Puberty
Puberty has been observed to have a great impact on psychological development. G. Stanley explained adolescence to be a period through which people evolved from savages into civilized beings. Social, psychological, and biological forces are factors that affect adolescent development. Biological changes are normal in every teenager. However, the stress of life and social expectations that accompany them may bring moments of uncertainty, disappointment, and self-doubt to all teenagers. Experiences they have had before adolescence and current ones can be what dictates how they succeed in addressing the challenges affecting them. Young people adjust better as the social environment continues to support young people to achieve adult responsibilities. Pubertal growth is facilitated by hormonal processes that are genetically influenced. Sex hormones control sexual maturity. One observable sign of puberty is gaining height and weight. For instance, a girl’s pubertal growth spurt happens earlier than in a boy. An example is Mariel, who was seen with characteristics of adulthood compared to when steven did. When girls are 8 years old, they start having fat on their trunk, legs, and arms. This aspect is in contrast to adolescent boys. Sabrina’s pubertal growth as compared to Joyce, her friend, has started to make her distance herself from her because she feels she a grown-up to be friends with Joyce, who was a girl yet to be adolescent.
Erikson asserted that identity is the first personality trait adolescents work on as they aspire to become contented and productive individuals. He pointed out that adolescents experience moments of stress and identity crisis before they come to be grounded in their values and goals. As they grow, different characters emerge, such as some teens being extroverts, introverts, intelligent, and clueless. These differences impact how these young people perceive themselves, which creates pressure on them in their different social relationships. However, cognitive changes help young people to organize their trait attributes. There are also changes in self-esteem. It helps them to define their true identity. Young people being able to voice their opinions is a step towards them, achieving their identity. Louis and Sabrina, who are adolescents, are discussing a story. Their discussion shows that their cognitive development helps them have a better understanding of broader social structures. It helped them understand what governs moral responsibilities. Frank and Antonio being away from their son Louis impacted his behavior negatively as he was an adolescent.
As a child grows into an adolescent, they grow bigger and stronger, coordinate activities, and gather information effectively with their sensory systems. For example, Sharese, a young lady, is at the peak of her immune system responsiveness, sensory acuteness, endurance, and strength. However, several years later, as she ages, she will become declining in how she was doing things and how active she was. Living longer is somehow genetically connected because there is a high probability of living longer if one’s parents lived long. Physical changes start to be witnessed as a person age. These changes can be in vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, among other factors. When Sharese was in graduate school, because of her family members dying out of heart attacks in their forties and fifties, she entered public health to ensure that she identifies the cause of this problem among black Americans. Young support early pregnancy also because they have more energy to have active kids.
In college, young people work on defining their identity. In a situation where one has not chosen a major, they are made to take classes in a wide array of disciplines. However, when they specialize, they are likely to go deeper into their choice and understand it in a better way. As part of civic and political commitments, young adults want to improve their communities, country, and the world. It has also been discovered that teens less frequently attend religious services as they grow because they start questioning their families’ beliefs. It causes them to start looking for individual and meaningful alternatives. Young adults are emerging to change the cultural dimension that was in operation. Many positions in different fields require more education compared to the past. This aspect has led to most young people seeking higher education first, which delays their financial independence and career commitment. Erickson also talks about intimacy vs. isolation. Sharese discovered that building an emotional relationship was not easy. She knew for a fulfilling romantic relationship; young people should redefine their identity when their values and interests match. Sharese and Ernie’s relationship shows that looking for a life partner is a major milestone for young people.
Generally, as children grow to become adolescents, many changes occur to them. Parents and the community must guide these young people to live fulfilled lives in the future. They will encounter challenges along their way, but with the support of their parents and other people, they can live fulfilling lives. Therefore, adolescents should be ready to face these challenges as they grow to become adults.