiality. If you want to know something, wait until the teenager comes to a calm state.
• Tell him about your plans, consult as an equal - this way you will let him know that you accept his growing up and changes.
• Support, praise and approve. Of course, criticism should be present, but within reasonable limits - remember that teenagers are quite vulnerable.
• Take an interest in the child's well-being. Physical changes during adolescence can be intense and not always clear to the child, thereby causing fear and exacerbating psychological discomfort.

When to contact a psychologist?

The crisis of adolescence can be quite acute, and sometimes parents begin to doubt whether they can help their own child on their own - or is it better to turn to a specialist? In the following cases, the help of a psychologist is highly recommended:

• A sharp decline in academic performance
• Apathy, lack of desire to do something
• Extreme negativity towards oneself, one's body, character
• Increased level of aggressiveness
• Lack of social circle coupled with reluctance to make friends
• The pursuit of wanderlust
• Deviant behavior

Teenage depression is an extremely dangerous condition, and that is why a child needs help.

In adolescence, the formation of self-esteem occurs on the basis of communication with people around him, and, first of all, with peers. Some collectives have a forced nature, for example, a school class, in which a child is assigned even when he enters school. Others, such as interest companies, are already being formed based on common attitudes and needs. At the same time, in any such team there is a certain structure and hierarchy, the place in which has a significant impact on the development of a teenager.

Roles in the team

If we single out a school class as the most permanent team in which a teenager is present, then in any class there are several categories of roles:

• Leaders.

You can become a leader involuntarily, for example, when you are appointed a teacher to the role of headman, or you can become a leader at the expense of your own qualities. Those children who are leaders by nature are the authority for the majority of the class.

• Preferred.

This is a significant majority of the class, basically sharing the positions of leaders.

• Neglected.

This is also a fairly large group of children, but due to some circumstances they do not receive serious attention from the rest.

• Isolated.

small group; if you ask other students about these teenagers, they are unlikely to be able to say anything specific about the "isolated" ones.

• Outcasts.

The most difficult role for a teenager, which he obviously takes unintentionally. Children's groups can be cruel, namely, outcasts, for some reason, are usually bullied. Common to all types of outcasts is self-esteem, formed on the basis of the principle “I am the worst”.

To accurately identify roles, special questionnaires are used, but most teachers, with due attention and without them, can tell who is the leader in the class and who is the outcast.

Children of younger adolescence communicate mainly with their peers of the same sex. However, as teenagers get older, they show more and more interest in the opposite sex. In connection with the sexual development taking place during this period, issues of a sexual nature occupy a special place. Over time, communication between boys and girls becomes more intense. Often, a teenager is embarrassed to communicate, which can be disguised as imaginary swagger.

Communication with friends more and more goes beyond school topics, covering common interests, joint activities, becoming a separate and extremely important area of ​​life. Psychologist D.I. Feldstein identifies three options for communication in a teenage team:

• Intimate personal.

It occurs on the basis of personal sympathy, in the form of the participation of one teenager in the problems of his interlocutor and vice versa. Such a variant of communication is possible only in the case of common values ​​and understanding of each other by communication partners. This is what friendship and love are all about.

• spontaneous group.

Random communication on the principle of "I-they", which is typical for various informal associations and teenage groups. A distinctive feature of such communication is a high level of anxiety and aggression.

• Socially oriented.

In this case, adolescents are in contact in the course of some socially important activity. This communication option contributes to the realization of the social needs of adolescents.

Possible problems in the team

Since in any team of teenagers there are a variety of children, whose interests, characters and upbringing can differ significantly, problems in adolescence are not uncommon.

In children's groups, cruelty can be stronger than in adults, so negativity often falls on a child who is different from others in any way. Nationality, a noticeable difference from the standard norms (overweight / severe thinness, different eye colors, acne in adolescence, etc.) can cause problems in the team.

Another possible problem is that certain material values ​​are of significant importance in the teenage team: smartphones, branded clothing, and the amount of pocket money. Often, on this basis, there is a stratification of the student group of teenagers into “golden youth”, the middle class and the so-called poor.

As already mentioned, the leading activity in adolescence is communication, schooling and additional hobbies or activities.

Additional education

Additional education methods include various courses, circles and other forms of classes designed to provide a teenager with access to knowledge, skills and abilities that are not included in the course of the school curriculum. Although a teenager, as a rule, is already a member of various informal associations, formalized groups are distinguished by the ability to productively organize children's leisure time, and also help them in professional self-determination.

