Reaction Paper On Adolescence

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence

“Adolescence can be defined as a period of transition between childhood and adulthood that involves biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes” (Santrock ,1996). Adolescence, the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood, is a crucial period. It is a time of profound changes and, occasionally, turmoil. Considerable biological change occurs as adolescents attain sexual and physical maturity. At the same time, these physiological changes are rivalled by important social, emotional, and cognitive changes that occur as adolescents strive for independence and move toward adulthood (Feldman, 2002).

The word adolescence has a Latin origin which means “to grow into adulthood”. Adolescence is a period beginning with the onset of puberty and ending when individuals assume adult roles and responsibilities of rapid growth and change during which

It is the period of emotional excitement and stress caused by different physical and psychological changes and development of sexual feelings (Muhammed, 2002). A key task of adolescence is preparation for adulthood. Indeed, the future of any culture hinges on how effective this preparation is (Larson & others, 2002).

Adolescence is from about the age of 11 to the late teen years and is a time when children develop adult physical characteristics (Steinberg, 2002).Adolescents are a diverse group; girls, boys, some with disability, some from ethnic groups, some urban and some rural. Yet, nine out of ten of these young people live in the developing world and face especially profound challenges from obtaining an education to simply staying alive – challenges that are magnified for girls and young women ( UNICEF, 2011). It is a time of discovery of self and one’s relationship to the world around him or her (Nzesylva,2008).

Characteristics of