The period of adolescence occurs at 12-15 (11-17) years. A feature of growing up is the completion of the formation of secondary sexual characteristics, as well as puberty.

Psychologically, the puberty period is manifested by rapid changes in mood, stubbornness, irritability, a desire to be with peers most of the time, as well as other signs.

Adolescence is marked by a transition in a person’s consciousness from feeling like a child to understanding one’s growing up. Physiological changes, including hormonal changes in the body, give rise to the feeling that something has changed, but what exactly is still unclear.

That's why children show a craving for everything new, as well as a denial of generally established principles, a lifestyle previously instilled by parents.

Each child goes through this difficult period with its own difficulties and characteristics. Its duration is also different for each specific case. However, if the transition period is favorable, it ends by the age of 15 years.

Age characteristics of teenage boys

Adolescence, the features of which are different for representatives of both sexes, occurs in boys with the following characteristic features:

Anger and aggressiveness. The appearance of this behavior is a consequence of increased testosterone production.
Dulling of the feeling of fear. Also associated with changes in testosterone levels.
Preoccupation with one's own appearance no less than girls. Intolerance of criticism about one's appearance. Dissatisfaction with one's appearance can lead to uncertainty and isolation.
The desire to solve your problems on your own. A boy at this age wants to be perceived as an adult man, and the inability to cope with his own troubles leads to a disturbance in his peace of mind.
Desire for achievements and the lifestyle characteristic of an adult man. However, the boy cannot yet fully realize the result of his actions.

Sudden emotional outbursts appear, which are also hormonal in nature.
Showing increased interest in the intimate side of life, strong attraction to the opposite sex.

Teenage psychology of girls

Adolescence in girls occurs with the following symptoms:

Preoccupation with one's own appearance and the inconsistency of his image with the generally accepted one. The desire to be like friends or significant personalities in teenage society is especially pronounced in girls. At this age, there is often a desire to do your hair like a friend’s or dress in things that your idols prefer.
Desire to draw attention to one's own personality, often through provocative behavior or outfits, as well as flashy makeup.
Sudden mood swings become common, outbursts of anger, aggressiveness.
There is a strong desire for independence.
A girl usually experiences her first love at this age., which most often remains unanswered.

Internal physiological initial signs of adolescence

Adolescence is characterized by different internal physiological signs for boys and girls.

The following features for boys can be distinguished:

Several years before the manifestation external signs As a boy grows up, his brain begins to produce puberty hormones - androgens, the most striking manifestation of which is testosterone. It is hormones that lead to internal and external changes on the path to adulthood.
A period of active growth begins. In a year, a child can grow by 10 cm. Moreover, for boys this period is delayed compared to girls by about 1 year. This leads to discrepancies in the height and body shape of boys and girls in early adolescence.
Active enlargement of tubular bones. The chest unfolds and takes on a masculine shape.
The changes also affect internal organs. The growth of the muscular system accelerates. The heart and lungs increase in size.
The pituitary gland changes its activity. The thyroid gland is active.

Girls experience similar changes in their bodies:

Active production of sex hormones. Estrogens are responsible for growing girls. It is during adolescence, when the menstrual cycle in girls is not formed, that uneven estrogen release can lead to the greatest swings in mood.
Full formation the pelvic organs and reproductive system of the girl ends with the formation menstrual cycle. Moreover, quite a lot of time can pass between the onset of the first menstruation and the formation of the monthly cycle.

The full function of the reproductive system goes through a complex development, which consists of several stages and can last up to 8-12 years. The final formation of the reproductive system will occur only by the age of 21-22.

Rapid growth of bones and skeleton is evident. A girl can grow 8 cm in a year.

External physiological signs

Physiological changes that occur in boys during puberty:

The enlargement of the external genitalia occurs between the ages of 10 and 11 years.
At the age of 11-12 years, the first hair begins to appear in the pubic area, and skin pigmentation also appears in the testicular area.

