Personality
Development
Module 3:
Why Am I Like This?
Lesson 1
Development Tasks and
Challenges experienced during
Adolescence
Adolescence is a period of transition when the
individual changes—physically and psychologically—from a
child to an adult. It is a period when rapid physiological and
psychological changes demand new social roles to take place.
Prior to these changes, the adolescents often face a number of
crises and dilemmas. It is the period when the child moves from
dependency to autonomy. It demands significant adjustment to the
physical and social changes.
It is a fact that all living beings pass through specific
stages or phases of development. Erikson believed that each
stage of life is marked by a specific crisis or conflict between
competing tendencies. If individuals know how to negotiate
each of these hurdles successfully, they can develop in a normal
and healthy way of life. During this phase, adolescents must
integrate various roles into a consistent self identity. If they fail
to do so, they may experience confusion over who they are .
Physical changes during Adolescence =
For girls, you might start to see early physical changes from about
10 or 11 years, but they might start as early as 8 years or as old as
13 years.
These physical changes during puberty include:
• development of breast
• changes in body shape and height
• growth of pubic and body hair
• onset of menstruation or monthly period
For boys, physical changes usually start at around 11 or 12
years, but they might start as young as 9 years or as old as
14 years.
These physical changes include:
o growth of the penis and testes (testicles)
o changes in body shape and height
o erections with ejaculation
o growth of body and facial hair
o changes in voice.
Body Image Concerns
It is within the context described above that children and
adolescents begin to form their perception of their own bodies – their
body image. Body image can be defined as the subjective evaluation of
one’s body and appearance ( Smolak & Thompson 2009).
Related to one’s body and appearance, this comprises thoughts
(e.g. “I think I look bad in photographs”),
feelings (“I hate the way I look”),
as well as perceptions (“I am too fat”).
In body image research, a person’s body image is often
described in terms of the level of body-esteem (referring to self-
esteem in relation to body and appearance) or body dissatisfaction
(referring to negative feelings and thoughts about one’s body and
appearance) which a person may be experiencing.
Nutrition, Health, and Hygiene
Nutrition and dietary habits during adolescence.
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical growth, with
a corresponding increase in nutritional requirements to support the
increase in body mass and to build up stores of nutrients. The
daily intake of nutritional requirements increases according to the
following factors:
Age: at the beginning of puberty, with the increase of height and at the last stage
of adolescence;
Gender: adolescent girls require 10% more nutrients, iron and iodine in
particular than boys;
Pregnancy: during the second half in particular, as well as during the first six
months of breastfeeding, it is advised that the first pregnancy after marriage be
postponed at least until the girl is over 18 years old because it might not be
possible to meet added nutritional requirements, especially among middle
income and poor families;
Activities and sports: heavy physical sports in particular such as swimming,
running, and ball games
Improving the nutrition of adolescents
Adolescent nutrition
can be improved through several measures including:
• recognition of the increased nutritional requirements of adolescents;
• nutritional education for the promotion of healthy dietary habits stated below;
• adequate diet at specific times;
• control of excessive indulgence in food, especially those foods high in sugar
and fat;
• minimizing the intake of sweets and snacks between main meals, especially
junk food snacks;
• regular physical exercise to burn excess calories and to strengthen
muscles;
• regular intake of breakfast;
• use of sugar replacement if prone to obesity; and
• ensuring that poultry and poultry products, including meat are well-
cooked, and clean.
Major Health Concerns of Adolescents
Obesity:
Obesity is a grave nutritional problem for adolescents. It
simply means that the energy intake exceeds the amount of energy
consumed, and the residual difference accumulates in the body to cause fat.
Over consumption of food is the main reason for obesity, specifically foods
rich in sugar, starch and fat, like nuts, sweets, chocolate and soft drinks.
Snacks and junk foods eaten with or in between meals, and popcorn, pizza
and nuts consumed while watching television, also causes obesity. The
energy consumed in sports, walking, manual work or physical exercise is
usually less than the calorie intake.
