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Parents
are often worried or confused by changes in their teenagers.
The following information should help parents understand this
phase of development. Each teenager is an individual with
a unique personality and special interests, likes and dislikes.
However, there are also numerous developmental issues that
everyone faces during the adolescent years. The normal feelings
and behaviors of the middle school and early high school adolescent
are described below.
Movement
Towards Independence
- Struggle
with sense of identity
- Feeling
awkward or strange about one's self and one's body
- Focus
on self, alternating between high expectations and poor
self- concept
- Interests
and clothing style influenced by peer group
- Moodiness
- Improved
ability to use speech to express one's self
- Realization
that parents are not perfect; identification of their faults
- Less
overt affection shown to parents, with occasional rudeness
- Complaints
that parents interfere with independence
- Tendency
to return to childish behavior, particularly when stressed
Future
Interests and Cognitive Changes
- Mostly
interested in present, limited thoughts of future
- Intellectual
interests expand and gain in importance
- Greater
ability to do work (physical, mental, emotional)
Sexuality
- Display
shyness, blushing, and modesty
- Girls
develop physically sooner than boys
- Increased
interest in the opposite sex
- Movement
toward heterosexuality with fears of homosexuality
- Concerns
regarding physical and sexual attractiveness to others
- Frequently
changing relationships
- Worries
about being normal
Morals,
Values, and Self-Direction
- Rule
and limit testing
- Capacity
for abstract thought
- Development
of ideals and selection of role models
- More
consistent evidence of conscience
- Experimentation
with sex and drugs (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana)
Teenagers
do vary slightly from the above descriptions, but the feelings
and behaviors are, in general, considered normal for each
stage of adolescence.
Article
#57 Updated 05/97
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All
Family Resources wishes to thank the (AACAP) for giving
us permission to use this article.
The
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
represents over 6,900 child and adolescent psychiatrists
who are physicians with at least five years of additional
training beyond medical school in general (adult) and child
and adolescent psychiatry.
Facts
for Families© is developed and distributed by the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).
Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational
use without written permission, but cannot be included in
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contact Public Information, 1.800.333.7636. Free
distribution of individual Facts sheets is a public service
of the AACAP Special Friends of Children Fund. Please
make a tax deductible contribution to the AACAP Special
Friends of Children Fund and support this important public
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Box 96106, Washington, D.C. 20090).
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