[Week III] Adolescence

Adolescence is a process of growing from a child to an adult. This process happens to everyone and it is very difficult to determine when it begins or when it ends. Usually adolescence is filled with turmoil, stress, rebellion, conflict, and negativism but it is also a period of growth and positive changes.

The beginning of adolescence is usually marked by physical changes. The physical changes are growth spurt such as increasing height and weight and also sexual maturation. Some psychological problems of early adolescence is caused by the growth spurt because there are some changes in the body. Some boys and girls reach puberty faster or slower than their friends. This can be classified as early or late bloomers. Boys gain more profit in early maturity than the girls but boys suffer more in late maturity than the girls.

Another sign of adolescence is identity crisis. Identity crisis is a process of finding one's identity and his or her purpose in life. This process can cause many confusion and conflict in some youngsters. Adolescence can also cause adolescent egocentrism. Teenagers often feel that they are the center of attention and everything about them will be judged even though no one really cares. This is called constructing an imaginary audience. Sometimes teenagers will also become overconfident in their abilities and having irrational beliefs that they can do everything.

Parents should help their children solve the problems that is caused by adolescence. This is a must because parents are the closest person to their children. How the teenagers will solve their problems in adolescence depends on the parenting style of the parents. The parenting styles are authoritarian, permissive, and democratic. The best parenting style is democratic because it gives freedom and at the same time parents can control their children. This proves that parents are essential to their children.