Anemia:
Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in
the world, affecting no less than two billion people. Primarily caused by
iron deficiency, its acute symptoms manifest particularly among
adolescent girls. During menarche, teenage girls need 10% more iron than
boys of the same age because of blood loss in menstruation. Poor families
often fail to provide the extra iron intake needed for these adolescent girls
who also have a heavy workload at home. In addition, there is the
possibility of sex discrimination in interfamilial food distribution in some
families with girls having a smaller share than boys
Iodine deficiency:
Iodine is a basic life element for humans. Iodine deficiency
leads to goiter, abortion and mental retardation. Deficiency means a severe
lack of nutrition needed that might have a pathological effect. The need for
iodine increases during adolescence.
Depression:
The term “depression” is often used in daily conversation to
refer to bouts of sadness, moodiness or disappointment that last for a few
days. However, this is not depression, which is a specific clinically
recognized condition diagnosed by psychologists or psychiatrists.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
The lifestyles adopted by adolescents and youth will largely
decide their risks of having sexually transmitted disease and HIV infection. It
must be understood that these age groups are vulnerable to such infections.
For example, ages from 20 to 24 usually have the highest incidence of HIV
infection followed by those from 15 to 19 years of age.
Examples for STDs:
Syphilis (spirochete), Hepatitis B (virus),
Herpes (virus), HIV (virus),
AIDS (disease), Trichomoniasis vaginitis
(flagellar), Genital warts (virus) and
Chlamydia infection (intracellular organisms).
Adolescence is a time to build on these basics
Good hygiene habits in childhood are a great foundation for
good hygiene in the teenage years. And if you’ve got open, honest
communication with your child, it’ll make it easier to talk about the personal
hygiene issues that come up in adolescence.
Why good personal hygiene matters?
Keeping your body clean is an important part of staying healthy.
The simple act of washing hands before eating and after using the toilet is a
proven and effective tool in fighting germs to avoid sickness. Being clean and
well-presented is also an important part of gaining confidence for teenagers.
Helping adolescent child with the basics of personal hygiene:
Body odor:
When children reach puberty, a sweat gland in their
armpit and genital area develops. Regular changing of underwear and
other clothes worn next to the skin is especially important. These clothes
collect all sorts of stuff that bacteria love to eat, including dead skin cells,
sweat and body fluids. That’s why they get smelly. The onset of puberty
is also a good time for your child to start using anti-perspirant deodorant.
You can encourage your child to do this by letting her choose her own.
Smelly feet:
Smelly feet and shoes can also be a problem, whether you
are sporty or not. One can avoid this by giving your feet extra attention while
taking a shower, and making sure they are completely dry before putting
your socks and shoes on. It is a good idea to alternate your shoes and to wear
cotton socks instead of those made of synthetic fibers.
Dental hygiene:
Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing and going to the
dentist regularly are vital to avoid bad breath, gum problems and tooth decay.
Girls:
Although all teenagers have the same basic hygiene
issues, girls will be needing help to manage their monthly periods.
Adolescent girls should be told to change their pads more often as
well as to dispose these used pads hygienically. Teenagers do need
extra time in the bathroom. While teenagers are learning to shave or
to handle their periods, these hygiene activities might take a bit
longer.
Boys:
Boys will need advice about shaving (how to do it and when
to start), looking after their genitals, and about bodily fluids.
Special Needs:
Young people with special needs are likely be needing extra
support with their personal hygiene. When you are thinking about how to
discuss 14 hygiene to a child with special needs, his/her learning ability
and style might be a factor.
You may consider breaking the hygiene tasks (such
as showering, shaving, using deodorant and cleaning teeth) into small
steps. This way, they might be easier for adolescent to learn.
Start early - before puberty:
If you keep reinforcing messages about personal
hygiene, most adolescent will get there in the end.
Lesson 2
Evaluation of an Adolescent’s
Development through the Significant
People in their Lives
Society plays a huge role in molding teens’ behavior, character, and
attitude. It determines how they see other people, their general outlook,
and their ethics.
Parents, and other family members, can also influence all these things,
but the things that will remain with the kids for the long term are learned
from society. Now society comprises of a lot of different things that
include media, neighborhood, laws, and school
“THE TEENAGE YEARS”
BY: SARAH GRAY
We learn from our mistakes, Not breaking means you’re strong.
from the wrong turns we take, You’d know where you went wrong,
from the fake friends we make,
as if you weren’t waiting so long
and from the times we almost break.
to explain yourself, but stay strong.
