The 3 stages of adolescence (and their characteristics)

If you could describe your teenage period in one word, what would it be like?

This is one of the most significant stages for people because they are able to feel the way in which the Changes that occur on a daily basis affect them, not only physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. Transforming them into unstable beings who seek their way forward in the best possible way, in the midst of making their parents proud and having their own identity.

We also know that this is a stage marked by all those acts that are decided and even more so by the consequences that can benefit or affect the perception of the world of young people. For this reason, some may feel that they are walking on tiptoe, disoriented and with a lot of pressure on their shoulders to become an ideal person, although they do not yet know what it is like to be.

• It may interest you: "Differences between men and women during adolescence"

For this reason, you should not fear if your children suddenly answer your questions wrong or demand more space to have their own privacy, because everything is part of that same process.

In this article you can learn about all the stages of adolescence and its main characteristics of which we will talk next.

Why do the changes affect teens so much?

The answer to this is as simple as it is complex in turn and is due to the hormonal changes they go through, which not only alter their physique, but also affect their processes. emotional. So they are constantly in a struggle to discover their identity, while struggling with the sudden changes in their body or even the lack of them.

Since, where a person may be bothered by increased curves (in the case of women) or growth in height (in the case of men), their peers may be affected because these changes do not reach them yet and they feel incomplete.

At the same time, teens find themselves questioning the way the world is run And the way your own world is. They look for new arguments, knowledge and live experiences from which they manage to create their own opinions. Although many times these can have differences with the beliefs and values ​​imposed in the home, so in addition, they must find a way to balance them or make the difficult decision to choose a.

Stages of adolescence and their main characteristics

Find out below the stages that people must go through who are in the complicated stage of adolescence.

1. Early adolescence

This is the first stage of adolescence and is between 10 or 11 years old until 13 years of age, so it is also in it, that stage known as preadolescence and puberty. In which sex hormones begin to develop for men and women, so the physical changes begin to be quite visible.

In the case of men, there is what is known as ‘pubertal growth spurt’ in which the extremities of the body grow suddenly, for which they have problems controlling their movements with their ‘new body’, they also begin to notice changes in their voice, which becomes more serious, as well as a change in their smell bodily.

On the women's side, they begin to perceive the transformation in their body with the growth of the breasts and widening of the hips, as well as the generation of more fat around the abdomen and legs. As well as the long-awaited menstruation, which gives the green light to female fertility.

An interesting anecdote at this stage is that young people tend to give more importance to friends than to family itselfas they feel more affinity with their peers of the same age who are going through similar changes to them. So they enjoy and are inclined to spend more time with them.

2. Middle adolescence

The stage of the search for their own identity begins here, where young people experience new experiences, acquire deeper knowledge of different topics and begin to generate criticism of their own world that surrounds. So they begin to create their own belief system, which is a mixture of the values ​​learned at home and their personal views on everything. It ranges between 14 and 16 years of age.

This is because abstract thinking is fully formed and young people can make full use of their higher mental capacities, from their creativity to reasoning. What leads them to be able to absorb a greater amount of information, analyze it, memorize and be influenced by what they have learned.

However, they have the particular characteristic that they can be attracted to different topics and that is why that, we can see them one season with a particular style and another time with a totally inclined opposite.

On the other hand, adolescents at this stage often revert to self-centered attitudes, but this time it is to reinforce their need for freedom, independence and privacy. So it is normal that they have rebellious tendencies and even tensions are generated in family relationships.

Although they are also more exposed to risky and consumer behaviors, especially if they are pressured by friends or to fit into a certain social group. That is why it is important that, from a young age, young people are taught to be careful with the friendships they generate and try to relate to those who bring positive things to their lives.

Another interesting point to emphasize is that some people may begin to experience physical and emotional changes at this stage, rather than early adolescence. This is because not all people develop at the same time and some may take a little longer.

3. Late adolescence

This is the last stage of adolescence and is established between 17 and 21 years of age, marking the end of adolescence to give way to early adulthood. So it is a key stage for people because their youth acquires a new meaning and they must choose a path that they must follow. Since it is the door that begins the future they must live in, so their choices will be key to achieving their dreams.

In this stage, all these psychological, physical, sexual and emotional changes also completely end, to settle in a balance that continues in constant dynamism. But, the foundations of one's own belief system are already being established and now the search to reinforce them begins.

During this there is also a significant change in interpersonal relationships and that is that young people are more inclined to develop personal relationships, with a smaller and more intimate circle of friends with people whom you consider an emotional partner potential. They are more interested in romance and maintaining a good appearance of their physical appearance, but also having a strong and attractive personality, to be able to relate to those who consider similar in this appearance.

But above all, are inclined by the marked interest in finding and developing viable projects for their development, they are excited to generate money and have financial independence, to achieve a professional goal and study a career that has an affinity with their abilities or their preferences. Which is part of their identity that they have already discovered.

In addition, the relationship with the parents reaches a point of calm and understanding greater than in the two previous stages of adolescence. Since they can understand a little better the point of view of adults regarding their decisions and attitudes.

Some interesting facts about adolescence

As you have seen and perhaps remembered, adolescence is a changing stage, where each event has its own impact on the lives of young people. But it also has a few cool features.

• Not all adolescents go through such drastic emotional changes, this is because the hormones released have greater balance and contrast with the body in general and therefore do not go through emotional situations heavy.

• Although adolescents have rebellious and oppositional tendencies. They always seek advice from their parents, as they never stop wanting their approval and affection.

• The self-esteem and self-esteem are essential and very delicate at this stage. Since it is very easy for them to fall for negative comments, although they can also take pride in their abilities.

• Many of the young people tend to get into trouble because of ignorance, although they do not know what they are doing, they still experience it just to test their worth.

• One of the greatest challenges for adolescents is not succumbing to social pressure from their peers or older youth in order to fit into a group or circle of friends.

• Although the hormones They arouse the interest and sexual appetite, not all adolescents who dare to experience sexual intercourse at an early age. Some choose to wait until late teens.

As you can see, this is a very significant stage in the lives of young people, so it is necessary that you offer your support in a subtle but always present way.

• You may be interested in this post by the psychologist Bertrand Regader: "The 5 most frequent psychological disorders in adolescence"