Adolescence

ADOLESCENCE
Human Development
Forming an Identity
 You must have sought answers to questions such as : Who am I? Which subjects should I study? Do I believe in God?
The answers to all these questions involve the quest to define one’s sense of self or the search for identity.
 Identity is who you are and what your values, commitments and beliefs are.
 The primary task of adolescence is to establish an identity separate from the parents.
 During adolescence , the individual need to develop a personalised set of beliefs that are uniquely her or his own.
 In the process of achieving an identity the adolescent could experience conflict with parents and conflict within
herself or himself.
 Those adolescents who can cope with the conflicting identities develop a new sense of self. Adolescents who are not
able to cope with this identity crisis are confused. This “identity confusion”, according to Erikson, can lead to
individuals isolating themselves from peers and family; or they may lose their identity in the crowd.
Human Development
Forming an Identity
 Adolescents on one hand, may desire independence but may also be afraid of it and show a great deal
of dependence on their parents.
 Rapid fluctuations between self-confidence and insecurity are typical of this stage.
 Adolescents may at one time complain of being “treated like a baby” whereas on other occasions they
may seek comfort by depending on their parents.
 Seeking an identity involves searching for continuity and sameness in oneself, greater responsibility and
trying to get a clear sense of who one is, i.e. an identity.
 The formation of identity during adolescence is influenced by several factors. The cultural background,
family and societal values, ethnic background, and socio-economic status all prevail upon the adolescents’
search for a place in society.
Human Development
Family relationships become less important as the adolescent spends more time outside the home and
develops a strong need for peer support and acceptance.
Increased interactions with peers provide them with opportunities for refining their social skills and trying
out different social behaviours.
Peers and parents are dual forces having major influences on adolescents. At times conflicting situations
with parents lead to increased identification with peers.
But generally parents and peers serve complementary functions and fulfil different needs of the
adolescents.
Human Development
Vocational commitment is another factor influencing adolescent identity formation.
The question “What are you going to be when you grow up?”, requires the ability to think about the future
and to be able to set realistic and achievable goals.
In some cultures freedom is given to the young people to choose an occupation, whereas in certain other
cultures the option of making this choice is not given to the children. Here parents’ decision is likely to be
accepted by the children.
W hat has been your experience while making a choice in the selection of subjects?
Career counselling in schools offers information regarding appraisal of the students for various courses
and jobs and provides guidance in making a decision about career choices
Some Concerns of Adolescence
During adolescence peer influence, new gained freedom, unresolved problems may create difficulties for many of you.
Conforming to peer pressure can be both positive and negative.
Adolescents are often confronted with decisions regarding smoking, drugs, alcohol, and breaking parental rules, etc.
These decisions are taken without much regard to the effect they can have.
Adolescents may face periods of uncertainty, loneliness, self-doubt, anxiety, and concern about themselves and their
future, they are also likely to experience excitement, joy, and feelings of competence as they overcome the
developmental challenges.
Major Challenges faced by adolescents:
1. Delinquency
2. Substance abuse
3. Eating disorders
Delinquency :
Delinquency refers to a variety of behaviours, ranging from socially unacceptable
behaviour, legal offences, to criminal acts.
Examples include truancy, running away from home, stealing or burglary or acts of
vandalism.
Adolescents with delinquency and behavioural problems tend to have a negative

self-identity, decreased trust, and low level of achievement.
Delinquency is often associated with low parental support, inappropriate discipline,

and family discord.
Delinquency :
Often adolescents from communities characterised by poverty, unemployment,

and having feelings of alienation from the middle class perform antisocial
acts to gain attention and to be popular with their peers.
How to reduce delinquency?

 Change in their peer group
 becoming more aware of their social responsibilities
 developing feelings of self- worth
 imitating positive behaviour of the role models
 breaking negative attitudes
 overcoming poor self-concept
Human Development
Substance abuse:
Adolescent years are especially vulnerable to smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.
Way of coping with stress.
This can interfere with the development of coping skills and responsible decision-
making.
Reasons for smoking and drug use
 peer pressure and the adolescents’ need to be accepted by the group
 desire to act more like adults
 feel a need to escape the pressure of school work or social activities.
 The addictive powers of nicotine make it difficult to stop smoking.
 It has been found that adolescents who are more vulnerable to drugs, alcohol, and nicotine use,
are impulsive, aggressive, anxious, depressive, and unpredictable, have low self-esteem, and
low expectation for achievement.
Human Development
Substance abuse:
Drug use if continued long enough can lead to physiological dependency, i.e. addiction
to
drugs, alcohol or nicotine, more amount of the substance are needed to achieve the desired
effect.
Withdrawal symptoms – symptoms experienced when we stop taking the substance
Positive relationships with parents, peers, siblings, and adults play an important role in
preventing drug abuse.
Human Development
Types of Eating Disorders
1. Anorexia nervosa
2. Bulimia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Major Challenges in Adolescence

Adolescence

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ADOLESCENCE

Vocational commitment is another factor influencing adolescent identity formation.

Conforming to peer pressure can be both positive and negative.

Adolescents with delinquency and behavioural problems tend to have a negative

Delinquency is often associated with low parental support, inappropriate discipline,

Often adolescents from communities characterised by poverty, unemployment,

How to reduce delinquency?

Withdrawal symptoms – symptoms experienced when we stop taking the substance

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