Our mistakes help us grow,
but at the time, we didn’t know. So here’s the liars and traitors,
We didn’t want our weakness to show. all the wannabes and haters,
At the time, we couldn’t let them know. learning from our mistakes,
and learning to spot the fakes.
Our fake friends were there
but they didn’t actually care.
Our secrets they would share, Here’s to being a teen,
and now as they pass, they just stare Live it up, ‘cause we’re living the dream.
POEM ON HOW TEENAGERS’ LIFE MIGHT BE LIKE This poem might give you a wider perspective on how
adolescents mature and grow.
PEERS
Social and emotional maturity is intertwined
As teens’ emotional maturity increases, their relationships with their peers
change as they become more vulnerable and emotionally intimate. This
increased vulnerability and intimacy require greater trust among peers.
Thus, during the adolescent years, teen peer groups become increasingly
crucial as they experience closeness in these friendships resulting in more
gratifying relationships. Nowadays, teens turn to their friends for help;
instead of their families as the first line of support during times of worry or
upset. This increased reliance on friendships is yet another way for teens to
demonstrate their growing independence.
Teens modify their behavior, activities, etc. to be accepted by a peer
group.
Since acceptance by a peer group becomes essential, teens
modify their speech, dress, behavior, choices, and activities to become more
similar to their peers. This increased similarity among peers provides them a
sense of security and affirms their acceptance into their chosen peer group.
The developmental theorist
Erik Erickson described this developmental step as a crisis of
identity vs. identity confusion.
When teens modify their choices or behavior in order to conform
to what their friends are doing, they are adapting to peer pressure. Peer
pressure is often associated with adverse outcomes such as skipping school,
wearing distasteful clothing, or drinking alcohol, and using drugs. However,
many parents do not recognize that peer pressure may also have a positive
influence. Because of advanced cognitive and emotional maturity, teens can
now encourage each other to make wise decisions and discourage them from
making wrong choices.
Since it is vital for youth to "fit in" with their peer group, they may also
decide to participate in the same hobbies or activities as their friends.
Doing so will enable them to spend more time together and to bond over
shared experiences. In general, teens will gravitate toward peer groups with
whom they share common interests and activities, similar cultural
backgrounds, or simply a similar outlook on life. Nevertheless, as teens
experiment with their identity, they may be attracted to peer groups with
very different interests.
In summary, during adolescence, the number of close friendships
decline, but the quality of these relationships becomes more vulnerable,
trusting, and intimate. Meanwhile, the number of casual acquaintances
continues to rise, as youths' social networks expand due to sophisticated
communication technologies, new recreational and social activities, new
educational experiences, and employment.
FAMILY
Role of Family in Adolescent’s Development
Developmental theories view adolescence as a period of growth in which
identity formation is addressed. This view means that the family's role is
lessened or that family has only a limited role in the lives of young people
at this time.
However, research shows that ongoing positive family connections are
protective factors against a range of health risk behaviors. Although the
nature of relationships is changing, the continuity of family connections and
a secure emotional base is crucial for the positive development of young
people.
Family is still important.
It is typical for young people to begin to think for
themselves and question aspects of their lives and family relationships.
These changes may mean times of anger and frustration leveled at the
family, but majority of circumstances proved that these feelings are likely
to be temporary or circumstantial.
Adolescents are moving towards becoming independent physically,
emotionally and cognitively, and yet they are still growing.
Young people require stability in a home or environment,
where they may get a secure emotional base from which to explore and
experience the world. This sense of security provides them with somewhere
to come back to for reassurance, support, and unconditional love,
particularly during tough times.
A young person benefits from expectations of respect,
consideration, and reciprocity in family relationships. They still benefit
from 'trying out' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors within the family
environment, and from observing and experiencing relationships within
families. There will still be times when they fall, yet they will benefit
from understanding and support to pick them up.
