ADOLESCENCE
& IDENTITY ISSUES
PSYCHOLOGY
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ADOLESCENCE
Adolescence is the period of
psychological and social
transition between childhood
and adulthood.
Adolescence is the transitional stage of
human development in which a juvenile
matures into an adult.
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ADOLESCENCE
 This
involves biological, social,
and psychological changes.
 Is the time when our bodies, our
families, our schools and the
larger society demand that we
change
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ADOLESCENCE
 Adolescence
is a modern cultural
and social phenomenon.
 The ages of adolescence vary by
culture.
 The time is identified with dramatic
changes in the body along with
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ADOLESCENCE – Contd.
 development
in a person’s
psychology and academic career.
 A person between early
childhood and the teenage years
is sometimes referred to as a
pre-teen.
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PUBERTY - Definition

“Biological changes of adolescence”
Puberty begins when the hypothalamus is
signalled and the pituitary gland is
activated.
 There are five physical occurrences from
puberty (Marshall, 1978)Steinberg 1996)

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PUBERTY - CHANGES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Body growth occurs
Body composition begins to change
Circulatory & Respiratory systems begin
to change.
The primary sex characteristics develop
The secondary sex characteristics
develop.
(See Appendix A)
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ONSET OF PUBERTY


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Historically (100 years ago) this stage of
development began much later, 14- 18yrs.
Western countries age fell, may be due to:
Improved nutrition
Increased caloric intake
Increased artificial hormones in meat
Preservatives and chemicals in processing of
foods
Decreased melatonin levels due to increased
exposure to artificial lights (nightlights, tv,
computers.)
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ADOLESCENTS
NUTRITION & DEVELOPMENT
Nutrition has a great influence on the
growth process.
 Growth develops at an accelerated rate.
 Type of food consumed crucial to
biological and intellectual development.
 Inadequate died disrupts normal growth
and pubertal development.

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ADOLESCENT FRIENDSHIP
CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CHANGE
 An
increase in autonomy and
 an increase in emotional distance
from parents.
 Friendships – loyalty, Intimacy and
personal preference.
 Other Similarities are in friends
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ADOLESCENT PEER GROUPS
CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CHANGE
A
peer group is conceived as a
small group of similarly aged,
fairly close friends, sharing the
same activities
 Spend more time with peers
than family or other adults.
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ADOLESCENT PEER GROUPS
CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CHANGE
 The
role played by peers is
critical in development
prototypes for: adult
relationships in social
relationships
 in work or with
 members of opposite sex.
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ADOLESCENT PEER GROUPS
CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CHANGE



In a peer group have the
opportunity to learn how to
interact with others
Have support in defining identity,
interests, abilities and personality.
Autonomy without the control of
adults and parents.
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ADOLESCENT PEER GROUPS
CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CHANGE
In a group the adolescent shows
signs of autonomy, being a
separate person.
Cognitive change: can see situation
from another person’s point of
view.
Capacity now to enter close
relationships or with peer groups.
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ADOLESCENT
PARENT-CONFLICT
Conflicts arise between the adolescent
and parents.
 The level of conflict differs from family
to family
 Due to changing characteristics of
 Growing adolescent and
 How family adjust to these changes,
for example usually common daily
events.

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ADOLESCENT
PARENT- MAJOR CONFLICT
Anger is the major emotion associated
with conflict. This is accompanied by
anxiety, frustration, or guilt.
 May have problems with sexuality, drugs,
alcohol, depression, eating disorders, body
image.

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ADOLESCENT
PARENT- MAJOR CONFLICT

Also the family situation may add to
adolesence problems, such as:
 Parents
being inconsistent with the
adolescent
 Marital conflict or divorce taking
place
 Adjusting to a new step family
(Steinberg & Belsky 1991)
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ADOLESCENTS
WHAT IS SELF-ESTEEM
“Self esteem is confidence in one’s ability to
think and to cope with the challenges of
life and confidence in one’s right to be
happy (1993)
 It is defined as a central component of
personality and identity.
 A positive relationship with parents is
important to developing a healthy self
esteem.
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ADOLESCENTS
CHANGE IN SELF-ESTEEM


1.
2.
3.
It is common for self-esteem to
temporarily decline in early adolescence
though not inevitable. Maybe due to:Due to adolescent confronting
experiences about their:
Intellectual qualities
Popularity, social skills and
attractiveness
Confronting biological changes-sexuality
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ADOLESCENCE
SELF-ESTEEM & BODY IMAGE

BODY IMAGE
Definition:
 “The picture of our own body which we
form in our mind. In other words, the way
in which the body appears to ourselves.”
 How does body image develop?
 How does it affect self-esteem?
 Characteristics of poor body image?


See Appendix B.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Santrock, J. (2004). Life Span
Development. New York: McGraw Hill
 Smith, Cowie & Blades (1998)
Understanding Children’s Development
(3rd ed.) Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell
Publishers Inc.
 Snowman, J. Biehler, R. (2000)
Psychology Applied to Teaching (9th Ed.)
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

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