Adolescence is a period that begins with the individual gaining the abstract thinking process and continues with the individual progressing towards becoming an adult. This period may vary depending on genetic factors, geographical conditions and environmental factors (medication, sugary-carbonated drinks, nutrition style, body mass, general health of the child, etc.), but the general consensus is that it is between the ages of 12 and 21.
The period of adolescence is between the ages of 12 and 21. We can also observe its importance in ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations. As a matter of fact, according to Aristotle, adolescence is the period when the individual's ability to make choices develops.
Physical Development: In girls, puberty is manifested by the change in body weight and fat gain; Increase in height and body mass, development of breasts, hair growth in pubic areas, feminine lines begin to form and the process of subcutaneous fat accumulation accelerates. Girls usually experience their first menstrual period when they weigh around 48 kg.
For boys, the main symptoms are an increase in height and body mass, development of muscle tissue, deepening of the voice, hair growth on the face and body, the shaping of the masculine body structure and the testicles starting to produce sperm. .
After physical developments, an increase in adolescents' physical activities is observed. She starts to spend a lot of time on her hair, clothes and appearance. An attractive appearance is very important for a teenager. Positive body perception causes the adolescent to have a more positive opinion about himself.
Identity crisis is one of the most important developments that begin with the onset of adolescence. A teenager is not only a child but also not an adult yet. The duty of adult relatives is to stand by the adolescent during this period and guide him/her correctly.
Body image perception is an important psychological phenomenon that should be assimilated during adolescence. The establishment of a positive body image perception occurs together with a positive self-concept and self-esteem, and this causes the young person to have relationships with friends, feel more comfortable and perceive himself as successful.
Puberty is a process that can vary from person to person. While it may be very problematic for some, it may be quite easy for others. This does not mean that a person who has a difficult adolescence will have a problematic future. In this process The feedback they receive from their family, friends, teachers and the school environment is very important.
The most important development of a person in adolescence will be their deficiencies in finding solutions to the problems they will encounter for the first time in their life. Adolescents who have not learned how to deal with difficult situations may have a difficult time facing these problems. What needs to be done is to provide appropriate support from those around you while going through difficult times.
Physical developments in adolescence are the visible part of the iceberg. The real developments occur in the mind. The individual who emerges from childhood has gained the ability to think abstractly and started to make logical plans. These developments include creating hypotheses, systematically evaluating solutions, and finding solutions to difficult problems, which are the basis of scientific thinking.
Language development continues during adolescence. The ability to fully use and understand grammar is gained. Figurative words and idioms began to be used, and the level of humor improved.
Another important issue in adolescence is social cognition. Social cognition is an indicator of how an individual reasons about social situations. Famous developmental psychologist Kohlberg emphasized the development of gender roles, peer relations, role-taking skills, commitment and identity issues in this period.
In adolescence, 'egocentric thinking' becomes more evident. The teenager thinks that he is being watched by his surroundings. He believes that he has an imaginary audience and that all attention is on him. Egocentric thinking has increased in adolescence, and narcissistic tendencies and cruel self-criticism have become visible together. Another dimension of egocentric thinking in adolescence is the belief that no one will understand them. This idea is a situation that needs to be taken into consideration as it may cause the adolescent to isolate himself from other environments and become socially withdrawn.
Adolescents form their social environment from their friends. These circles of friends can be of more importance to adolescents than their families, sometimes even more so. Unfortunately, because many adolescents have difficulty choosing the right friend groups, they may form habits and friendships that may cause many problems in the future. Here again, the biggest responsibility falls on parents. These issues should be addressed without boring or hurting our children. We must inform them about the situation and convey our own life experiences to them.
The adolescent's gaining independence is closely related to the attitudes of the parents. Unfortunately, children of families who display an authoritarian attitude and do not develop a decision-making strategy may have difficulty making independent decisions. In families that place excessive value on their children, the control mechanism predominates because the children receive intense attention. In families that have a rejecting attitude towards their children, there is no love and acceptance of the child. What needs to be done is to convey the attitudes to the adolescent in a correct and determined manner.
Friendship relations with the opposite sex increase during adolescence. Love and sensuality are at the forefront for girls, and sexuality for boys. Since adolescents are inexperienced in these matters, they can make wrong decisions and have very bad consequences. Adolescent pregnancy, which develops in many western countries, including our country, is one of the main problems. There are many issues that we, as adults, need to help and guide young people entering adolescence.
As negative emotions intensify, adolescents can become depressed. Many psychologists recognize the difficulty of this tumultuous period. It is very important for adolescents who have a difficult puberty period to receive professional support because adolescents who lack experience in many areas have difficulty coping with depression and the consequences may be severe. At this point, psychological support is absolutely necessary
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