Changing role of parents
A parent's relationship and caring role with a young person
continues to be vital, although the relationship will need to be flexible to
adapt to the teenager's changing needs. At this time, there will need to be a
gradual change from a more authoritative approach, to a more collaborative
approach.
Parents need to face the (painful) reality that their child is no
longer a child, is becoming independent, and is no longer within their control.
They may feel distressed as they perceive that the young person will not listen
to them, or does the opposite of what they may suggest.
They may have to watch their young person disregard the
things they taught them were necessary, such as ways to look after their
health, or their future goals (as the parent envisaged it).
Parents have to learn to ‘let go,’ not of the relationship, but
their dreams for the young person. This may include their full authority
over young people so that they may allow them to develop their own
dreams and greater self- responsibility
Lesson 3
Ways on how to become
Capable and Responsible
Adolescent prepared for Adult
Life
Be responsible and make good choices.
Becoming responsible and being able to make good
choices are fundamental traits, no matter what developmental
stage you are. It holds true for adolescents especially that they are
just beginning to internalize and imbibe virtues, values, and other
essential qualities.
Music has a big part of a teenager’s life. Music helps teens
safely, explore ideas and emotions, and express themselves without words.
Exposure to positive influences through music can help teens learn coping
mechanisms and appropriate responses to stressful situations. Music also
helps teens connect social groups and gain a feeling of belonging
Here is a song that encases a person; that time moves faster when
one gets older. So be prepared for it so that you will have an amazing adult
life.
“TIME” BY: PINK FLOYD
Ticking away the moments that make up a The sun is the same in a relative way but Hanging on in quiet desperation is the
dull day you're older,
English way
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
way. The time is gone, the song is over,
Every year is getting shorter never seem to
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your find the time. Thought I'd something more to say. Home
home town Home again
Plans that either come to naught or half a
Waiting for someone or something to show page of scribbled lines I like to be here
you the way.
When I can
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home
to watch the rain. When I come home
You are young and life is long and there is Cold and tired
time to kill today.
It's good to warm my bones
And then one day you find ten years have got
behind you. Beside the fire
No one told you when to run, you missed the Far away
starting gun. Across the field
So you run and you run to catch up with the Tolling on the iron bell
sun but it's sinking
Calls the faithful to their knees
Racing around to come up behind you again.
To hear the softly spoken magic spell
Treat “difficulties” as “challenges”
It may not be easy to be a teenager. There may be lots of things going on in
various facets of their lives.
The demands and expectations of their parents and other people
around them can also be stressful. However, the good news is, they can treat
these “difficulties” as “challenges,” which can make their lives exciting.
Having that mindset is also an indication of becoming a responsible and
mentally mature adolescent.
8 simple rules which could help teenagers become a
responsible adolescent prepared for adult life:
1. Focus on your studies and do well in all your endeavors. There is a time for
everything.
2. Take care of your health and hygiene. Healthy body and mind are important as
you journey through adolescence.
3. Establish good communication and relation with your parents or guardian.
Listen to them. Though this may be easier said than done at this stage, but creating
good relationship with them will do you good as they are the ones you can lean on
especially in times of trouble.
4. Think a lot before doing something. Evaluate probable consequences before
acting. Practice self-control and self-discipline.
5 Choose to do the right thing. There are plenty of situations in which it
is better to use your mind rather than your heart.
6 Do your best to resist temptations, bad acts, and earthly pleasures
and commit to being a responsible adolescent.
7 Respect yourself. You are an adult in the making. Do not let your
teenage hormones get into you. If you respect yourself, others will respect
you too.
8 Be prepared to be answerable or accountable for your actions and
behavior. It is part of growing up in becoming an adult.
Ease the transition from being an adolescent to being an adult by
practicing essential skills while you’re still at home.
While still at home, you can help ease the transition by practicing
essential skills, like proper management of time and money. To manage time
well, always try to be punctual when meeting friends and family, as this shows
respect for their time. To become skilled at managing your money, start by
learning to budget. You can make this easier by downloading a budget app
onto your smartphone. Input all your expenses and bill payments, to keep
track of your spending and savings. Once you gain confidence with your
budgeting and time skills, gradually work toward becoming independent from
your family by setting goals like getting work.