At the age of 12-13 years, the hair on the genitals acquires a thicker shape and lengthens, and the growth of the external genital organs also continues.
At the age of 14, the vocal cords begin to grow, and the structure of the throat begins to develop. These processes lead to a change in the voice, which becomes more masculine. The development of voice function and its formation takes about 2 years.
The appearance of the first fine hair in the mustache area and armpits. Hair growth in other parts of the body also appears. The hairline will take its final shape by the time the boy reaches puberty.
Rapid muscle development occurs at the age of 13-14 years. External manifestations include expansion chest, increasing shoulder width, increasing height, as well as general muscular strengthening of the body structure.
The appearance of spontaneous ejaculation during sleep. Similar processes appear from 10 to 16 years and are called wet dreams.

External physiological changes in teenage girls:

The pelvic bones grow and expand. The hips become more rounded. The buttocks become more pronounced. These changes occur at the age of 8-10 years.

At 9-10 years of age, the formation of mammary glands begins. The nipple circle becomes pigmented, and the breasts begin to take on a feminine shape.
At the age of 10-11 years, hair appears in the armpits and pubic area.
Starting from the age of 11-12 years, you can expect the onset of your first menstruation.
By the age of 15-16, the body shape takes on an almost complete appearance, hair growth stabilizes, and regularity appears in the menstrual cycle.

Psychological problems of adolescents

Adolescence, the characteristics of which under unfavorable conditions can lead to psychological problems, can provoke in a child the following manifestations:

Possible problems	Special cases of problems	Clarification and clarification
Hypersexuality	Masturbation	Society condemns masturbation. Therefore, the teenager feels guilty, which aggravates the situation
	Embarrassment of one's own virginity	It appears when the feeling of love is replaced by normal sexual desire due to the march of hormones. Causes a desire to lose virginity at any cost and fixation on this situation
	Erotomania	Consists of attaching undue importance to sexual activities and maneuvers
	Early sexual contacts	May lead to early pregnancy or infection with sexually transmitted diseases
Isolation, depressive moods, thoughts of suicide	Ignoring your responsibilities and personal hygiene rules	It manifests itself in a reluctance to follow the requirements previously established by parents about maintaining order and performing certain duties around the house. Neglect of personal hygiene standards is also possible.
	Establishing a psychological barrier between a teenager and parents	Arises as a response to misunderstanding on the part of parents.
	Lack of friends	It may be a consequence of character traits.
	Ignoring previous interests	As a rule, it occurs in combination with the emergence of new interests that are not always acceptable and useful
	Immersion in fantasy or virtual world	Passion for online games, following the rules of gaming communities in real life
Tendency to self-affirmation, desire to be an adult	Deviant behavior	Represents leaving home, addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, early and promiscuous sexual intercourse, truancy
	Conflict with teachers and family	The desire to impose your own rules of communication
	Concealing your personal life, refusing to listen to advice from adults	The child considers himself an adult and thinks that he knows his needs and possibilities for solving his problems better
The desire to be involved in a teenage group, not to be different	Criminal acts committed by a group of persons	All group actions are subordinated to the desire to be accepted in teenage society. A negative influence in a group is most often exerted by a stronger personality, characterized by provocative behavior. Children with less strong character fall under its influence and find themselves in unpleasant situations.
	Group use alcoholic drinks, tobacco, drugs
	Shared truancy
	Depraved behavior, participation in group sexual intercourse

Social relationships

Adolescence, the characteristics of which represent reaching a renewed level in social relationships, is focused on finding oneself in human society.

The basic needs for socialization of a teenager are manifested in the desire to join peers and separate from adults. Also important is the teenager’s need for people to recognize his independence and claims to the rights and freedoms of his personality.

The nature of communication with peers, so important for a child at puberty, can be divided into age groups:

10-11 years old. The need to be in the company of peers, to engage in joint activities.
12-13 years old. The need to establish one’s own personality in the hierarchy of teenage society, the desire to take the desired position among peers.
14-15 years old. The prevalence of the desire for independence, recognition of the importance of one’s personality.

