Psychology of adolescence in children aged 10 to 15 years

The ages of 15 to 18 can play an important role in helping your teen mature and acquire the skills needed to become a responsible adult.

However, there's a good chance your 15-year-old will think he's now ready to take on the world. And he may insist that he already knows everything. This know-it-all attitude with a hint of rebellion may be normal for 15-year-olds.

Understanding your teen's development can be important to successfully parenting through adolescence.

Psychological development of adolescents

Most adolescent problems are a consequence of puberty, which can provoke various psychophysiological and mental abnormalities. Because of this, teenagers suffer from the following problems:

• emotional instability;
• increased excitability;
• causeless anxiety;
• mood swings;
• depression;
• conflict.

An exacerbation of pathological manifestations associated with the occurrence of mental illnesses is likely. Scientists believe that the likelihood of developing schizophrenia in adolescents increases several times.

But adolescence also has positive sides. The child becomes more independent and independent. His scope of activity is gradually increasing. He begins to treat himself consciously and defends his rights before other people.

Lily Chi

Lily Chi is a beautiful girl with an oriental appearance. In her “pocket” are contracts with famous brands: Nike and Levi's.

Lily’s parents put all the money they earn into a special account, which the girl can use when she reaches the age of 18.

Lily's modeling career began unexpectedly for her and her parents - she went with her dad to a store, where a modeling agent noticed her. Since then, she has had numerous modeling contracts, as well as filming in one of the most popular Marvel series, where she played Elektra.

The emergence of a sense of adulthood and the reaction of emancipation

Studying the features of the development of this feeling, Elkonin D.B. identified two types of “adulthood”:

1. Objective. The child is truly ready to live in an adult society.
2. Subjective). A teenager simply feels like an adult.

Types of objective adulthood:

1. Socio-moral. Manifested by emancipation, participation in family affairs.
2. Intelligent. The teenager is engaged in self-development and self-education.
3. Romantic. Manifests itself in romantic relationships with the opposite sex.
4. External. A teenager tries to have an “adult” appearance and behavior. The child follows fashion, may start smoking and use obscene language in communication.

Signs of subjective adulthood:

• the teenager’s desire to be perceived as an adult;
• fencing off certain areas of life from others, dissatisfaction when others try to check his work for quality;
• individual behavior and personal thoughts advocated before others.

Experiencing adulthood, children:

• are critical of elders;
• become disillusioned with the adult world;
• afraid of the world around them;
• feel loneliness after realizing their inner world and poor relationships with loved ones;
• They expect adults to treat them as equals.

To make this period as easy as possible, experts in the psychology of adolescence advise parents to be more loyal to the child’s sense of adulthood.

Features of raising a girl

Raising a teenage girl has some differences from raising a boy. But still, at fourteen years old, a girl needs love and understanding from her parents, and especially her mother. In this matter, parents should take into account advice on what mistakes they should not make:

• Raise in strictness. Parents, fearing that their daughter will get involved with bad company or begin sexual activity early, which can lead to early pregnancy, try to protect their child from all this. Therefore, they load her with all sorts of household chores, studies and other things. The model of behavior in this case is more reminiscent not of a family, but of a boss and a subordinate. The girl does not feel protected, loved and begins to look for support in strangers.
• Allow everything, pamper and indulge your whims. If parents raise their daughter this way, then they must be prepared for the fact that her demands will soon increase, and any refusal will be perceived as a betrayal. Such a girl will grow into a woman who does not show respect for people and cares only about her own well-being. And first of all, the parents themselves will suffer from such upbringing.
• Criticize the child. There is nothing worse than low self-esteem, which can cripple your entire life. Father's criticism is especially acute, which in the future may result in hatred of the entire male sex. But praise for achievements, affection and care will help raise a little girl into a confident woman.
• It's too much to be frank. Despite the fact that many psychologists advise parents to make friends with their daughters in adolescence, this idea is only half successful. If a child shares his experiences and seeks advice from his parents, this is one thing, but when a mother crosses all boundaries of what is permitted and begins too frank intimate conversations, this can traumatize the child’s psyche.

