Youth in psychology is usually divided into two periods - early adolescence (15-17 years old) and late adolescence (17-21). However, at the same time, there are age periodizations where early adolescence is considered within the framework of adolescence, and adolescence as an independent stage is distinguished from the age of 17. In any case, it is important to understand that age-related crises are caused primarily by the psychological development of the individual, and it can be ahead of physical age or lag behind it. On average, the crisis of adolescence occurs at age 17, but there are exceptions.
Adolescence
Photo: Depositphotos
First of all, it’s worth understanding what period is considered to be youth. There is no clear opinion.
- In psychiatry, for example, adolescents from 14 to 18 are called boys and girls, psychologists mark 16 years as the lower limit, ending adolescence with adulthood, and explanatory dictionaries extend this period from 15 to 20 years.
Age terminology has never been unambiguous, and adolescence is not fixed by age limits. On average, this is the time from leaving school to starting work.
Youth is divided into early and late. The chronological boundaries of this period also vary. But at each stage, a person experiences certain difficulties, coping with which, he forms his own “I”.
K. S. Petrov-Vodkin, “Youth (Kiss)”, 1913 Photo: artchive.ru
Problems of adolescence
The psychological significance of youth is emphasized by scientific minds around the world.
For the first time, J. J. Rousseau spoke about adolescence in 1762 in the novel “Emile.” He emphasized the role of self-awareness and called adolescence a “second birth,” when a person seems to be born again. In fact, this is true, because it is during this period that the main character traits are laid and life goals appear.
British scientist G. S. Hall, a pioneer of psychological science, defined adolescence as a crisis of identity, comparing it to an era of chaos. She called the inconsistency of behavior the peculiarities of this period: a good mood can suddenly give way to a bad one, self-confidence can suddenly turn into uncertainty.
His colleague’s opinion was supported by S. Freud, calling mood swings the result of changes in the body and puberty.
Rafael Santi, “Portrait of Pietro Bembo (Portrait of Cardinal Pietro Bembo as a youth)”, 1506 Photo: artchive.ru
During this period, childhood conflicts may return and intensify. Internal struggle leads to the emergence of problems characteristic of every teenager entering the period of growing up.
The German philosopher E. Spranger examined youth in cultural and spiritual notes at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. He clarified that sometimes a teenager enters adulthood abruptly, experiencing many difficulties. Just like Hall, the philosopher spoke about a new formation of personality, a “second birth.”
But there are other types of maturation: a slow and smooth transition to maturity and an increased level of self-discipline. Then adolescence passes relatively calmly, raising teenagers does not cause difficulties for parents, but this does not mean that the personality does not undergo serious changes and does not experience internal struggle.
Russian researchers of this problem (L.S. Vygotsky, O.V. Frolova, etc.) indicate the main characteristic of youth: the final transition to maturity and the emergence of stable character traits. Intelligence reaches maximum development, talents emerge, and all areas of personal development undergo changes.
Photo: Depositphotos
Difficult teenager: what should parents do?
How well the pubertal crisis of adolescence will pass depends on the characteristics of the child himself and the foundations of upbringing that the parents laid. The position of those close to you is no less important. Despite the fact that the “prickly” teenager shows his negativism to everyone and everything, he needs support more than ever. Don't push your child away, help him understand his own feelings and enter adulthood with a sense of a solid foundation.
When solving numerous problems that accompany the age crisis in adolescents, parents will have to be patient so as not to spoil their relationship with their child. What recommendations will help?
Learn to competently resolve conflicts with your child
Strict prohibitions and punishments, emotional blackmail, sharp criticism, imposing one’s own opinion - all this does not work in raising a teenager. It is important for parents to learn how to effectively resolve conflicts with their children. Only confidential dialogue and a sincere desire to help. Listen, teach, give advice.
Respect your teenager's personal space
Despite the fact that you have every right to give advice and guidance to your child, respect his personal space and do not impose your opinion on certain issues. In order not to ruin your relationship with your teenager, respect the boundaries that he has set. Knock on the door before entering your child’s room, do not read his correspondence on the phone or on social networks, and do not ask too actively about his friends. Even these seemingly insignificant changes in your behavior will let your child know that you are not infringing on his privacy.
