Handout 4:
Adolescent and Emerging Adult Developmental Domains
Physical
Weight and
height
changes,
pubertal
changes, skills
in sports/
talents
developed or
refined,
continued
brain
development.
Social
Peer groups
established,
conflict
between peers
and parents
regarding
values,
experimenting
with social
roles, sudden
bursts of
emotion
common,
personal
identity
development,
often feels
misunderstood
by parents,
egocentricity
common,
mistrust of
adults, close
friendships
forming,
emotional
involvements
forming,
depending less
on family for
affection and
approval, may
have frequent
conflict with
parents, may
explore
employment,
beginning to
choose adults
they like and
want to know
better.
Sexual
Pubertal
changes
continue,
menstruation
or sperm
production
begins, greater
interest in
sexuality,
masturbation,
pleasure from
kissing and
petting,
attraction to
people of
same, opposite
or both
genders,
possibly
exploring birth
control
decisions,
possibly
exploring
parenting.
Moral
Post
conventional
morality is
internalized,
contractual
democratic and
individual rights
explored,
conscience or
principled
orientation.
CalSWEC Title IV-E Curriculum: AB 12
Cognitive
Limited
hypothetical
thinking and
logical
thinking,
introspect ion,
self-analysis
and problem
solving
increases,
more focus
on present
than future,
focus on
fairness,
increased/dec
reased
interest in
school, able
to reason,
begins
generating
and testing
hypothesis,
begins
considering
vocational
choices,
developing
insight
Ethnic
In stage of
commitment
(ages 14-25)
Develops
positive
commitment
to
membership
in an ethnic or
racial group.
Accepts
positive and
negative
aspects of
both his and
her own and
other groups.
Opportunities
to explore
ethnic
identity are
especially
important for
those who
feel
disconnected.
Connection to
birth family
and extended
family as
source of
ethnic
identity.