The consequences will soon appear in the form of the daughter’s isolation, the desire to avoid communication with her mother, and she will be forced to look for answers to questions on her own.

A successful and happy woman is the merit of her parents, who at one time knew how to raise a teenage girl and retained warm and tender feelings. But this is worth a lot.

Reaction of grouping with peers

Teenagers instinctively group with peers. Teen groups are:

1. Same-sex (most often male). In such groups there is a permanent leader, each member has his own strictly fixed role. The leader maintains his position with the help of a strong but not very smart assistant. Same-sex groups often have “their own territory,” rarely accept newcomers, and use their own “language.”
2. Mixed. The leader is selected according to the required situation. Group members may constantly change. Nothing is required from participants.

In closed teenage institutions (boarding schools, sports camps), grouping is very pronounced. This can provoke “undermining” of the established regime.

Anastasia Bezrukova

Many are mistaken in considering Anastasia Bezrukova to be a relative of Sergei Bezrukov - they are simply namesakes. But, ironically, the girl starred in the film “Milky Way,” where his daughter played.

Anastasia has been in the modeling business like a fish in water since she was 8 years old. Along with Kristina Pimenova, she became the first Russian model to appear for Vogue Bambini.

The girl has already managed to appear in advertising campaigns for such brands as Pinko, Armani, Liu Jo, Benetton, Moschino.

The emergence of interest in the opposite sex

10–17 years is the pubertal period of child development. At the same time, puberty begins. Due to physiological changes, the teenager begins to experience new emotions and feelings. He begins to think about his gender. A child tries to express his male or female individuality - this is a natural process. At this time, parents need to give their son or daughter a little freedom in self-expression - this will significantly reduce the likelihood of conflicts.

Interest in the opposite sex is observed as early as 10–14 years of age. This is manifested by increased attention to one’s appearance and the desire to stand out. Parents can already teach their child about the importance of personal hygiene and exercise.

At this age, teenagers experience their first love. Girls and boys move from friendly relationships to romantic ones. Many people begin to be sexually active. It is extremely important for parents to explain that early sexual activity can be dangerous.

Kristina Pimenova

Russian model Kristina embodies a certain type of beauty: long blonde hair, a pointed chin and an oval face, a straight, neat nose, beautiful lips and large, blue, sparkling eyes.

Her modeling career began on the initiative of her mother - Glikeria sent a photo of her daughter to the President Kids agency. And since then, the girl has signed contracts with model houses.

It is also known that as a child, Kristina Pimenova did rhythmic gymnastics and won prizes in competitions.

According to Christina’s mother, Glikeria, initially her daughter liked the filming process, and she perceived it as a kind of game, and, despite being overworked, the girl happily posed for long hours in front of the camera. In addition, the girl tried herself as an actress, she starred in the film “Russian Bride”.

Development of self-knowledge

The teenager begins to take an interest in himself, his abilities, evaluates and compares himself with others, and tries to understand his feelings. Taking into account the development of self-awareness, and trying to take a more advantageous position among peers, the teenager strives for self-education. He wants to have more positive qualities than negative ones. But little life experience and an unformed worldview provoke the development in a teenager of contradictions between the desire for self-education and the inability to realize it.

The child becomes aware of himself as a person in 2 stages. At first he realizes that he is different from his peers and belongs to the adult world. He can:

• imitate adults
• be dependent on peers.

At a new stage, a teenager:

• understands that he is no longer a child;
• gradually understands his personal characteristics;
• less dependent on peers.

The last point is extremely important. If peers force a teenager to do something against his wishes, he will be able to refuse them.

An important place in the development of adolescent self-awareness is occupied by the idea of ​​one’s body image, as well as comparison of oneself with generally accepted standards of femininity or masculinity. Against this background, boys can do strength training, and girls can do gymnastics and dancing.