Additional education for teenagers can relate to completely different areas: learning foreign languages, practicing public speaking, programming, robotics, art schools, and much more. However, parents seeking to organize the child's leisure time as efficiently as possible should, in choosing such activities, rely primarily on what the teenager himself aspires to.

Sports and healthy lifestyle

Adolescence is a time when proper physical development is especially important, because during this period there is an intensive growth of the body, in particular, the development of the cardiovascular system. Whether a teenager receives regular physical activity depends on how hardy and strong he will be in the future. In addition, playing sports helps the proper development of muscles and training of the whole organism as a whole. However, the main thing is not just to motivate the child to play sports, but also to correctly dose the duration of classes and the load. The most suitable types of exercise for teenagers are fast running, gymnastics, cycling, swimming, and outdoor games. It is important to remember that the average duration of physical activity for a teenager is 8-10 hours a week, but this figure is individual and depends on the characteristics of the body of a particular teenager.

No less than physical activity, a healthy lifestyle is important for a teenager. includes not only activity, but also a number of other points that can lay a solid foundation for the health of a teenager in the future. These are measures for hygiene, hardening, proper nutrition, as well as a positive psychological state.

The following factors can interfere with normal physical and psychological development:

• lack of movement (which is relevant for modern children, who spend a lot of time either at a desk or at a computer),
• irrational nutrition, including the habit of fast food,
• stressful situations
• bad habits (after all, many teenagers, in order to demonstrate their own coolness or just out of interest, begin to try alcohol, smoking, and even drugs),

The main responsibility for instilling the basics of a healthy lifestyle in adolescents lies with the parents, who should first of all demonstrate their own positive example. In addition, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the harm of some habits need to be explained in detail, and not just introduced unreasonable prohibitions.

In adolescence, sexual desires arise, while adolescents are characterized by increased excitability. Hormonal restructuring leads to an increase in the level of sexual desire, which often puts a teenager in a dilemma: on the one hand, he wants to try something new, unknown, and on the other, all sorts of prohibitions and restrictions that exist in society put pressure on him.

First love

First love is a very common occurrence in adolescence, and it is not only strong and new sensations for the teenager himself, but also the increased anxiety of parents. Very often, first love is synonymous with unhappy love, as children are just learning the art of understanding and accepting a partner. But this in no way means that parents should limit their child from contacts with their chosen one - this experience is required in order for the child to learn to build relationships and be successful in this in the future.

Adolescence in girls

Puberty in girls during adolescence begins earlier than in boys, by about a couple of years. During this period, the body develops intensively, the production of sex hormones increases, due to which the figure is formed according to the female type. There is a development of not only muscle, but also adipose tissue, while a certain amount of the latter is a necessary condition for the formation of the menstrual cycle. The production of estrogen hormones is also responsible for the formation of the menstrual cycle. Such a hormonal explosion entails not only changes in the physical plane, but also affects the mood. The psyche becomes unstable and vulnerable, the girl worries about her own appearance and relationships with significant peers.

For the appearance of the first menstruation, a teenage girl must be prepared by telling her about the meaning of this process and that this is a natural phenomenon. It is also important to teach the necessary hygiene procedures during this period, since non-compliance with hygiene during menstruation can cause various diseases and infections.

Adolescence in boys

The period of puberty of teenage boys lasts about five years, and its onset is quite individual. When the process begins, the boys begin to sharply overtake the girls classmates in height and weight, while their figure is formed according to a different type than that of girls - the pelvic bones are narrower and have a more elongated shape. The production of sex hormones is activated, which is associated with the appearance of facial hair and a change in the timbre of the voice. At the same time, the restructuring of the vocal cords is more intense than in girls, which can bring some psychological discomfort.

Puberty leads to intensive growth of the genital organs. In addition, teenage boys have their first wet dreams. Therefore, as with girls, it is necessary to talk with boys about changes in his growing body.

Adolescence is a rather turbulent period, and anyone can face all sorts of problems, which he, due to emotional instability and the lack of formation of his own “I”, perceives extremely sharply. Parents should not leave a teenager alone with his problems, providing him with support and creating an atmosphere of understanding and trust.