As a rule, in teenage communities, despite all the denial of the adult behavior model, a hierarchy of generally accepted human values is established. Various types of distortions are possible, which depend on upbringing and the environment, but the fundamental ones are honesty, loyalty, camaraderie and other norms of behavior in society.

Adolescence for both girls and boys is usually associated with difficulties in communicating with peers and adults

In relationships with adults, it is customary to talk about the emancipation of a teenager, his separation from adult society and some of its rules.

At the same time, social relationships with adults are dual in nature:

A teenager expects equality and strengthening of his rights on an equal basis with all representatives of society, because he is already an adult.
A teenager needs support and protection from adults. The preservation of previous forms of control over the teenager’s activities causes violent protest.

Typical conflict behavior in social relationships manifests itself in any case, but its severity and intensity largely depend on the adult’s communication style and his respectful attitude towards the teenager’s personality.

How to talk to a teenager

Rules for talking to a teenage child:

No need to read notations. They are unpleasant even for small children. And if you start a conversation with an older child with a moral lesson, then within a minute his attention will switch to something more interesting.

There is no need to press charges. It is worth conducting moralizing conversations in a soft and unobtrusive form.
Conversations in between. It's unpleasant for a teenager increased attention to his problems, because he thinks that he can cope with most of them on his own. Therefore, face-to-face conversations may not bring the desired result. It is much more effective to talk carefully in the process of joint activity, as if casually.
Involvement with modern technical achievements. It is often easier to express your thoughts and open up about problems in writing. Modern social media and messengers allow you to communicate with your child in a form familiar to the teenage community.
Don't be afraid of praise. A teenager, due to his insecurity, is in great need of approval. It is wise to express support for your child's hobbies and interests.
You should refrain from shouting and raising voices in a conversation with a teenager. A calm tone is perceived more easily at this age.

Causes of the crisis

The crisis period in adolescence can proceed almost unnoticed or, on the contrary, bring with it conflicts and deviant behavior. The reasons why such a difference is possible can be divided into external and internal.

Excessive care and total control on the part of parents - the root cause of the crisis in the transitional age of their children

External causes of the teenage crisis include:

excessive control of the child’s actions by parents;
overprotection, which questions the teenager’s ability to be independent;
dependence in relationships between family members.

Internal reasons lie in the psychological characteristics of each individual child. Personality qualities that interfere with self-affirmation and self-expression are internally perceived as serious shortcomings. There is a tendency to self-blame oneself as a failed person.

Restructuring of the body, the production of a significant amount of hormones leads to puberty, adjustment of all body systems. However, like any restructuring, it is associated with problems of adaptation to a new way of thinking and a new body, which causes behavioral problems.

Behavior during a crisis

The behavior of a teenager is characterized by traits characteristic of an adult, combined with traits possessed by a small child.

Peculiarities of behavior characteristic of adolescence:

Refusal to study and perform household duties.
Expressed protest behavior, which consists of truancy and running away from home.
Imitative behavior. Imitation is expressed in the desire to be like one’s ideal adult or peer.
Compensatory behavior. Compensating for shortcomings and inability to achieve results in a certain area of activity with achievements in another area.
Emancipation. It manifests itself in the desire for separation from adults, independence, and the desire to solve one’s problems personally.
There is a desire to group with peers.
The emergence of hobbies, hobbies in which the child achieves self-expression.
Increased interest in sexual problems, attraction to the opposite sex.

Main phases of the crisis period

Adolescence, the features of which are different for certain age intervals, can be characterized by two phases:

Young adolescence. Appropriate for 12-13 years.

The physiological aspects of the body’s maturation lead to a growth spurt in the child, disproportion of the body and awkwardness appear. The teenager begins to feel that he is no different from an adult. There is an awareness of one’s individuality, often through the prism of a chosen standard from among adults.