In the motivational aspect and behavior of a teenager, opposing aspirations are manifested:

1. To be different from everyone else, especially when communicating with parents.
2. Imitate a group of peers and follow fashion trends.

Self-awareness and the formation of the Self-image are closely related to the creation of the image of the Other. In most cases, this “Other” becomes a peer, communication with whom is extremely important for a growing child. This feature can specifically manifest itself:

1. A cognitively simple teenager who superficially analyzes the inner world, identifies himself with his peers and emphasizes the similarities between himself and them.
2. A cognitively complex teenager tries to understand the essence of a person, identifies himself only with certain peers and emphasizes his distinctive features.

Identifying with peers is normal and helps shape the “I-image” of every teenager. At the age of 13–14 years, this image loses its stability and integrity. The child feels this extremely acutely. To stop copying the behavior of others, an adult uses self-knowledge and introspection, while in a teenager these qualities are still developing. Because of this, the child experiences severe stress, which leads to the following problems:

• inappropriate behavior;
• decreased self-esteem;
• unstable development of the “I-image”.

Adults are obliged to help a teenager survive this difficult moment, to create optimal conditions for proper self-knowledge.

Other milestones

For many teenagers, 15 years old is the age at which they receive driver's education. Getting a study permit can be a big deal. And, of course, this is a great responsibility.

Make sure your teen is willing to follow the rules of the road before you allow him to drive. If he can't be responsible when it comes to chores or homework, he may be showing you that he's not yet ready to take on the responsibility of driving.

Not all 15-year-olds are ready to drive. So think carefully about whether your child is emotionally and socially mature enough to get behind the wheel.

How does a teenager feel about his appearance?

At the time of puberty and increased hormonal activity, adolescents react extremely aggressively to any criticism about their appearance. Words that are offensive to them can cause temporary teenage complexes, which often manifest themselves in adulthood. It is a parent's duty to protect the child from such problems independently or with the help of a qualified psychologist.

Ignoring the problem of the influence of a teenager’s appearance on his mental health can be extremely deplorable. Such children become addicted to alcoholic beverages and drugs, enter into intimate contact with various partners, and use many other immoral methods to assert themselves among others.

“Offended” children become problematic. They can close themselves off from the whole world and lead an antisocial life, or vice versa, they throw tantrums and have rows with adults. The main task of these actions is to assert oneself and gain recognition from adults.

A child who experiences complexes because of his appearance will:

• wear baggy clothes;
• cover your mouth while laughing;
• hide your face under your hair;
• look away from the interlocutor;
• have an “unattainable” ideal of beauty;
• doubt your abilities;
• consider yourself unworthy of love;
• have difficulty expressing yourself in front of strangers;
• Avoid cameras or be photographed frequently.

The first helpers in getting rid of dissatisfaction with one's own appearance are parents. They are obliged to support their children during age-related changes, to listen to their opinion when solving family problems.

Girls worry more about their appearance than boys, so mothers need to help their daughters choose a new style, beautiful hairstyle, and cosmetics. If this does not help, you can use the help of a psychologist - he will help raise your self-esteem.

Hayley Vasquez

It's hard not to pay attention to the pretty girl with curly hair and brown eyes.

For the first time, her photographs appeared on the Internet when Hayley still understood little - at that time she was only three years old. Since then, the number of her followers on Instagram has gradually grown. Parents posted photos of their daughter in stylish looks, and the baby was often called a miniature copy of Beyoncé.

Internet fame sometimes helps you achieve your goals and even make your wishes come true! Thanks to her fame, Hayley Vasquez somehow got the opportunity to walk the red carpet at Fashion Week, which took place in New York. The girl is passionate about the world of fashion, loves to dress up, but she is not spoiled.

