CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENCE

BIOLOGICAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Puberty is universal because it is biological rather than cultural in orgin.
• More than 40% of adolescents have cases of acne so severe that they seek medical treatment.
• The various biological changes sometimes cause anxiety or embarassment.
• Opinion: Puberty is a big moment in a teens life.
• Fact: Most people undergo spurts of height and weight as well as changes in their body proportion.

UNDEFINED STATUS

• The expectations for adults as well as children are quite clear.
• While some adults treat adolescents as children, other treat them as adults.
• In The U.S some kids can marry at the age of 16 with a parent. But cant vote till age 18.
• Some people may adopt values, or style of dress from other adolescents.
• Adults are critical on kids choices such as friends, music, style, values.

INCREASED DECISION MAKING

• Young kids have most of their choices made by adults.
• When kids reach adolescents they must make their own choices.
• What collage should you go to? What sports should you play? What carrer?
• Some of these decisions are of little long-term importance. Other choices have consenquences.
• I think Its cruical, this is how you make your own choices; you have to choose who YOU are.

INCREASED PRESSURE

• Adolescents are faced with pressure from many sources.
• Your parents may control who you see, and what time you get home. But still want you to be social.
• Young people are stuck between parental wishes, and peer pressure.
• Teens want to be acceoted by their peers, yet want to please their parents.
• Everyone goes through this in someway. You either can get through it, or live your life following others.

THE SEARCH FOR SELF

• Adolescents are mature enough to make their own decisions and what they want in life.
• When people know who they are and what they want, they are more successful in life.
• Anticipatory socialization-learning rights, obligations, for assuming that role in the future.
• Anticipatory Socialization is crucial for adult family roles.
• I think the search for self is important in a lot of your life descisions.