Question

Why do you think adolescence has the reputation for being a ”stormy” and “stressful” (and often “rebellious”) period? Do you think adolescence is generally stormy and stressful? How would you characterize your own adolescence? Outline some 3+ factors which may have made it this way?

Answer 1

• Adolescence is the most critical phase in everyone's life since it is a transition from childhood and going into early adulthood.This is the phase in which major physical and cognitive changes happen in a teenager. The process of finding oneself and one's identity as well as developing a belief system is most important during this phase.
• A teenager is moody,rebellious and impulsive because of this transition that is happpening in their life.Finding out what they value,what relationships are important to them and also seeking freedom in their decision making makes them take irrational decisions as well.
• Adolescence is a period of inevitable turmoil that takes place during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Teenagers tend to rebel against authority figures as they seek greater independence and autonomy.
• The term 'storm and stress' was coined by G. Stanley Hall in Adolescence, written in 1904. Hall used this term because he viewed adolescence as a period of inevitable turmoil that takes place during the transition from childhood to adulthood. 'Storm' refers to a decreased level of self-control, and 'stress' refers to an increased level of sensitivity.
• Mood disruption takes place because of hormonal changes and the psychological stress of adolescence can cause uncontrollable shifts in emotions.
• They engage in risky behavior which happens because of the combination of a neurological need for stimulation and emotional immaturity lead to increased risk-taking behavior during adolescence.
• Some of the blame for this period of storm and stress is due to the biological changes of puberty. It takes time for developing bodies to get used to managing these biological changes.
• Hormone changes can account for many of the mood swings that occur. Physical growth at this time can make adolescents feel uncomfortable or awkward. Neurological connections are also rapidly coming together and causing adolescents to seek stimulation.
• As adolescents seek independence, they rebel against authority figures, and strong associations with peer groups develop. Attention-seeking and risk-seeking behaviors also increase during adolescence. These characteristics contribute to increased levels of conflict in the adolescent period.
• Emotions tend to vary widely and change at a moment's notice. A person is also more likely to experience feelings of depression, self-consciousness, embarrassment, loneliness, and nervousness at this time more than any other time in their lives.
• Adolescents face a range of developmental issues. They experience a variety of biological changes, cognitive changes social changes and encounters a number of emotions.
• Compared to children, adolescents think in ways that are more advanced, more efficient and generally more complex. This is evident distinct areas of cognition.
• First, during adolescence individuals become better able than children to think about what is possible, instead of limiting their thought to what is real.
• Second, during the passage into adolescence, individuals become better able to think about abstract ideas. For example, adolescents find it easier than children to comprehend the sorts of higher order, abstract logic inherent in puns, proverbs, metaphors and analogies
• A third change in cognition is that thinking tends to become multidimensional, rather than limited to a single issue. Being able to understand that people’s personalities are not one- side, or that social situations can have different interpretations, depending o one’s point of view, permits the adolescents to have far more sophisticated and complicated relationship with other people.
• During adolescence, there is a movement away from the dependency typical of childhood toward the autonomy typical of adulthood. For example, older adolescents do not generally rush to their parents whenever they are upset, worried or in need of assistance.
• They do not see their parents as all-knowing or all all-powerfull, and often have a great deal of emotional energy wrapped up in relationships outside the family. In addition, older adolescents are able to see and interact with their parents as people, not just as their parents.
• The young person proudly asserts individuality from what parents like or independence of what parents want and in each case succeeds in provoking their disapproval. This is why rebellion, which is simply behavior that deliberately opposes the ruling norms or powers that be, has been given a good name by adolescents and a bad one by adults.
• Specifically, adolescents are more likely to conform to their peer’s opinions when it comes to short- term, day-to-day, and social matters- styles of dress, tastes in music and the early years of high school.
• We have all gone through this phase of roller coaster of emotions including myself.I have also experienced my share of emotional turmoil during my teenage phase,my conlflicts with my parents,facing isolation and depression due to peer pressure etc. This phase if passed safly sets the base for a more stable adulthood.