During this period, it is important for parents and other adults to form an appropriate attitude towards the child. It is necessary to communicate with him as an equal adult, take into account his opinion and individual preferences.

Ignoring this advice can lead to destructive behavior in a teenager: an increase in feelings of anxiety, loss of a sense of security, and a breakdown in the individual’s sense of balance.

Senior adolescence. Occurs on average at 14-16 years of age.

The formation of secondary sexual characteristics ends, the child becomes more and more similar to an adult. The first life plans and strategies for their implementation appear, that is, the child follows the path of full awareness of his own personality.

Cultural predisposition to certain subjects, activities and other forms of realizing one’s personality is also determined.

Factors influencing the course of the teenage crisis

There are a number of factors that can prolong or complicate the crisis period in adolescence:

The environment in which the child’s upbringing and life activities take place.
Relationships with peers.
Poor microclimate in family relationships parents.
The image of relationships between students in an educational institution.
Lack of communication, which leads to the fact that the child has no one to tell about his experiences.
Misunderstanding and non-acceptance of the child’s personality by parents and teachers.
Bad examples among the environment.
Characteristics of a teenager.
Time and nature of the onset of puberty.

How to help get through a difficult period

Changes at the physiological level, along with psychological problems during the crisis of adolescence, are quite difficult for a growing child. Parents are required to make every effort, coupled with the delicacy of the situation. Each child is unique, and therefore the approach to him during adolescence should be unique.

You need to be patient and try to follow the tips presented:

Unobtrusively enter the child's environment. The main task is to become a true friend to a teenager. The parent will have to counter the confidence of misunderstanding on the part of adults with a calm and friendly approach.

You can let the teenager understand your weaknesses and shortcomings, expose your complexes. By entering the child’s environment, the parent will be able to participate in life situations that the child will share and help resolve problems if necessary.

Showing interest in the child’s hobbies and activities. Support and praise will not be superfluous for the emerging personality. It will also be useful to talk about the teenager’s thoughts and reasoning, his points of view on various issues. It wouldn’t hurt to ask for his opinion in resolving family issues.
Providing freedom. Personal space is especially important for a teenager, ideally his own room. Freedom and the right to choose are fundamental principles in communication and relationships with a child of adolescence. It is necessary to restrain yourself from the desire to control the actions, things and feelings of a teenager.

Neglecting this advice can lead to troubles in communication. The best thing about communicating with an older child is finding compromises and unobtrusively directing his thoughts in the right direction.

Critical comments are not allowed. If you cannot do without them, then it is much better to point out the criticality of the action than to point out the insufficient good qualities the person himself. Teenagers react too strongly to negative comments addressed to them, so it is necessary to speak out softly, and sometimes accompanied by praise.
Personal recognition. A teenager is a full-fledged person with personal interests and opinions. You should not try to impose your conclusions.
Praise. It is especially important for a child at this age due to the formation of mental processes and awareness of one’s own personal value.

Patient attitude towards emotional attacks from the child's side. We must not forget that a violent reaction to the inappropriate behavior of a teenager on the part of a parent can undermine his authority and lead to a violation of trust in the relationship. It is necessary to conduct conversations in a calm environment and in a calm tone.

Adolescence is a difficult time for both the child and his parents. However, its features are temporary phenomena that largely depend on the correct perception of the child by the parents and people around him.

Parents have the power to help their child survive a period of crisis and help him form the necessary integrity of his personality and life attitudes that comply with generally accepted moral standards.

Article format: Natalie Podolskaya

Video about the characteristics of adolescence

Adolescence in girls and boys - features of the course:

Introduction

Adolescence is the most difficult and complex of all childhood ages. It is also called transitional, because during this period there is a kind of transition from childhood to adulthood, from immaturity to maturity, which permeates all aspects of a teenager’s life. Successful development of a child, teenager, and subsequently young man as an individual, determines not only his inclusion in public life, but also his finding his niche.

