Adolescent development

Child at health event

Hillary Rodham Clinton visits with children at the Child Development Center

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Alexis Herman's Farewell to Department of Labor Esther Peterson Child Development Center - DPLA

Walter de Maria

Adolescent Development, also commonly referred to as Youth Development, refers to the multifaceted physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial transformation experienced by individuals during the phase of adolescence. This transitional period from childhood to adulthood encompasses a broad spectrum of physical, emotional, and cognitive changes, significantly influenced by a myriad of external factors such as culture, socioeconomic status, and gender.

Factors Influencing Development[edit | edit source]

Several elements play a pivotal role in shaping the experiences and growth trajectories of adolescents:

Culture: The societal norms, values, and traditions in different cultures can shape adolescent experiences and expectations.
Gender: The expectations and norms associated with different genders can influence the roles and experiences of adolescents.
Socioeconomic Class: The financial and social status of an adolescent can impact their opportunities, experiences, and challenges.

Contexts of Adolescent Development[edit | edit source]

Adolescent development does not occur in isolation but is deeply embedded within multiple contexts:

Formal Settings: Institutions such as schools, churches, and other organized settings play a crucial role in molding cognitive, social, and moral aspects of adolescent development.
Informal Settings: Home, peer groups, and extracurricular activities shape the experiences and personality development of adolescents.
Relationships: Interactions with peers, mentors, parents, teachers, and employers influence an adolescent's self-perception, world-view, and emotional growth.

Theories and Key Figures[edit | edit source]

Various theoretical frameworks have delved into adolescent development:

Sigmund Freud: Proposed the theory of psychosexual development.
Carl Jung: Focused on individuation during adolescence.
Erik Erikson: Described adolescence as a critical phase in his stages of psychosocial development, emphasizing identity formation.
John Dewey, Jean Piaget, and Margaret Mead: Contributed significantly to the understanding of adolescent cognition, societal roles, and the broader implications of adolescent behavior in varying cultural contexts. Mead, in particular, stressed the importance of avoiding personal biases based on one's own adolescent experiences.

Modern Research[edit | edit source]

Contemporary studies in adolescent development have expanded to encompass a broader understanding of youth's role in society. Prominent organizations like the Forum for Youth Investment and the Innovation Center have conducted groundbreaking research in this domain.

The sociological exploration of adolescent development has also given rise to distinct paradigms, including:

Positive Youth Development: Emphasizes the strengths, competencies, and developmental potentials of adolescents.
Community Youth Development: Focuses on the interplay between young individuals and their community, underscoring mutual growth and development.

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v t e Development of the human body
Before birth	Development Embryo Fetus Gestational age
Birth and after	Birth Child development stages Puberty Adult development Ageing Senescence Death
Phases	Infant Toddler Early childhood Childhood Child Preadolescence Adolescence Adulthood Middle age Old age
Social and legal	Minor Age of majority

v t e Parenting
Kinship terminology	Parent Mother Father Adoptive Alloparenting Coparenting Extended family Foster care Kommune 1 Noncustodial Nuclear family Orphaned Shared parenting Single parent Blended family Surrogacy In loco parentis
Theories⧼dot-separator⧽Areas	Attachment theory Applied behavior analysis Behaviorism Child development Cognitive development Developmental psychology Human development Identity formation Introjection Love Maternal bond Nature versus nurture Parental investment Paternal bond Pediatrics Social emotional development Socialization Social psychology
Styles	Achievement ideology Atlas personality Attachment parenting Baby talk Buddha-like parenting Concerted cultivation Enmeshment Free-range parenting Gatekeeper parent Helicopter parent Nurturant parenting Slow parenting Soccer mom Strict father model Taking children seriously Theybie Tiger parenting Work at home parent
Techniques	After-school activity Allowance Bedtime Child care Co-sleeping Dishabituation Education Habituation Homeschooling Identification (psychology) Introjection Latchkey kid Moral development Normative social influence Parent management training Play (date) Role model Social integration Spoiled child Television The talk (race) The talk (sex education) Toy (educational) Positive Parenting Program
Child discipline	Blanket training Corporal punishment in the home Curfew Grounding Positive discipline Tactical ignoring Time-out
Abuse	Adverse childhood experiences Child abandonment Child abuse Child labour Child neglect Cinderella effect Codependency Dysfunctional family Effects of domestic violence Incest Narcissistic parent Parental abuse by children Stress in early childhood
Legal and social aspects	Child custody Child support Cost of raising a child Deadbeat parent Disownment Family disruption Management of domestic violence Marriage Parental alienation Parental responsibility Paternity Shared parenting
Experts	Mary Ainsworth John Bowlby T. Berry Brazelton Rudolf Dreikurs David Elkind Jo Frost Haim Ginott Thomas Gordon Alan E. Kazdin Truby King Annette Lareau Penelope Leach Matthew Sanders William Sears B. F. Skinner Benjamin Spock
Organizations	Families Need Fathers Mothers Apart from Their Children Mothers' Union National Childbirth Trust National Fatherhood Initiative National Parents Organization Parent–teacher association Parents Against Child Exploitation