Question-

Discuss the concept of adolescence with respect to the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional
development which takes place at this stage.

Answer-

Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. The period varies from 10-12
to 18-21 years of age. The term adolescence is different from puberty. As puberty is the physical
changes that take place within a body whereas adolescence is the term use for the wholesome of
the changes [physical, cognitive and social changes] that take place within an individual. Adolescence
is influenced by both the biological as well as social factors. There are several changes that take
place within an individual. Spending more time with peers, dating, psychological distance from their
families are some of the changes. They start thinking more logically [abstractly] and in a more
idealistic way. In 1904, G. STANLEY HALL define adolescence as ‘stress and storm’. He define
adolescence who usually deal with mood swings and conflicts. Howerever , DENIAL in 1988 define
adolescence in a more positive way. The one who have a positive self image, who enjoy life , feel
confident and are able to cope up with stress more effectively. They differ from other people in their
choices and their taste. The life of an adolescence is affected by various factors such as religion,
ethics, age, lifestyle, gender, economic life etc. The adolescence development can be classified into
three different domains that is

1. Physical development
2. Cognitive development
3. Social development

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Physical development is the bodily changes that take place within an individual. Puberty is the term

use for the physical changes. Puberty start in the beginning of adolescence. It involves bodily and
hormonal changes. It involves sexual maturation, increase in height and weight.

Puberty in males involves increase in height and weight, increase in penis size, testicle size,
appearance of pubic and armpit hairs, first ejaculation, facial and chest hairs, deepening of voice.

Puberty in females involves breast enlargement, increase in height and weight, wider hips as
compared to shoulders, pubic and armpit hairs, Menarche – first mensuration. Initially the
mensuration is irregular but after a year or two it becomes regular.

Initially girls are taller than boys. Also having more weight than boys but within few years of
adolescence boys surpass girls. Puberty hit the girls two year earlier than boys that’s why they
complete their physical development much earlier than boys. The beginning of puberty in girls is
usually between 9 to 11 years and in boys between 10 to 13 years. The end of puberty take place
between 12 to 15 in girls and 15 to 17 in boys. The increase in height is around 3.5 inches in girls and
4 inches in boys.

Also there are hormonal changes that take place. Hormones are the chemical substances that are
secreted by the endocrine gland. Testosterone and estrogen are the hormones that are secreted at
the time of adolescence. Both the hormones are present in both female and male but the amount of
hormone testosterone secreted in boys in much larger amount as compared to girls and estrogen is

secreted in girls in much larger amount as compared to the boys. All the bodily changes that take
place are due to the influence of the hormones. Hormonal changes also influence the psychological
development. On the other hand psychological changes too influences the hormones. Stress,

exercise , depression, lifestyle influence mood and behaviour which in turn influence the hormone
secretion. Thus the hormonal and psychological link is complex.

As puberty varies from individual to individual due to the various factor influencing it. Overweight
girls get puberty earlier in their life. Healthy lifestyle and exercise often delay puberty. Some hit
puberty earlier as compared to others. Early maturation in boys is usually linked with positivity as
they become more popular in their peers due to their masculine bodily structure. They see
themselves in a more positive way [confident and a positive self-image] as compared to the the boys
whom maturation take place later in their life. Late maturing boys found advantageous in their later
years of life. They have a strong sense of identity and found to be successful and good fathers [due
to having much time to focus on their career and academic].

Whereas early maturing girls have negative effects on their body image due to increase in their
weight. Late maturing girls found to be slimmer which fits in to the trend of slim and tall feminine
body in the media. Thus late maturating girls found to be satisfied with their body. Also early
maturating girls attract boys due to their bodily changes and likely to hangout with boys elder than
their age which most of the time lead them to alcoholism, drugs, sexual activities possibly
intercourse. Most of the early maturating girls are depressed and having other psychological
disorders. Precocious puberty is the term used for very early maturation.

Brain development- Neurons which are not used much while processing get pruned. Thus neural
connection get strengthened and became more selective. Corpus callosum is the place in the middle
of the brain where fibres connect left and right hemisphere of the brain which improves processing.
Prefontal cortex also develop which help in advance thinking and self control and development
proceeds till early adulthood. Amydgala which plays a role in emotions also developed. That’s the
reason adolescence experience high emotions because their prefontal cortex[self control] is not fully
developed.

As adolescence is the time of developing a sexual orientation. During this time they explore their
sexual identity as hetrosexual or homosexual. There are various risk factors associated with sexual
activities. Factors that influence early sexual activities are-

 Daughter of teenage mothers

 Teenage pregnant sibling
 Low academic performance
 Low parental monitoring
 Lack of information
 Low socioeconomic status
 Peer influence

Good academic performance is the protecting layers for keeping them away from early sexual
behaviour.

