Adolescence characteristics and problems

Prepared by:- Anil Kumar Yadav
TGT ENGLISH, JNV , West Sikkim, Sikkim

Literary Meaning of Adolescence
 Adolescence (from Latin: adolescere meaning "to grow
up“) is a transitional age of
physical and psychological human development
generally occurring during the period from puberty to legal
adulthood (age of majority).The period of adolescence is
most closely associated with the teenage years, though its
physical, psychological and cultural expressions can begin
earlier and end later.

Three main stages of adolescence can be discerned as :-
 Early adolescence (9-13 years) – characterized by a spurt of
growth and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
 Mid adolescence (14-15 years) – this stage is distinguished by the
development of a separate identity from parents, of new
relationships with peer groups and the opposite sex, and of
experimentation.
 Late adolescence (16-19 years) – At this stage, adolescents have
fully developed physical characteristics (similar to adults), and have
formed a distinct identity and have well-formed opinions and
ideas.(NCERT 1999)

Development Characteristics of young adolescence
 Adolescence is a critical time of identity formation, with the
outset of puberty comes an explosion of growth-
physical, intellectual, emotional, social ,and spiritual.
Understanding the nature and scope of adolescent development
and responding appropriately requires patience, empathy, and a
sense of homour. Young people “progress” through
adolescence, no two following the same pathway. Most Sixth
grades show signs of emerging traits, while many eight graders
exhibit more pronounced characteristics.

Physical : -
 Experience onset of puberty, develop secondary sex
characteristics
 Grow rapidly, are often clumsy and uncoordinated
 Become highly self-conscious, body image can affect self-
image
 Fluctuate between hyperactivity and lethargy
 Need physical activity

Cognitive- Intellectual: -
 develop ability to think abstractly, but many still think in literal terms.
 Develop critical thinking skills and become more self-aware, self-
critical.
 Exhibit increased communication skills.
 Becomes argumentative and demonstrate an intense need to be “right”.
 Develop decision making skills and wants a voice in their choices.
 Show intense focus on a new interest but lack discipline to sustain it.

Emotional
 They are unpredictable emotionally, are sensitive and prone to
outbursts.
 Are vulnerable to emotional pleas and can be easily
manipulated
 Exhibit an increasing capacity for empathy
 Experience increasing sexual feeling may engage in sexual
behaviour without realizing consequence

Social - interpersonal
 Display a more developed social consciousness.
 Are more aware of relational ships and have a strong need to
belong
 Exhibit desire for independence and autonomy
 Experience a shift in dependence on family to dependence on
peers.
 Able to critically compare parents with others.
 Seek deeper friendship based on shared interests loyalty
 Experience incresed interest in oppsosite sex, though may aften
feel uncomfortable and awkward with the other sex.

Moral
 Tend to be legalistic, focusing on “rules” and “fairness”
 Refrain moral belief of parents but begin to test rules of
childhood
 Are influenced bt the values of peers
 Form a more personal conscience, seek moral criteria that
make sense to them
 Exhibit a stronger sense of responsibility towards larger
society

Spiritual
 Exhibit “affinitive faith”(faith indentify shaped by family and
community)
 Are open to service opportunities primarily to correct with
peers, test skills
 Can be open to new prayer experience
 Seek adult role models who live their faith authentically
 Desire a deeper relationship with god
 Begin moving away from religious imagery, beliefs and practices of
childhood, many begin to explore new images of god.

Common Problems of Adolescence
 Problems of the stage of adolescent:-
 The adolescent is a problem-individual. There are many
problems around him and he needs help and guidance
for their solution at every step. The following problems
are the most significant in this stage.

Excessive Energy
 Adolescence is the stage of excessive energy. In-take of
food is increased in this stage and general health is also
improved. The result is excessive energy. The adolescent
needs more activity for catharsis of excessive energy.
 Our traditional schools do not provide such physical
activity. Consequently, the adolescent is restless. Various
activities act as sublimation for the adolescents and they
feel relieved.

Misunderstandings Concerning Sex
 With the advent of adolescence the gonads come into activity
for the first time. The appearance of secondary sexual
characteristics is due to the same. They produce emotional
upheaval in the adolescent.
 The first appearance of menstrual course or nocturnal
emission bewilders and shocks the adolescent who is quite
ignorant about it. The school should supply right kind of
information regarding sex at this stage. Due to ignorance
about sex, many promising personalities are doomed.

Aggressiveness or Withdrawal
 When an adolescent cannot adjust himself with the
world, he grows to be aggressive or withdraws from the
field and his personality is arrested. If the conflict is too
serious, he regresses.
 The school should provide ample opportunities to the
children to express themselves properly. Co curricular
activities, scouting student self-government and changed
methods of instruction can go a long way in enabling the
adolescent to adjust him with the world.

Rebellious Attitude
 The adolescents are no more children. They should be
recognized as young men and women in the school as well as
in the home. Their craving for independence should be
satisfied to some extent. They should be given some
responsibility.
 They turn to be very obedient if they are trusted. But things
do not work so smoothly in ordinary schools and homes.
Their sense of independence and responsibility is seldom
recognized. The result is rebellion against authority.

