Life skills-Characteristics of Adolescents!!....Part III

Hai all...FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL ADOLESCENTS AND PARENTS FINDING THEIR LIVES MISERABLE HANDLING THEIR ADOLESCENT CHILDREN....the characteristics of adolescents...from my ppt on "Life skills-Understanding Adolescence"...continues...

1. the characteristics being listed here are Normal characteristics of this stage in life....they are not Abnormal....parents are only scared and apprehensive that these behaviours might bring in same unsafe situations for them in life....it does not mean they are bad or abnormal behaviours.

2. there are many who are different from these...those adolescents who experience 'developmental tasks' that are meant for later stages in life...i.e life experiences that are challenging to meet with at later stage in life..e.g death of both parents or bread winner parent of house, loss of big wealth and property, sexual harassment, high levels of poverty etc...these people might show a high level of maturity even at early stages in life...

3. by being a nurturing, matured, evolved and understanding parent as i mentioned in the first post of this series, we can positively, pleasantly and in a better manner handle the anxieties and apprehensions of parents during this stage in life...in this situation both the child and the parent will be happy, no fights, no differences of opinion, the child will feel 'my parents are the best on earth!!'...

otherwise they will be just a wild growth...

ok...here we go...the characteristics of adolescent age...(these have been taken from the text books and research publications...!!!)

New attitudes and behaviours are formed now

Attitudes and behaviours learnt have immediate effects (e.g failures) and long term effects (smoking, drinking and womanizing habits)

They have physiological and psychological effects

A stage of rapid physical and mental developments. Therefore, mental adjustments required. They form new attitudes, values and interests in consonance with the developments of body and mind.

A period of ‘storm and stress’. Adolescence means “to grow to maturity”

Identity forming (problem of ego-identity)

Adventure seeking. Not bothered about consequences. Happiness, thrill – only motive.

No fears

Modeling-i.e they get obsessed by a person and start adoring, following that person e.g teenagers following film stars or a collector or a police officer etc

Destiny forming

Fantasy decisions

Gang age...they try to form gangs

A time of unrealism

High levels of curiosity

Stressful period…from within, parents, teachers and society
Should put away childish things, behaviours and attitudes…form new ones.

But childhood behaviours leave their mark and will influence the new patterns of behaviours and attitudes.

In transition period his status is vague. Confusion in roles the individual is expected to play.

If behave like children they are told ‘behave to age!’…if act like adults, told ‘too big for your behaviour!’

They try out different life-styles and decide what patterns of behaviour, values and attitudes meet their needs best.

Rate of physical change equals rate of attitudes and behaviours. Early adolescence, it is faster. Late adolescence it is slower.

Five major changes take place:

(a) heightened emotionality-intensity depends upon rate at which psychological and physical changes occur.

(b) strong feelings of instability-due to fast sexual maturing-not knowing their capacities and interests.

(c) changes in their body, interests and roles do not match with social group expectations

(d) interests and behaviour patterns change e.g as a child you feel more friends means popularity…as an adolescent you feel quality is more important than quantity.

(e) ambivalent about their changes – want independence, can’t take responsibilities, scared.

‘adolescence-the most toughest and problematic age in life!...moving from ‘playful’ childhood to ‘responsible’ adulthood.

The most important part of education,X, XII and college, most important decisions of selecting subjects, courses, jobs and career.

All unhealthy behaviours like smoking, drinking, drug use etc start during this age of ‘window of vulnerability’

Why problem age?-as children, parents solve their problems. So, adolescents inexperienced. But want independence and demand the right of handling problems. So, solutions are not to their expectations.

Many failures. Tragic consequences. Not because of incapacities. High demands when all their energies are spent to solve problems of sexual growth and development.

Conforming to group standards is more important than individuality.
They conform to their gang in dress, speech, behaviour etc. Deviation, a threat to group belonging.

Early adolescence-conformity to group is imp.

Late adolescence-not satisfied to be like peers.

Crave for unique identity also.

Ambiguous status of adolescents in Indian culture leads to ‘identity crisis’ or ‘ego-identity’ problem

They make individual identity through cars, clothes, hand held music systems, mobile phones, net chat and other readily observable material possessions.

Many popular beliefs about adolescents are wrong.

We have cultural stereotypes like:

(a) “they are sloppy!”

(b) “unreliable!”

(c) “they are inclined towards destructiveness and antisocial behaviours!”

So, we feel adolescents need to be ‘guided’, ‘guarded’ and ‘supervised’.
We feel it is our responsibility

We resort to unsympathetic and wrong attitudes towards “normal adolescent behaviours”

Stereotypes also affect self-concepts and attitudes of adolescents towards themselves.

Cultural stereotypes act like mirrors held up to the adolescent by society.
He thinks ‘this is the image of the society about me!’

So, thinks ‘cultural stereotypes are authentic’ and according to which he shapes his behaviour.

Belief that ‘adults have poor opinions of adolescents!’ make the transition to adulthood difficult.

woffffffffffffff....the post has become long...so, more later....keep watching...

peacefully yours...rams...health psychologist...Life