This does not mean that you should let your teenager's life take its course. Continue to monitor his pastime and performance at school. But this should not look like an infringement on freedom.
Treat your teenager like an adult
It's time to stop looking at your child as a toddler. A teenager is already old enough to make certain decisions. Give him some freedom of action and respect his desire to do “adult” things.
Every person, even a child, has the right to make a mistake. This develops personality and helps to accumulate life experience.
Don't discount your teenager's experiences
A teenager perceives literally every event in his life very acutely. Help him get out of conflicts with friends painlessly and support him when he fails. Seeing that you care, the child will be more confident and will listen to your advice, which is extremely important.
Learn the art of communicating with your child. “Just think, the girl left! How many more of these will you have” - not the most appropriate words of consolation for a boy suffering from unrequited love. Do not devalue his problems, support him in difficult times. Sometimes a simple “I understand you” is enough.
Find common ground with your teenager
A teenager, faced with a lack of understanding from his parents, often moves away from them and withdraws into himself. Try to find common ground with your growing child. This will help ensure effective prevention and correction of a teenager’s deviant behavior, as well as monitor his emotional state.
Find a common hobby with your child, actively relax together, go to the cinema, attend exhibitions and concerts. Believe me, not everything that modern youth loves is bad. Get to know what your child is interested in. This will help you be “on the same page” with him.
Lead by example
Teenagers are sensitive to hypocrisy. Rest assured, false preaching about moral values in the form of instructions and orders will not affect the child in any way. Teach by example. This will help the teenager understand the essence of what is happening around him and master the art of communication. Each child takes out many behavioral attitudes precisely from the environment in which he was raised. Let these be the right attitudes, and not aggression and excessive rigidity.
Stages of adolescence and critical periods
Youth can be divided into several stages, which are critical for each person (even if he grows up gradually and smoothly). Overcoming them marks the transition to adulthood.
The features of this period are:
- Finding a place to live, developing self-awareness. Boys and girls resolve internal conflicts, begin to look into the future and make plans for life.
- Formation of worldview. A philosophy of life, moral guidelines and beliefs emerge. Young people reflect on the eternal themes of good and evil, truth and lies, understand themselves and begin to evaluate the world around them.
- Acceptance of new social roles. In all spheres of life, new statuses are acquired: yesterday's high school student becomes a student, an intern, a bride/groom.
- Formation of a position in interpersonal relationships. A person begins to focus on society and at the same time acquires independence.
- The final stage of mental alignment. At this stage, rationality appears, self-esteem increases, and the severity of internal conflicts decreases.
Going through all stages means that the age crisis has passed and the person has become an adult.
Meanwhile, sometimes a person exhibits infantile traits, makes mistakes and makes ill-conceived choices in a number of issues. Young people continue to solve emerging problems characteristic of the period of growing up.
Photo: Depositphotos
Adolescent Negativism
Negativism is a negative attitude towards the world around us, manifested in a negative assessment of people and their actions.
Negativism is especially pronounced in adolescents during the age crisis. Considering the immaturity of the child’s personality and his black-and-white picture of the world, he perceives many life situations extremely negatively. The child becomes stubborn, withdrawn, rude, even aggressive, and continually breaks discipline at school. But this is only an outer shell - negativism becomes a kind of armor that covers the numerous fears of a child on the verge of growing up. In essence, negativism is a teenager’s reaction to some unsatisfied personal need. For example, a lack of respect, understanding and love from parents and close circle. [2]
According to psychologists, negativism in adolescents largely depends on the environment in which they grow up. If a child is raised in a family with constant conflicts, where disrespect for each other and aggression rule, a negative attitude towards the surrounding reality will sooner or later manifest itself. [3]
Psychologists divide teenage negativism into passive and active. A passive negativist does not openly contradict, he simply ignores all the requests, demands and comments of his parents. The specificity of active negativism is that the teenager throws all his energy into contradicting adults - he does the opposite of what he is asked to do. [3]
Internal conflicts
During the period of adolescence preceding adolescence, the human psyche is unstable. There is emotionality, maximalism and dependence on other people's opinions, etc. This problem intensifies with age. Young people already feel like adults, strive for independence, but cannot afford to implement some of their plans. Internal discomfort is caused by material and moral dependence on parents. Then outbursts of anger and stubbornness may occur.