Acne in adolescence

Acne in adolescence has an extremely negative effect on self-esteem, since both girls and boys during this period are extremely critical of their own appearance. The reason for the appearance of acne in the first place is the intensive growth of the skin, which is associated with the rapid growth of bones. To protect the skin from stretch marks and damage, the activity of the sebaceous glands is activated, and this is already the cause of acne. Additional factors for the appearance of acne in adolescence can be improper skin care, malnutrition, lack of vitamins and hormonal changes.

For teenage acne, there are special treatment complexes, but the most effective would be a visit to a dermatologist who will determine the cause and prescribe a treatment that affects both it and the manifestations of acne in adolescence.

Bad habits

Adolescence is a time when children test the strength of previously established limits, in addition, they try to prove that they are already becoming adults. Because of this, and also because of the desire for new things, teenagers can try smoking, alcohol and drugs, and these bad habits quickly become part of life and cause a significant impact on health.

The older he gets, the more likely it is that he will become addicted to one of the bad habits. Despite existing age restrictions, both tobacco and liquor can be sold to teenagers, not to mention drugs - teenagers are considered by dealers to be one of the most "soft" categories of potential buyers of lethal substances.

Attitude towards bad habits very much depends on how a teenager is brought up. If an example of a healthy lifestyle is initially demonstrated in a family, conversations are held about the dangers of such habits, then adolescents from such families are more resistant to provocations about alcohol, smoking or drugs.

Psychological addictions are a separate specific class of problems of adolescence, which is defined as an obsessive attraction to a particular activity or object. A teenager can fall under the following types of addictions:

• Computer addiction in its various forms.

It can be gambling, addiction to social networks or watching TV shows - in any case, the pathological impact of addiction on personality development in adolescence is obvious.

• Sect dependency.

Since adolescence is a period when a child seeks himself and tries to form a certain worldview, a competent influence on his psyche will easily make him a member of a sect, which is not so easy to get out of.

• Shopaholism.

Obsessive desire to make meaningless and aimless purchases is another type of psychological addiction. Acquired things often become the meaning of replacing inner uncertainty and emptiness, but they bring only temporary relief.

The object that has taken possession of the psyche of a teenager replaces many activities, including those that are vital. Therefore, when a teenager’s behavior is deformed and his versatile interests are shifted towards one thing, parents need to help their children, if necessary, visit a psychologist.

How can parents find a common language with a teenager

In any difficult situation, including during the teenage crisis, it is important for adolescents to have some support in the form of a stable situation in the family, an atmosphere of support and trust. If you doubt that you know how to build a productive dialogue with your child in adolescence, you should stick to the following plan:

1. Create a certain mood for the conversation: do not conduct a dialogue in an excited state, you need to calm down.
2. Be clear about the question or topic you want to talk about with your child.
3. Find a moment when the teenager is ready for a dialogue, state to him a pre-formulated situation and let him know that the decision belongs to him, but you are ready to help.
4. Encourage your child by saying that you believe in his strength and that he will cope.

Excessive pressure is not the best tool for productive interaction with a teenager.

Adolescent school age and learning activities

With the onset of adolescence, there is a change in the type of learning activity. If earlier all classes were held under the guidance of the same teacher, now teenagers are forced to adapt to a new system of education with numerous subject teachers. Considering that during this period, learning itself fades into the background, and communication with peers becomes the leading activity, it is not surprising that some adolescents experience a decline in academic performance (as well as interest in learning). An additional negative factor affecting learning is the physical restructuring of the adolescent's body, which may result in increased fatigue and decreased performance.

All these features of adolescence lead to the fact that it becomes difficult for children to do absolutely all school assignments. For this reason, it is important not to force the child to learn under duress, but to teach him to set priorities correctly and plan his own time. Additional help to the growing body will be provided by properly selected vitamins and minerals, preferably in a complex specially designed for teenagers.

By the end of school, teenagers face the need to decide where and what specialty to enter in order to receive a full-fledged professional education. Throughout adolescence, the formation of "I" - the concept leads to the emergence of a certain vector of interests, which determines, among other things, the professional interests of the child.

An important role is played by vocational guidance centers for adolescents, which are created to assist in choosing a profession, including through special tests, the results of which show what the child is predisposed to. A visit to such centers can answer many questions regarding professional self-determination.

Adolescence is a difficult period during which a global physical and mental restructuring of the body takes place. Although a teenager is no longer a child, it is still impossible to call him an adult, and that is why the help of parents in difficult situations during this period will help to overcome many problems and features of adolescence.