- Developmental Characteristics of
Adolescents
- Ages 14-16 Years
-
- Social
Development
Family
- is attempting to become independent
- may appear to be immature but will show signs of increasing
maturity
- needs increased freedom to make decisions
- may resent imposed limitations
- feels close to adulthood and wants adult
experiences
- Peers
- is preoccupied with acceptance by social group
- has fewer, but longer-lasting friendships
- may begin experimenting with casual and intimate sexual
activity
- is greatly influenced by peer group
- begins to make independent judgments despite need to
conform to peer group
- School
- investigates and plans for career choices
- strongly expresses opinions and beliefs
- Self
Development
-
Emotions
- engages in a search for identity
- may be extremely centered on self
- may experience distrust due to competition with
peers
- possibly daydreams
- confides more in friends than in parents
- needs assurances of acceptance from parents
- worries about self-image, physical changes, sexuality, and
sexual identity
- is fearful or embarrassed to ask about or talk about
sex
- is concerned with problems involved with dating or not
dating
- Values
- is interested in philosophical, ethical, and religious
issues
- is aware of and verbalizes contradictions in moral
code
- is influenced by peer group's beliefs
- is developing own value system and moral code
- understands that behaviors have consequences
- may feel impervious to those same consequences
- is able to work for self-determined rewards
- Self
- is achieving independence from parents
- is developing socially responsible behaviors
- is developing new and more mature relationships
Intellectual Development
- makes fine conceptual distinctions
- is concerned with the hypothetical, the remote, the
future
- plans; considers long-range possibilities
- considers a variety of optional solutions to problems;
considers logical and imaginary solutions
- expresses high aspirations
- uses abstract rules to solve problems
- uses language to express and clarify complex
concepts
Physical Development
- experiences periods of rapid and uneven physical
growth,affecting coordination and balance
- experiences the beginning and/or continuation of the
primary and secondary physical changes of puberty (normally
ranging from ages 10 or 11 years to ages 17 or 18 years)
- experiences periods of change in strength and endurance due
to physical changes
- experiences continued skeletal growth, with other possible
changes such as decreasing heart rate, increasing blood pressure,
decreasing respiratory rate
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