Features of adolescent development

Adolescence is the age from 10-11 to 15 years. Adolescence is called adolescence, because during this period there is a kind of transition from childhood to adulthood, from immaturity to maturity. In this sense, a teenager is half-child and half-adult: childhood has already passed, but maturity has not yet arrived. The transition from childhood to adulthood permeates all aspects of a teenager’s development, including his anatomical, physiological, intellectual, and moral development, and all types of his activities: educational, work and play.

During adolescence, the student’s living conditions and activities change seriously, which leads to a restructuring of the psyche and a breakdown of old, established forms of relationships with people. Schoolchildren move on to systematically studying the fundamentals of science. And this requires a higher level of their mental activity: deep generalizations and evidence, understanding of more complex and abstract relationships between objects, the formation of abstract concepts. The student's social position and position in the team changes significantly. The student begins to play a much larger role in school and family; he begins to face more serious demands from society and the team, from adults.

The most important fact of the physical development of adolescents is puberty, the beginning of the functioning of the gonads. The onset of puberty largely depends on national, ethnographic and climatic factors, as well as on the characteristics of individual life (health status, past illnesses, nutrition, work and rest schedule, environment, etc.). Most boys mature sexually by age 15, and girls by age 13-14. Despite the fact that the body becomes sexually mature by the age of 13-15, it is, of course, impossible to talk about physical, let alone spiritual, ideological, social, and civic maturity at this age.

Development of thinking. In the process of learning, a teenager’s thinking improves very noticeably. The content and logic of the subjects studied at school, changes in the nature and forms of educational activities form and develop his ability to actively, independently think, reason, compare, and make deep generalizations and conclusions. The teacher's trust in the mental capabilities of the teenager is most consistent with the age-related characteristics of his personality.

Development of observation, memory, attention. In the process of learning, a teenager acquires the ability for a complex analytical and synthetic perception of objects and phenomena. Perception becomes planned, consistent and comprehensive. A teenager no longer perceives only what lies on the surface of phenomena, although here much depends on his attitude to the perceived object. Lack of interest, indifference to the material - and the student is struck by the superficiality and lightness of his perception. A teenager can watch and listen conscientiously, but his perception will be random.

The work of a teenager. As a rule, teenagers are very willing to work. Firstly, this expresses such a striking age feature as the activity of adolescents. Secondly, in serious work they get the opportunity to realize the sense of adulthood that is emerging in them, and the guys value this opportunity very much. Thirdly, work usually takes place in a team, and the importance of life and activities in a team for a teenager is very great. Thus, work activity for teenagers is an activity that fully meets their age characteristics and needs. Observed cases of laziness, evasion of work, ignoring one’s labor responsibilities, a careless attitude towards work assignments is exclusively a consequence of improper upbringing.

Work makes it possible for adolescents to develop independent planning skills, which is directly related to the development of independent thinking. Therefore, it is important that adolescents do not always receive ready-made instructions about the methods of performing and the sequence of individual work operations, but establish this independently, analyzing the work task they receive.

In shaping the personality of a teenager, the teacher must rely on the emotional desire that is extremely characteristic of a teenager to actively participate in the life of the team. Gaining experience in collective relationships directly affects the development of a teenager’s personality. The team develops a sense of duty and responsibility, a desire for mutual assistance, solidarity, and the habit of subordinating personal interests, when necessary, to the interests of the team. The opinion of a group of peers, the team’s assessment of a teenager’s actions and behavior are very important to him. As a rule, the public assessment of the class team means more to a teenager than the opinion of teachers or parents, and he usually reacts very sensitively to the friendly influence of a group of comrades. Therefore, making demands on a teenager in a team and through a team is one of the ways to form his personality.

The attraction of teenagers to the team is often expressed in the fact that they organize street and yard companies. Most of these groups are stable formations, led by older guys - boys 17-20 years old. Of course, not all such companies should evoke a wary attitude on the part of educators. But in any case, it is necessary to take a closer look at them, observe and try to involve them in the sphere of influence of public organizations.