Incorrect self-realization leads to other conflicts. Attempts to stand out find their basis in study, profession, creativity or society. Sometimes young people attract attention to themselves in an immoral way: they provoke parents and teachers, take the “slippery slope” of criminal activity, engage in hooliganism and extreme entertainment, express themselves in provocative creativity, etc.
To overcome internal contradictions, you need to choose the right guidelines for self-realization. Active teenagers are sent to sports, where an outlet for energy will be found; acting courses help overcome complexes, etc.
Photo: Depositphotos
Professional activity
After graduating from school, young people face an important choice of future profession, and this is associated with a number of difficulties.
Young people do not find work due to low qualifications, but personal aspirations and inflated demands on future vacancies also bring many problems. It often happens that young men and women who lack experience and skills want to receive big money for their work, but do not live up to the real possibilities.
The reluctance to work “from bell to bell” and the search for easy income gives rise to the emergence of many freelancers - photographers, bloggers, copywriters, etc., who are left to their own devices and “do not work for someone else.” A free schedule and the desire for creative fulfillment are not bad. However, it is important to explain to young people that getting a real profession in the future guarantees stable earnings and a stable job - it is better to do this by setting a good example. Perhaps it is reasonable for parents to help in choosing a profession and first job.
Photo: Depositphotos
Risks
The main risks of adolescence include:
- incorrect professional self-determination or failure of entrance exams, as a result - lost time and energy, reluctance to study and work, emotional burnout, experience of frustration and the need for a new professional definition;
- deviations as an inadequate way of self-expression and self-actualization (aggressiveness, swagger, eccentricity, defiant behavior and appearance);
- difficulties in adapting to a new educational institution and self-control, independent planning of the daily routine;
- frustration in matters of the meaning of life and choice of profession (expectation and reality).
Unable to cope with the crisis, young men turn to alcoholism and drug addiction or choose another option to avoid reality. Inadequate search for oneself and defending one’s individuality results in asocial groups or destructive youth subcultures that protest the dullness and monotony, impersonality and mass character of adult life.
Social environment
A social role requires a person to perform significant functions, he has to adapt and adapt. Lack of income and attempts at self-realization can lead to young people taking the slippery slope of crime and ending up in a criminal environment. Their life guidelines change and their understanding of honesty and friendship transforms.
In youth, people are usually left to their own devices, strive for independence, and social control over them is noticeably reduced. Therefore, it is difficult to track when a teenager “took a wrong turn.” Weakening ties with family is inevitable during adolescence, but regular communication will prevent boys and girls from making mistakes.
Since adolescence has an impact on the rest of your life, it is important not to miss the moment of growing up and cope with emerging problems as much as possible. Completely controlling a loved one when he has entered adolescence is extremely difficult, and even wrong - after all, independence is formed precisely at this stage. But it is within the power of every parent or senior friend to suggest and guide.
Tags: age crisis, growing up, younger generation, young people, adolescence, adolescence
CAUSES OF ADOLESCENCE CRISIS
- The rapid pace of physical and mental development leads to the formation of new needs. But they cannot be fully satisfied due to insufficient social maturity. In other words, the student feels independent and independent. But he cannot yet lead the lifestyle of an adult.
- The leading activity is now communication with peers, rather than educational activities. Therefore, academic performance decreases, and the opinion of adults ceases to be significant.
- The development of cognitive functions leads to new knowledge. Thinking moves from figurative to abstract. It works now, based on my own experience. The child uses his knowledge, memory, deduction, and his opinion. This also leads to awareness of one’s individuality and uniqueness. Reflections on your purpose. Fear caused by these thoughts. Outlooks on life are formed.
- A teenager constantly experiences an internal contradiction between desires and possibilities. He is able to realistically and most often critically evaluate his skills. But he still worries like a child if he doesn’t get what he wants.
- Often the cause of the teenage crisis is an acute conflict with parents. Many adults do not know or do not understand that their child’s behavior during a teenage crisis is natural. It is due to all of the above reasons. But moms and dads continue to use the old approach to their growing offspring.
