Personal

Development
Course Material No. 3

Maryan Joy C. Lopez

Subject Teacher
 2 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA

3
Developmental Tasks and Challenges
of an Adolescent
LEARNING OUTCOMES

Here’s what I will teach you in this course material:

LESSON OUTLINE
a. Havighurst’s Developmental tasks with keen attention on the
Unit Outline
adolescence stage.
 Developmental
b. Identifying challenges and strategic ways to overcome them.
Tasks of an
Adolescent

RESOURCES NEEDED

For this lesson, you would need the following resources:

 Journal Notebook

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA 3

Pretest 4 Developmental Tasks of

Adolescents
Before you start, try answering the following
questions.
8 Task-Challenge Chart

1. What are the things you find challenging about

being an adolescent?
9 Journal Writing
___________________________________________

10 Lesson Summary
Key Terms

10 References
 4
Tasks and PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA

Challenges of
Adolescents
Key Point
In this lesson, you will learn
about the Developmental
Tasks of an Adolescent based
on Robert Havighurst’s theory.
This is for the purpose of
making you see what are
necessary to be focused on
while you are in such stage.

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challenges-solutions/

Development Tasks of Adolescents

"Robert Havighurst proposed that all individuals from infancy to old age
progress through a series of developmental stages, each comprising a series
of developmental tasks. He defined a developmental task "as a task which
arises at or about a certain time in the life of an individual, achievement of
DID YOU
which leads to his happiness and success with later tasks, while failure
leads to unhappiness in the individual, disapproval by the society, and
KNOW?
difficulty with later tasks (Manning, 2002)." Havighurst did most of his
research and writing during
According to Havighurst, there are 11 tasks an adolescent must accomplish.
the period between 1950
The adolescent must adjust to a new physical sense of self. You might be too and 1975, when the ten- to
fifteen-year-old range, or
caught up with all the emotional turmoil of adolescence, but there is something you
early adolescence, had not
should bear in mind: your body recently went through a lot of changes. Allow yet been accepted as a
yourself to adjust. Be kind to your physical body by listening to its needs. Special distinct developmental
shoutout to women out there; take note of your period, as it is today.
menstrual cycle. Some days may feel there is no point in
living only to find out; it's your PMS.

The adolescent must adjust to new intellectual

abilities. While it may feel like all you do is overthink
these past few days, it is not entirely negative. From a
different standpoint, it also tells you that you can now
interpret, understand, and appreciate abstract things
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA 5

around you like beauty, life, and freedom. Why not take advantage of this to be a
part of intellectual forums and conversations, leap towards informative
entertainment, delve into philosophical topics, and more?

The adolescent must adjust to increased cognitive demands at school. Though

you're missing times when knowing the names of animals earns you a sticker, you
have to adjust to the fact that lessons now require more independent learning.
School curriculums are often designed to challenge you further as a student and
include more and more materials. Such elevation of educational requirements is not
for the sole purpose of suffering. It enhances your critical thinking skills,
communication, and creativity, all of which are essential in the 21st century.

The adolescent must develop expanded verbal skills. Verbal skills will be
a handy tool for you as an adolescent. They are also a factor in determining
the competence of an individual through expressing themselves
professionally and meaningfully. Therefore, stop being shy about reciting in
class and speak your heart out. Give your all in the long essays you are asked
to write. As Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, "the limits of my language mean
the limit of my world." By expanding your vocabulary and expression, you
are developing the horizons of the world you can explore. As you read this,
reply "oh yeah, that's why (then any phrase)" in the Week 3 channel. The
first ten people to do so will get a free point in the midterms exam.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/356628864246376213/

The adolescent must develop a personal sense of identity. Now is THE

PERFECT TIME to know yourself. Establish a sense of identity is THE
MOST VITAL THING to accomplish in adolescence. Who are you when
nobody is watching? What role should you play in society? What are you good at?
What can you contribute to the world? Realizing answers to such questions should
be your PRIORITY, not finding love and intimacy.

The adolescent must establish adult vocational

goals. Yes, you are not yet an adult. However, the
years you have from 16 to 26 will come by swiftly.
You will wake up one day and be shocked at the fact
that everything just passed by just like that. Unless you

https://www.birthdaywishes.expert/top-birthday-wishes-for-teenagers/
6 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA

are intentionally preparing yourself in the present, your future might be at risk. Draw up plans
by now. What career path excites you? Which road will lead you there?