It is necessary to highlight a number of the most important directions along which personality development occurs. This is the intensive formation and development of: a) moral (moral) consciousness, 6) self-awareness, c) a sense of adulthood and d) communication activities.

Thus, adolescence covers the period from 11-12 to 15 years. During these years, the whole organism undergoes a restructuring. Therefore, adolescence is usually called transitional. At this time, intellectual, moral and physical strengths are actively developing. The modern teenager strives to understand himself and the world, has a wide range of spiritual needs, interests and hobbies. A teenager is distinguished by an increased interest in his inner world, his strengths and capabilities, and his life goals. A teenager’s desire to actively influence himself does not always coincide, and sometimes even conflicts with his habits and spontaneously arising desires. The result is disorganization and lack of discipline. An important feature of adolescent thinking is criticality, especially in relation to the statements of adults. There is a desire to figure out life for yourself. This feature of a teenager’s thinking contributes to the development of independent views and beliefs, which is important in the development of his personality. Physical development at this age is characterized by intensive growth of the body in length. Therefore, the teenager looks long, narrow-chested, and awkward. This affects his posture and gait.

Every age is good in its own way. And at the same time, each age has its own characteristics and difficulties. No exception is adolescence.

This is the longest transition period, which is characterized by a number of physical changes. At this time, intensive development of the personality takes place, its rebirth.

From the psychological dictionary: “Adolescence is a stage of ontogenetic development between childhood and adulthood (from 11-12 to 16-17 years), which is characterized by qualitative changes associated with puberty and entry into adulthood”. I’ll try to talk a little about the features and difficulties of adolescence.

Psychological characteristics adolescence are called "teenage complex". What is it?

Here are its manifestations:

sensitivity to outsiders' assessment of one's appearance
extreme arrogance and categorical judgments towards others
attentiveness sometimes coexists with amazing callousness, painful shyness with swagger, the desire to be recognized and appreciated by others - with ostentatious independence, the struggle with authorities, generally accepted rules and widespread ideals - with the deification of random idols

The essence of the “adolescent complex” consists of its own behavioral models, characteristic of this age and certain psychological characteristics, and specific adolescent behavioral reactions to environmental influences.

Cause psychological difficulties associated with puberty, this is uneven development in various directions. This age is characterized by emotional instability and sharp mood swings (from exaltation to depression). The most affective, violent reactions occur when someone around him tries to hurt a teenager’s self-esteem.

The peak of emotional instability occurs in boys at the age of 11-13 years, in girls - 13-15 years.

Teenagers are characterized by polarity of the psyche:

Purposefulness, persistence and impulsiveness,
Instability can be replaced by apathy, lack of aspirations and desires to do anything,
Increased self-confidence and categorical judgment are quickly replaced by vulnerability and self-doubt;
The need for communication is replaced by a desire to be alone;
Cheerfulness in behavior is sometimes combined with shyness;
Romantic moods often border on cynicism and prudence;
Tenderness and affection occur against the backdrop of childish cruelty.

A characteristic feature of this age is curiosity, an inquisitive mind, a desire for knowledge and information; the teenager strives to master as much as possible big amount knowledge, but sometimes not paying attention to the fact that knowledge needs to be systematized.

Stanley Hall called adolescence a period of “Sturm und Drang.” Since during this period, directly opposite needs and traits coexist in the personality of a teenager. Today, a teenage girl sits modestly with her relatives and talks about virtue. And tomorrow, having painted war paint on his face and pierced his ear with a dozen earrings, he will go to a night disco, declaring that “you have to experience everything in life.” But nothing special happened (from the child’s point of view): she simply changed her mind.

As a rule, teenagers direct their mental activity to the area that fascinates them most. However, interests are unstable. After swimming for a month, the teenager suddenly declares that he is a pacifist, that killing anyone is a terrible sin. And for this reason, he will be carried away with the same passion by computer games.

