Development during Adolescence
Jeremy Chiu-Hung
Miami Dade College
Abstract This paper explores the development of the developmental stage that lies between childhoods and adulthood, known as adolescence. Adolescents are known to go through multiple phases of changes occurring within their body. This paper will explain the three developmental phases adolescents go through (Physical, Cognitive, Social and personality). It will explain what goes on physically and mentally throughout their body during adolescence.
Development During Adolescence Adolescence is the period when a young person develops from a child to an adult. It usually starts before the teenage years, and ends after them. All humans experience
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Adolescents use drugs for numerous reasons. The main reasons for the use of these drugs is pleasure, escaping real life, and for the thrill of doing something illegal. Some can be extremely addictive. Addictive drugs are drugs that one becomes dependent on. The body can’t function with its absences. If used as an escape, drugs may prevent adolescents from solving their problems. About one in four adolescents contract a STI in high school. Overall, 2.5 million teenagers contract an STI each year. The most common sexually transmitted disease is Human papilloma virus. Other common Sexual diseases are chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhea, syphilis, and AIDS. Other than abstinence, there is no other way to avoid STI. How an adolescence cognitive development develops is extremely important. Cognitive development is development that involves the growth, change, and intellectual capabilities within and adolescence. Adolescent’s cognitive development can be better explained through piaget’s theory to cognitive development.. The first stage is the formal operational stage. The formal operation stage is the stage when adolescence develop the ability to think in different ways ( Piaget & Inhelder, 1958). …show more content…
It can be used to develop a sense of one’s own identity ( Zimmer – Gembeck & Gallaty, 2006). Both participants take dating more seriously as a way to find a possible mate for marriage. For homosexuals, dating is more difficult because of the constant judgement and hate they are receiving. Cultural influence also affects who one decides to date. Foreign-Born parents may try to control dating behavior to preserve traditional values or confine dating their own racial or ethnic group.. Sexual behavior and thoughts mostly occupy the minds of almost all adolescents a good deal of time ( Kelly, 2001). Most of the time the first sex act adolescents engage in is masturbation. Around the age of 15, 80 percent of boys and 20 percent of girls say that they have sexually pleasured themselves ( Schwartz, 1999). Although masturbation is widespread, it may still produce feelings of shame and guilt. Masturbation is viewed as a normal, healthy, and harmless activity ( Hyde & Delamater, 2003). Adolescents usually have their first sexual intercourse around the age of