Characteristic complexes of adolescence

Psychologists identify several types of complexes that torment teenagers:

1. Inferiority. It occurs in almost 80 percent of children, while some themselves do not understand that they suffer from this. Teenagers acutely feel their inferiority compared to their peers.
2. Financial. Depends on the financial wealth of the family, mom/dad’s salary. The child does not understand that not all parents can have a lot of money. The complex is especially aggravated if he is surrounded by children from wealthy families who show off expensive things.
3. Excellent student/excellent students. Develops at school. Often the development of the complex is provoked by parents and teachers. The child begins to set high standards for himself and if he does not achieve them, he becomes aggressive and withdrawn.
4. Unrequited love. When a guy or girl does not receive reciprocity from the object of their desire, they begin to delve into themselves, trying to find the reason for the current situation. Often the result of this process is the “discovery” of new flaws.

These complexes are typical for adolescence, but each child experiences them individually. The main task of parents is to maintain a trusting relationship with their child and try to find positive aspects in every situation.

In order to properly raise a teenager and not spoil the relationship with him, parents and teachers should understand that in front of them is not just a child, but a person. It is important for adults to take into account the child’s temperament, gender, intellectual abilities, physical capabilities and character. Parents and teachers are obliged to help the teenager find socially acceptable ways of self-expression and means of self-affirmation.

Stages of growing up

1. A child, growing up, goes through three temporary stages.
2. The first stage is childhood. It lasts approximately until the age of 11.
3. The second stage is early adolescence. Its time period is from 11 to 14 years.
4. And finally, the third stage of human maturation is senior adolescence, located in the range from 15 to 18 years.
5. Between the second and third stages of growing up there is an intermediate stage, not distinguished by psychologists as a separate, middle stage - from 14 to 16.

   
   Adolescent Psychology - Highlights

Speaking about this category of children, it should be noted that the division according to the stages of growing up is quite arbitrary.

During this time period of his life, a young man begins to gain a new awareness and motivation for his own behavior. Lead them meaningfully.

Psychologists often focus the attention of parents of children in adolescence on this conventional transitional fragment (from 14 to 16 years old) in connection with the changes occurring in them, both physiological and mental.

Because this period, called the stage of personal and professional self-determination, is the most difficult in life for a growing teenager - boy or girl.

The emotional sphere of adolescents and motivation

At this time, the child develops his own individual personal position on all issues and situations. It often does not agree with the views and opinions of adults, including parents, on the same situation, which leads to conflict, which may result in a loss of mutual understanding and contact relationships between them.

Boys and girls - end of puberty

The end of puberty (transitional age) occurs at 16-19 years. At this time, the body of boys and girls is formed according to a masculine or feminine type. They have clear ideas about themselves, often already have time to finish their studies at school and decide on their future profession.

Adolescence of a young man

Puberty is accompanied by active changes in the body. Sex hormones are produced in large quantities, muscles develop, and the voice changes. The young man becomes strong and resilient. Hair appears on the face, chest and other parts of the body.

A difficulty in the final stage of puberty can be increased sexual activity. Against the background of hormonal changes, young men often show impatience, rudeness, and uncontrollable behavior. Regular sports and visiting a psychological support group help teenagers relieve emotional and physical stress at this age.

At the end of puberty, a father, grandfather, coach or other man he respects becomes an important figure in a boy’s life. An older comrade has the opportunity to influence the young man, pass on his experience to him, and form a harmonious personality.

Girl growing up

The period of sexual development in girls ends at 15-16 years, sometimes a little earlier. Girls have a feminine appearance and are ready to reproduce.

Most girls are attractive, but they don't realize it. They pay great attention to flaws in appearance (rashes on the face, extra pounds), and exaggerate them.

At the same time, girls are actively interested in representatives of the stronger half of humanity. First love, the desire to prove their maturity, often force girls to commit rash acts.

The task of parents of teenagers is to maintain a friendly, trusting relationship with their children. Then adolescence will not become a problem, but will be perceived as a step towards a mature, responsible life.

Irina Sherbul