Physical Awkwardness
 Most of the adolescents have the feeling of physical
clumsiness. Consequently their movements stand to be
awkward and unbalanced. They may be corrected in the
playground and on the stage. Games and dancing will
give them harmonious and balanced movements. Social
service at the occasion of festivals etc. and practical
work can help the children in this respect.

Excessive Day-Dreaming
 Day-dreaming is normal at this stage but when it grows
to excessive it may be injurious as far as development of
personality is concerned. The teacher should note that
the adolescents are active and busy in their studies and
other aspects of school life. The children indulging in
excessive day-dreaming should be encouraged to be
constructive and creative.

Emancipation
 It is the ambition for freedom from parental sovereign.
The individual hates control of the parents. He seeks
identity to himself.

Economic independence:
 This is another problem of economic independence.
Money from parents for personal expense is a major
problem.

Emotional tension
 Emotional development is at maximum and unstable.
Self respect and personal pride make the individual
emotionally bad. He expects the things to be done as he
aspires.

Personal appearance
 This is a significant problem. The adolescent is much
worried about the appearance with modern and latest
life style at any cost.

Morphological / Developmental Problems
 over growth of hair or undergrowth of hair
 over weight and underweight
 skin colour problems
 Facial deformities, pimples, etc.
 Limb deformities
 Abnormal growth of genitals and breasts.

Psychological Problems….
 Ignorance about many basic facts leads to psychological
problems like Misconceptions about sexual feelings, sex
related issues.
 Misconceptions about child birth, reproduction.
 Misconceptions about coitus, menstrual cycles.
 Fear about sex and sexual issues.
 Guilt feeling about sex related issues.
Continue……..

Psychological Problems…..
 Inferiority / Superiority complex about skin colour, beauty, mental
ability and IQ.
 Inexplicable perceptions about dress and fashion codes.
 Wrong and unrealistic ideologies about friendship and courtship.
 Perceptional or communicational or preconceived complications
about their teachers and parents.
 Attraction towards opposite sex.
 Unrealistic and illogical curiosity about sex and sex related issues.
 Exceptional vulnerability to suicide psychology.

Social
 Anticipated unemployment and insecurity due to unemployment.
Unwarranted and inexplicable hatredness towards brother /
sisters, friends.
 Intense closeness with brothers / sisters, friends.
 Unpredictable and volatile relationships with friends.
 Unrealistic social perceptions about violence, love, sex as influenced
by media.
 Unusually vulnerable and volatile relations with relatives.
 Fear / imagination about married life, life partners.

Educational
 Tensions of attending the classes, examinations and tests.
 Low IQ feeling.
 Fear about failure in examination.
 Fear about low score.
 Fear and concern about a future career.
 Misconceptions about teachers.

Navodaya vidyalayas being purely residential institutes, the role of
House Master, House Mistress, Staff Nurse and other teaching and
creative faculties becomes very important as at the time of entry of
a new student in Class VI, he is at the initial stage of Adolescence.
Moreover, She/he is fully dependenant on Vidyalaya as a whole
and on different staff members individually or separately.
Here, House Master and House Mistress plays a vital role of
Parents/ Guardians. Role of Staff nurse is equally important.

 Role of the teacher in solving problems
and proper physical, mental, emotional
and social development of the adolescent

1. Proper Physical Development
 The teacher should plan for this aspect in the following
manner :
1. By organizing various types of physical
exercises, sports and games,
2. By imparting a proper knowledge about physical and
health education.
3. By organizing various types of extracurricular
activities.

2. Proper Mental Development
 The mental development of the adolescent should be
according to the following lines:
1. It should be according to the ability and aptitude of
the pupils.
2. They should study both arts and science subjects.
3. Excursions to various places may be organized.

Proper Mental Development continues…..
4. Modern methods of teaching should be used to teach
various subjects.
5. 5.All the school teachers should try to impart him necessary
guidance as and when required.
6. 6.They should be entrusted with responsibility so as to
develop a feeling of responsibility in them.
7. 7.The teacher should keep in view that there are individual
differences among students. Every child should be able to
find out subjects of his choice.

3. Proper Emotional Development
 The emotional development of the adolescent should be
as follows:
1. The teacher should try to sublimate the lower
emotions of the child.
2. A healthy emotional atmosphere should be
maintained in the school.
3. The teacher should try to avoid frustration among the
adolescents.

Proper Emotional Development continues…
4. The teacher should pay due regard to the personality
of every child.
5. The adolescent should be imparted proper knowledge
about sex. If this aspect is properly attended to it
would lead to a better emotional development.

4. Proper Social Development
The social development of the adolescent may be as
follows:
1. He should have knowledge about social relations and
he should know the art of group-living. Various group
activities may be organized.

Proper Social Development continues…
2. A right and rational attitude towards democracy
should be developed in the school atmosphere. This
would enable the child to develop his own philosophy
of life.
3. The Kothari Commission has emphasized the
instruction of moral and spiritual values. We should
try to impart a right and rational knowledge of various
religions to the adolescent.

Adolescence characteristics and problems

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Adolescence characteristics and problems