One of the new developments of adolescence is a sense of adulthood.

When they say that a child is growing up, they mean the formation of his readiness for life in the society of adults, and as an equal participant in this life. From the outside, nothing changes for the teenager: he studies in the same school (unless, of course, his parents suddenly transferred him to another), lives in the same family. The family still treats the child as “little.” He doesn’t do much on his own, and much is not allowed by his parents, whom he still has to obey. Parents feed, water, dress their child, and for good (from their point of view) behavior they can even “reward” (again, according to their own understanding - pocket money, a trip to the sea, a trip to the cinema, a new thing). adulthood is far away - both physically, psychologically, and socially, but he really wants to! He objectively cannot join adult life, but strives for it and claims equal rights with adults. They cannot change anything yet, but outwardly they imitate adults. and the attributes of “pseudo-adulthood” appear: smoking cigarettes, parties at the entrance, trips out of town ( external manifestation"I also have my own personal life"). Copy any relationship.

Although pretensions to adulthood can be ridiculous, sometimes ugly, and role models are not the best, in principle it is useful for a teenager to go through such a school of new relationships. After all external copying of adult relationships- this is a kind of enumeration of roles, games that occur in life. That is, a variant of teenage socialization. And where else can you practice if not in your family? There are truly valuable options for adulthood that are beneficial not only for loved ones, but also for personal development the teenager himself. This is inclusion in fully adult intellectual activity, when a teenager is interested in a certain field of science or art, deeply engaged in self-education. Or caring for the family, participating in solving both complex and everyday problems, helping those who need it. However, only a small proportion of adolescents achieve a high level of development of moral consciousness and few are able to take responsibility for the well-being of others. Social infantilism is more common in our time.

A teenager's appearance is another source of conflict. The gait, manners, and appearance change. Until recently, a boy who moved freely and easily begins to waddle, putting his hands deep in his pockets and spitting over his shoulder. He has new expressions. The girl begins to jealously compare her clothes and hairstyle with the examples she sees on the street and on magazine covers, splashing out her emotions about the existing discrepancies on her mother.

A teenager's appearance often becomes a source of constant misunderstandings and even conflicts in the family. Parents are not satisfied with either youth fashion or the prices of things that their child needs so much. And a teenager, considering himself a unique person, at the same time strives to be no different from his peers. He may experience the lack of a jacket - the same as everyone else in his company - as a tragedy.

The following happens internally.

The teenager has his own position. He considers himself old enough and treats himself as an adult.

The desire for everyone (teachers, parents) to treat him, as an equal, adult. But at the same time, he will not be embarrassed by the fact that he demands more rights than he assumes responsibilities. And the teenager does not want to be responsible for anything, except in words.

The desire for independence is expressed in the fact that control and help are rejected. More and more often you can hear from a teenager: “I know everything myself!” (This is so reminiscent of a child’s “I do it myself!”). And parents will just have to come to terms with it and try to teach their children to be responsible for their actions. This will be useful to them throughout life. Unfortunately, such “independence” is another of the main conflicts between parents and children at this age. Own tastes and views, assessments, and lines of behavior appear. The most striking thing is the emergence of an addiction to a certain type of music.

The leading activity at this age is communication. By communicating, first of all, with his peers, a teenager receives the necessary knowledge about life.

Very important for a teenager is the opinion of the group to which he belongs. The very fact of belonging to a certain group gives him additional self-confidence. The teenager’s position in the group, the qualities that he acquires in the team, significantly influence his behavioral motives.

Most of all, the characteristics of a teenager’s personal development are manifested in communication with peers. Every teenager dreams of a bosom friend. What about someone who could be trusted “100%”, like oneself, who will be devoted and faithful, no matter what. In a friend they look for similarities, understanding, acceptance. A friend satisfies the need for self-understanding. In practice, a Friend is an analogue of a psychotherapist.