Contraceptive use is beneficial for reducing early pregnancies and sexual infections. Condom is one
of the best contraceptive for prevention however other contraceptive do not protect against sexual
infections.

SEXUAL TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS [STI] are the infections that are transmitted through sexual
contact [vaginal, oral and anal sex]. Various STI are-
  AIDS [ACQUIRED IMMUNO DEFICIENCY SYNDROME]- It is the leading cause of death in
adolescence. It transmitted through sexual contact, through blood transfusion, or sharing of
needles while drug use.
 HPV [HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS]- It transmitted through fluid exchange. It can lead to the
cervical cancer in females.
 TRICHOMONIASIS- There is no need of sexual contact. It can happen because of unhygienic
practices. symptoms is painful discharge from vagina.
 CHLAMYDIA- It is a bacterial infection. Transmission can be caused by unprotected sex.
Symptoms are burning sensation while urinating. In severe case, it can lead to fertility loss.
 GENITAL HERPES- Reasons are unhygienic practices and unprotected sex. Leads to sores
which heals after some days but cycles goes on again and again.

Avoiding STI-

1. Protected sex
2. Knowing partner’s sexual history
3. Sex education
4. Staying sober
5. Monogamy is advised
6. Self-restrain

HEALTH DURING ADOLESCENCE – SLEEP DEPRIVATION- In adolescence there is a change in the

sleeping cycle. Shift of an hour in realising sleeping hormone melatonin which lead to Inadequate
sleep. Poor academic performance, difficulty in regulating mood, irritable behaviour and
dependency on caffeine containing drinks.

SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE - Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, drug use are the major
source of substance abuse. Substance use is the usage of a particular substance in a limit which do
not affect ones regular routine whereas substance abuse is the use of substance to that limit where
you can't perform your daily routine without consuming them. Parental monitoring, having dinner
with families, less social influencers protect teen from engaging in such activities. Early educational
achievement also reduce such risk.

EATING DISORDER-

ANOREXIA NERVOSA- is an eating disorder in which an individual starve to the limit which can lead to

death. Such persons often have distorted body image, often have a fear of gaining weight.

BULIMIA NERVOSA- disorder in which individual do binge eating and then

purge by vomiting or using a laxative.

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

PIAGET THEORY – It is the fourth and the last stage of cognitive development that is formal
operational stage. This is the stage in which adolescence start having more abstract thinking. They
can also have hypothetical thinking as well as can solve problems verbally.

Hypothetical deductive thinking - while facing any problem, the person start having a hypothesis
from which they deduce the logical hypothesis that can solve their problem.
Propositional thought - an important characteristics of piaget logical thinking. It is the ability to
evaluate the logics of statements without referring to real world circumstances.

Adolescence egocentrism- Adolescence having high self consciousness about themselves. They
think that the whole world is running around themselves. Example - in a crowded place, all people
are noticing me/ giving attention to me. Imaginary audience is the term use for this type of
thoughts. Personable fable is the part of adolescence egocentrism that involves adolescence sense
of uniqueness and invulnerability. Usually a sense of invulnerability often connected with
adolescence pregnancy, STI and other risks.

INFORMATION PROCESSING - There is a change in information processing that take place while an
individual enters in adolescence. Information processing is the improved and faster processing
which help in deeper thinking and better decision making. It involves high cognitive abilities like
reasoning, making decision, monitoring thinking. Information processing helps in effective learning
and improve ability to focus on one thing. People can make better decision when they are calm.
Decision making is the dual process model which states that decision making is influenced by two
system- analytical and experimental. It involves monitoring experimental situations and analysing
them in order to take an effective decision. Because there is a need to stay away from some
circumstances. Critical thinking is also an important part of information processing. If an adolescence
don’t develop well on the scale of critical thinking then he or she lacks in gains in adolescence
thinking.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SELF ESTEEM- It is ones perception about their own worth. During adolescence, change in self
esteem take place. Girls self esteem decline more as compared to the boys due to their distorted self
image. Adolescence who engage in various health risk behaviour and other illegal works often have
low self esteem. It’s doesn’t necessary that ones own self perception is accurate. It can be accurate
or a distorted self image. High self esteem sometime lead to arrogance and superiority over others.

Narcissism is the term used for those persons who are highly self obsessed and self centered. They
focus on themselves only. They want everything happen according to their choices. They are their
own first priority. Such persons are not known about their actual self and how other people perceive
them. Thus they face adjustment problems.

