Parenting for Prevention: Normal Adolescent Development
PART 1: Parenting Styles
PART 2: Communication
PART 3: Lessons from School
PART 4: Discipline
PART 5: Normal Development
PART 6: Substance Use and Abuse
PART 7: Identifying the Problem
PART 8: Getting Professional Help
Every adolescent is unique with special interests, likes and dislikes, however, there is a general series of developmental tasks that everyone faces during adolescent years. This development can be divided into three stages: early, middle, and late adolescence. The normal feelings and behaviors of adolescents for each stage are described below.
EARLY ADOLESCENCE: 12-14 YEARS OF AGE
MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE: 14-17 YEARS OF AGE
LATE ADOLESCENCE: 17-19 YEARS OF AGE
EARLY ADOLESCENCE: 12-14 YEARS OF AGE
Movements Toward Independence
- struggles with sense of identity
- moodiness
- improved abilities in using speech to express oneself
- more likely to express feelings by actions than by words
- close friendships gain importance
- less affection shown toward parents, with occasional rudeness
- realization that parents are not perfect; identification with their faults
- search for new people to love in addition to parents
- tendencies to return to childish behavior, fought off by excessive activity
- peer group influences interests and clothing styles
Career Interests
- mostly interested in present and near future
- greater ability to work
Sexuality
- girls develop before boys
- same-sex friends and group activities
- shyness, blushing, and modesty
- show-off qualities
- greater interest in privacy
- experimentation with body (masturbation)
- worries about being normal
Ethics and Self-Direction
- rule and limit testing
- occasional experimentation with cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol
- capacity for abstract thought
MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE: 14-17 YEARS OF AGE
Movements Toward Independence
- self-involvement, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept
- complaints that parents interfere with independence
- extremely concerned with appearance and with one’s body
- feelings of strangeness about oneself and body
- lowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from them
- effort to make new friends
- strong emphasis on the peer group with the group identity of selectivity, superiority and competitiveness
- periods of sadness as the psychological loss of the parent takes place
- examination of inner experiences, which may include writing a diary
Career Interests
- intellectual interests gain importance
- some sexual and aggressive energies directed into creative and career interests
Sexuality
- concerned about sexual attractiveness
- frequently changing relationships
- identification of sexual orientation
- tenderness and fears shown toward the opposite sex
- feeling of love and passion
Ethics and Self-Direction
- development of ideals and selection of role models
- more consistent evidence of conscience
- greater capacity for setting goals
- interest in moral reasoning
LATE ADOLESCENCE: 17-19 YEARS OF AGE
Movements Toward Independence
- firmer identity
- ability to delay gratification
- ability to think ideas through
- ability to express feelings in words
- more developed sense of humor
- stable interests
- greater emotional stability
- ability to make independent decisions
- ability to make compromises
- pride in one’s work
- self-reliance
- greater concern for others
Career Interests
- more defined work habits
- higher level of concern for the future
- thoughts about one’s role in life
Sexuality
- concerned with serious relationships
- clear sexual identity
- capacities for tender and sensual love
Ethics and Self-Direction
- emphasis on personal dignity and self-esteem
- ability to set goals and follow through
- acceptance of social institutions and cultural traditions
- self-regulation of self-esteem
Video
Cache, a 2-year-old black Labrador working in Will County, is the only high-tech police dog in the Chicago area. (WLS)