Most often, they are friends with a teenager of the same gender, social status, and the same abilities (however, sometimes friends are selected by contrast, as if to complement their missing traits). Friendship is selective; betrayal is not forgiven. And coupled with teenage maximalism, friendships have a peculiar character: on the one hand, there is the need for a single, devoted friend, on the other, a frequent change of friends.

Much has been said and written about the characteristics of adolescence, but, nevertheless, this period of life remains the most mysterious and unpredictable. Let's try to briefly characterize this period of life to understand why this happens.

Adolescence and its features

Adolescence is the time when awareness of oneself in society, knowledge of norms of behavior and communication are formed. The teenager is especially interested social problems, values, life position is laid. There is a desire for self-realization of one’s abilities. The child is able to differentiate what is really interesting to him and what he would like to do in the future.

The child achieves success in a specific area of activity that determines his future life. During this period, the qualities that are the foundation for his worldview are strengthened.

Puberty, which characterizes given age, is accompanied by an acceleration of physiological and socio-psychological development, changes in character, behavioral reactions, and perception of the world as a whole.

Anatomy and physiological characteristics of adolescents

The teenage period is characterized, first of all, by physical changes - the proportions of a teenager’s body, his height and weight change. Body growth occurs disproportionately - first the head, arms and legs reach the size of an adult, and then the torso. This provokes internal conflict and non-acceptance of oneself by a teenager.

There is a rapid development of the muscular system, which negatively affects the cardiovascular system. Changes in vascular and muscle tone lead to rapid fatigue and a sharp change in emotional state in adolescents. Such disruptions are also observed in other organs: the heart, lungs, and the blood supply to the brain is disrupted.

The rapid growth of organs and the body is due to the influence of sex hormones. This process is characterized by the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics.

Psychological characteristics of adolescence

An important feature of this period is considered to be a feeling of adulthood, the appearance of which is caused by physiological changes. The child wants adults - parents, teachers - to treat him as an equal, to see him as an individual, to take his position into account. He does not accept control and guardianship from an adult.

For him, the team’s opinion about himself and his actions becomes a priority. A teenager feels the need to have a friend with whom he can share his innermost thoughts and secrets.

During this period, there is a focus on oneself, self-research, and introspection. The child strives for recognition of his merits by others. He is too sensitive and vulnerable, emotionally unstable. Aggression bordering on a neurosis-like state often manifests itself. Such changes in all areas absorb the teenager entirely.

It is important during this period to help the child realize that this difficult period in life will soon pass, it is only necessary to overcome the next step on the path to adulthood.

Behavioral characteristics of adolescence

Adolescence is characterized by determination, a focus on achieving maximum results in a matter that arouses keen interest. On the one hand, the teenager strives for independence, and on the other, he feels the need to build relationships with parents, teachers, and peers. He is on the border between childhood and adulthood.

A teenager is characterized by an emancipation reaction - a desire to break free from the care of adults, to free himself from mentoring and control from the older generation. But he does not want one hundred percent liberation, moreover, he is afraid of this, because he realizes that he does not yet have the opportunity to fully take care of himself and live independently.

During this period, the need to group and occupy a significant place in one’s group is formed. Sometimes conflicts occur between peers. For boys, this happens due to competition for leadership - who is stronger, smarter, physically developed, etc. For girls, conflicts occur against the backdrop of competition for attention from the opposite sex.

In order to survive the age-related characteristics of adolescents most favorably, on the wave of mutual understanding and harmony, it is necessary to implement the following tasks:

Surround your child with love and mutual understanding.
Allow your child to be independent in making decisions.
Respect his chosen position.
Limitations must be clearly stated, understandable to the teenager, and related to values or significance for his future life.
Establish unobtrusive communication with the child, explain to him that this difficult period will end, and provide support. You should try to become a friend and adviser to him.

Thus, knowing about the features of this emotionally, physiologically and psychologically difficult period, it will be easier for the child to survive it, and it will be easier for adults to find mutual language with your child, help overcome this step, maintaining a trusting relationship.