Adolescence is a Period of Storm and Stress - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages This paper illustrates that the changing process doesn’t stop in the adulthood change though as development in other aspects such as psychological and social aspects can still progress. The adolescence period is vital among these changes as it is intermediary to childhood and adulthood. It poses great challenges to the metamorphosing individual as independence becomes interesting and the path towards it is resolutely sought. There is actually no standard definition of adolescence. Although it is often captured as an age range, usually from 10 to 18 years old, chronological age is but one way of defining adolescence. Physical, social and cognitive development can also form the basis of adolescence. The needs and capabilities of a child turning into an adolescent drastically change. And this transition process has been the basis of adolescence being known as the period of “storm and stress”, a perspective introduced by Hall and supported by the psychoanalytic tradition and Erikson’s description of adolescence as a period of identity crisis which popularised in the 20th century. The “storm and stress” perception of adolescence defines it as a turbulent process, accompanied by negative moods and a problematic relationship with parents, and risky behavior, including delinquency. However, it has to be noted that this viewpoint was minimized when more empirical data disproved it in the 1980s. Nevertheless, it can’t be denied that both adolescents and our society face challenges in this developmental stage and thus appropriate education and actions on developmental management must be addressed. A growth spurt involving radical changes occur in the physical anatomy of an adolescent as it matures in size and form. The cause of this is the high secretion of gonadal steroid hormones such as the testosterone and estrogens, in the reproductive organ. The developing body experiences anatomical changes contributory to the reproductive process, of which the emergence of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development and growth of facial hairs, is mostly observed. The pace of development, however, is very varied across individuals. And this impacts the psychological state of the adolescent in his sense of self and relations to others thereby making adolescence a delicate stage. The behavioral changes in adolescents that affect their emotional state are explained by the late maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) – the brain part responsible for the regulation of emotions, planning, reasoning, and self-control. And so drastic changes occur in the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, hormones responsible for stimulating emotions in the limbic system of the brain. These changes cause the adolescents to have the tendency to be more stressful and less susceptible to rewards. These are the internal changes occurring among adolescents, where we can only observe the results which are common emotional outbursts and shifts. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More