An adolescent must establish emotional and psychological

independence from their parents. The irony is this: by now,
you want to be independent; however, deep down, you still
long to stay in a safe, secure, dependent, and supportive
relationship with your parents. Slowly recognize what you can
handle on your own. Just like last week's lessons, try this task
by being accountable with your thought life. Work on your
distorted thinking styles and manage your emotions.

https://www.birthdaywishes.expert/top-birthday-wishes-for-teenagers/

The adolescent must develop stable and productive peer

relationships. An indicator that you will be successful in your social and
psychological development is when you can make friends with other people or
establish a group that welcomes anyone. Having stable and productive peer
relationships starts with less desperation of people's time and attention but enjoying
their company when available. If you're missing a friend, stop acting out like a
child by ignoring them. Be the first person to reach out. STABLE. PRODUCTIVE.
Kids don't make peer relationships like that. You're no longer a kid.

The adolescent must learn to manage her or his sexuality. Your

sexual identity becomes more apparent in this stage. Because the
hormones are raging, it is harder to manage attractions. However, it
is the very thing you learn how to. Sexual behavior that is not
appropriate may result in long-term changes in your life that you are
not ready for. Value patience. After all, true love waits. Saving
yourself until you are prepared is a wise thing to do.

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The adolescent must adopt a personal value system. Decide now

what matters to you. Is it family? Is it love? Is it integrity? When put together,
these individual things that matter to you become a system that will help you
consider life options. Your self-exploration, formal education, observations in
relationships, realizations about life will help you create your value system. Focus
on this while you are young. These will be beneficial as you pursue marriage and
careers in the future.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • NU LAGUNA 7

https://quotefancy.com/quote/35426/Brian-Tracy-The-ability-to-discipline-yourself-to-delay-gratification-in-the-short-term

The adolescent must develop increased impulse control and behavioral

maturity. From outbursts of anger to sexual promiscuity, one of the most
problematic features in adolescence is the engagement to risky behaviors. Impulse
control is challenging but not impossible. Develop maturity, and you will reap its
joy as you have meaningful friendships, stable relationships, and a great career path
in the future.

TASK-CHALLENGE CHART
The tasks are above are indeed tough to fulfill. What
we’re going to do now is to identify ways on how you can
overcome them. Choose the five (5) most demanding tasks for
you. Give the reason you find them challenging. Finally, pin
point a possible adjustment you can do to achieve success in that
particular task. Do this in your Journal Notebook.
Here's an example:

Task Why is this What I can adjust to

challenging for me? accomplish this?
e.g. I must develop I tend to fall for people Stop obsessing with
increased impulse easily. finding internet love.
control and behavioral
maturity.
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Let’s wrap the day up with doing a journal entry.

Adhere to the following steps:

1. Reflect on this question: How does growing old make me feel?

2. Freely write a journal entry about it on MS Sway.
3. Creatively design it.

SPICE IT UP!
Instead of writing an essay, you can choose from the following:
o Do an inspirational video using you favorite song as the background.
o Write a song about the lesson and attach the video.
o Write a poem, a fictional story, or a free verse.
o Submit an artwork you made that depicts what you learned today.

Note: Self-expression helps deal with emotions. When you do today’s journal you hit 2 birds with
one stone: emotional release and academic achievement.

LESSON SUMMARY

Adolescence is not an easy stage. However, it can be what you decide to make it
become. You can either face the challenges head-on or float by. Each has its
consequences. Choose wisely.

KEY TERMS
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Developmental Tasks Value System Hormones

Havighurst Identity
Sexuality Impulse Control

REFERENCES

Manning, M. (2002). Havighurst's Developmental Tasks, Young Adolescents, and Diversity. The Clearing
House, 76(2), 75-78. Retrieved September 5, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/30189796

Cleofe, M. P. (2016). DIWA Senior High School Series: Personal Development Module. [2nd ed.]
Makati City: Diwa Learning Systems Inc.

Cruz and Cruz II (2016). Personal Development. Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City, Books atbp
Publishing Corp.

CONTRIBUTORS

ROMILYN M. BALBIERAN
MARYAN JOY C. LOPEZ
ALEC D. TOBIAS III
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