Developmental problems of adolescents
Any period of development is likely to be accompanied by
many potential difficulties. Adolescence is a period of transition from
childhood to adulthood that implies many developmental changes and associated
problems. Some of the outstanding problems of adolescents are the following:
1.
Perplexity with regard
to somatic variation: Every adolescent has more or less difficult task of
adjusting to somatic variation which may occur in connection with
puberty. The flow of blood during menstruation in girls and nocturnal emission
in boys creates worries and give birth to so many fears and anxieties. Since
ours is a conservative society, youngsters are less informed about the physical
changes that are occurring during puberty. Lack of scientific information about
sex hygiene and physiology make them to satisfy with crude and perverted
knowledge about sex-related matters. It creates guilt feeling and so many
complexes in the minds of the children which make them introvert and secretive.
2.
Problems related with
intensification of sex-consciousness: The sudden awakening of sex
instinct during adolescence results in intensification of sex-consciousness.
Adolescents are curious to know about sex related topics and are seeking answer
to their innumerable doubts in sexual matters. Our social values are different
kinds that more parents hesitate to discuss sex problems with their children.
So the adolescents resort socially unacceptable ways to quench their curiosity and
to satisfy their sexual needs.
3.
Childhood-adulthood
conflict: In our society, the adolescent is considered neither as a child
nor as an adult. He has to depend his parents and elders for his physical and emotional
needs; but at the same time he wants to hold independent views and opinions
like an adult.
4.
Adjustment difficulties
with parents: Adolescents have a desire for independence. But, often it is
obstructed by parental opposition. Parental opposition may extend to such areas
as choices of friends, recreational, interests, dress, life-style, hours of
going from and coming to the home etc…
5.
Adjustment difficulties with
the community: The adolescent is expected to find his place in a society marked
by increasing social isolation and rapid technological changes. This changing world
makes it difficult to anticipate and plan for adolescent life. They have
difficulty in adjusting their capacity to the demands of the community.
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