IDENTITY - Identity is the self image of a person. It composed of various factors like- vocational,
political, relationship, sexual, ethnics, achievement, physical, hobbies, personality. Identity
formation is not a one time step. It change many times within a life.

ERIKSON’S IDENTITY STAGE- IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION- Adolescence is the time in which
identity formation take place where teen think what is the role of his/her life? What he/she want to
be in their life? Which field they wanna pursue? Conflict occur while searching for a identity. They
explore various field. Sometime change the field even after choosing one feild. Those who
successfully deal with such issues and form a identity adjust effectively in the environment. Such
individual also have high self esteem. Whereas those who are unable to resolve such conflict face
role confusion. Role confusion leads to isolation or lose of identity in the social life.

JAMES MARCIA IN 1980 defines Erikson identity stage into four sub-stage which an individual go
through. Identity diffusion is the stage in which a person show little interest in searching an identity.
Neither he is facing crisis nor he made commitment towards any occupation. Identity foreclosure is
the stage in which they had made a commitment. Usually parent choose the feild of identity in such
cases for their children. Identity moratorium is the stage in which crisis is present. That means a
person is in the stage of role confusion and is unable to find a identity. Identity achievement is the
stage in which an individual face crisis but now successfully figured out an identity.

ETHNIC IDENTITY AND RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT – Ethnic identity is the identity in which a person
feel connected to ones religion. Adopting the attitude, beliefs, lifestyle of that particular community.
While emerging from childhood to adolescence religious activities decrease but those who regularly
or timely engage in religional activities have high self esteem as compared to those who do not
engage. Such teens also stay away from substance abuse and sexual behaviour due to their religional
beliefs and often involve in social services. Such individuals have a positive self image.

FAMILIES-

PARENTAL MONITORING- Parental monitoring is crucial for adolescence as it protect teens from
engaging in troubles. It involves supervising academic performance, friends, activities. Those parents
who listen to their child issues, interact with them, explain them, understand them rather than
scrolling them usually adjust well psychologically.

AUTONOMY AND ATTACHMENT – During this time, adolescence demand freedom. They want to
exercise self control. Sudden desire for freedom often lead parent angry. Parents often complain
that their children are having problem while adjusting. On the other side, adolescence want to take
their own decision and responsibilities of their life. Attachment is equally important. Those who are
securely attach with their parents at the age of 14, adjust emotionally well. Thus there is a need of
balancing autonomy and attachment. While getting independence, at the same point adolescence
should stay attach with their parents which help them from involving health-risk behaviour. Also it
will give them a sense of secure attachment.

PEERS – FRIENDSHIP- During adolescence, teens start spending more time with their friends. Their
friends become the important part of their life. Peers become their important influencer and
motivators in their life. Disclosing personal information is one of the way through which they feel
connected. Girls often involve in gossips and chit-chats while boys enjoys each other companies
through involving in video games and other hobbies.

PEER PRESSURE – is the influence of the friends and the motivational factor to do something. Peer
pressure can be positive or negative. In order to fit in social life, adolescence do such things that are
considered cool in their peer group. Engaging in binge drinking or focusing on academic performance
both are the example of peer pressure. One is in negative way and the other is in positive way.

DATING AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP – the one of the major change from childhood to
adolescence is that teens start dating and explore sexuality while forming close and intimate
relationship with different or same sex partner. Development of romantic relationship take place in
three stages-

1. Romantic attraction- It is around age 11 to 13 triggered by puberty. Having a crush or talk

about romance is the basis of this stage.
2. Exploring romantic relations – It is between age 14 to 16. Causal dating or dating in group is
happen. It is mostly short lived.
3. Romantic bonds- From age 17 to 19- More intense and strong emotional bond form which
are more stable and lead to romantic relationships.

DATING IN GAY AND LESBIAN – They carry a relationship with different sex partner which help them
in exploring their sexual identity. Some remains in heterosexual relations due to society unaceptance
while other start dating same sex partner. It is very difficult for them to expose their sexual identity
in front of the society.

ADOLESCENCE PROBLEMS

JUVELINE DELIQUENCY- Is an individual who involves in illegal work, crimes and go against the laws.
The major factors contributing to such problems are negative family experience, peer influence, and
negative life events.

DEPRESSION- Female found to be more depressed as compared to the males. Low self esteem, lack
of family support, poor academic performance, breakup in relationship, unable to fit in peers are the
major causes of depression.

SUICIDE- There is an increase in suicides. Females suicide more as compared to males but males do
it successfully. It was found in an study that those who attempt suicide have depressive symptoms.

Early finding and intervention is the way through which we can prevent such adolescence problems.
Community wise program approach and individual attention will also help.

NAME – NEHA JUNEJA

ROLL NO- 19/UPSY/007