What age is a teenager? Physiological and psychological characteristics of adolescence

• November 7, 2019
• Psychology of Personality
• Angelica Braldi

Quite often, adults justify a child’s behavior and actions with the phrase: “He’s a teenager.” “What age is this?” — a similar question arises for everyone who faces difficulties in communicating with children. Really, who can be considered a teenager? A 16-year-old “minor” rebelling against everything in the world? Or an 11-year-old child defending his right to hang out with friends until late?

Every parent needs to know what exactly they are facing. With difficulties caused by growing up, restructuring of the body, or the most common hooliganism. Understanding these nuances is necessary in order to correctly structure your behavior in relation to the child’s actions. It will not be superfluous to know what exactly is meant in psychology by the concept of “adolescence.”

What it is?

At the beginning of the last century, the word “teenager” was almost never used; people usually said “youth.” However, after the revolution, they tried not to utter this word because it reeked of the bygone past. Now “youth” is associated with religion, the speeches of priests, and in everyday life the “teenager” and the English synonym “teenager” are used.

The scientific concept of “adolescence” appeared at the end of the 19th century. This happened largely due to the manifestation of interest in the problems of youth on the part of writers, philosophers, and thinkers of that time. For example, Dostoevsky in his novel “The Adolescent” describes the problems characteristic of youth no worse than psychologists do.

What is it? According to scientific definition, this is a specific age period in a person’s life. It is a transition between childhood and adulthood. Accordingly, it is characterized by many changes occurring both in physiology and in human consciousness.

When does it start and end?

What age is a teenager? Modern science does not give a clear answer to this question. The following factors influence the scope of this period:

• the country or region in which the child lives;
• nationality and gender;
• cultural characteristics;
• social conditions.

In general, the maximum period of adolescence is the age from 10 to 19 years. Of course, not every person on the threshold of their twenties is a teenager, and not every child begins to grow up from the tenth year of life. On average, a teenager is considered a person between the ages of 12 and 17 years. However, the age at which a child is considered a teenager depends on the individual characteristics of his development.

From 6 to 14

At this age, children are considered minors and can only carry out small household transactions. Their legal capacity is partial. Children under 14 years old can:

• shop at the store at the request of parents, purchase pencils, notebooks, pens, inexpensive goods, products that would satisfy their personal needs (lunch in the school canteen);
• accept and give inexpensive gifts (give flowers to the teacher);
• spend money issued for pocket expenses by legal representatives.

Minor citizens cannot open a bank account and receive money there, be it a survivor's pension or simply a transfer for a gift from a grandmother. They also cannot buy a car or motorcycle. Due to their age, they are more vulnerable and unprotected. Therefore, all transactions are carried out for them by their parents or other persons endowed with such rights by virtue of the law.

How is the period of growing up divided?

As for dividing the period of growing up into separate stages, the United Nations has adopted the following classification:

• early – from 10 to 14;
• late – from 14 to 19.

This is the division that is followed in most countries, and it is generally accepted and international.

Of course, there are other options for dividing growing up into separate stages. For example, in the Soviet Union it was believed that early adolescence was 12-14 years old, and late adolescence was 15-17.

In law

According to current regulations in the Russian Federation, all persons under 18 years of age are considered children. They have certain rights and responsibilities, but cannot take full advantage of them due to their age. And that's completely normal. All legal, property and other decisions for children and minors are made by their legal representatives.

Children's rights cannot be infringed upon by anyone; they are protected by the state.

What is happening in the psychology of teenagers? Main features

The psychological characteristics of adolescents are inextricably linked with the changes occurring in their body and mind. This is an extremely controversial time, filled with rapidly occurring changes that yesterday’s children cannot always cope with.

The main features of psychology at this age correlate with adulthood. This is the tendency towards her and her feeling. It is generally accepted that younger teenagers tend to mature. For those who are older, accordingly, a feeling, a sense of their own adulthood, is characteristic.

It is what a teenager feels that determines his behavior, manner of speaking, and actions.

The tendency to grow older - what is it?

The first main feature of the psychology of a teenager is the tendency towards adulthood. What does this mean? The fact that a teenager wants to be an adult and strives to demonstrate this by all possible means.

It is in the presence of a tendency, but in the absence of awareness, a sense of adulthood, that teenagers begin to be rude, break established rules and generally rebel. This psychological stage is characterized by awareness of rights to something with a complete absence of a sense of responsibility.

Feeling of adulthood: how is it characterized?

When adults ask the question: “What age is a teenager?” - then, as a rule, they just want to know when their child will calm down and become sweet, kind and good again. However, teenagers stop being hooligans and being rude not at all when adolescence ends, but at the moment when in their minds the tendency to grow up changes to a feeling. That is, as soon as a teenager gains a sense of adulthood, his behavior changes radically.

How is this feeling characterized? First of all, awareness of responsibility for one’s own actions and words. Secondly, an understanding of the value of things and the meaning of money appears. Teenagers no longer just want to be a hooligan and rebel against existing rules; they are trying to earn extra money and save pocket money to buy something. They are also more consistent in their wishes for holiday gifts to parents.

At what age do children become teenagers with a sense of adulthood, rather than a tendency towards it? There is no answer to this question. Personality development occurs individually and largely depends on the conditions in which the child lives.

How to survive adolescence?

1. The transitional age of children has the hardest impact on families that have adopted a dictatorial style of upbringing. If parents have been demanding unconditional obedience from their child for years, it is not easy for them to come to terms with the fact that the child wants to make decisions on his own. And if you consider that teenagers in such families simply do not have the experience of making independent decisions, it is not surprising that they make many mistakes as they grow up.
2. It is worth preparing for adolescence from childhood. A child must be taught to think, reason, and take responsibility for his actions: then there is a chance that even in adolescence he will not blindly copy other people’s behavior patterns, but will make decisions on his own.
3. If a teenager has all the necessary information about what is happening to his body, it will be easier for him to cope with the changes. However, you should be careful about publications for teenagers: many of them promote very dubious values.
4. There are no clear time boundaries for transitional age. Remember this and keep in mind that this can happen at 9 years old or at 13.
5. Teenagers need respect and want to be seen as adults. Parents should abandon their rigid authoritarian position and try to communicate with their children as equals, not ordering them, but advising them. At the same time, it is important to convey to the teenager that he is responsible for his own decisions. Of course, in a critical situation, parents will come to the rescue, but the future adult must learn to independently take responsibility for his actions and words.
6. Teenagers are very sensitive to ridicule: you should not laugh at what is dear to them, no matter how absurd the child’s hobby may seem to an adult. Little by little you need to loosen control over your grown child and learn to trust him. Of course, it is first necessary to warn the teenager by informing him of the possible consequences of his decisions. Every effort should be made to understand your children, and then there is a chance that the whole family will pass the test of adolescence with honor.
7. Talk, talk and talk to your child!

How does physiology change?

Teenagers aged 12-16 not only behave differently, but also look differently. What is happening in their body? The body begins to mature and change in the same way as consciousness. Some changes happen gradually, while others seem to appear out of nowhere, frightening teenagers.

During the transition period, puberty begins and ends. At this time, girls begin their periods and the menstrual cycle is established. Young men experience wet dreams and spontaneous erections occur. Of course, secondary sexual characteristics also appear.

In addition to changes associated with the reproductive system, other processes are also taking place. The voice changes, body hair appears. A new hormonal balance is established inside the body, and metabolism also changes. The physiological characteristics of adolescents are that a large number of different processes simultaneously take place in their bodies, which can negatively affect the functionality of internal organs. For example, heart rhythm may be disturbed, intestinal upset or renal dysfunction may occur periodically. However, the most common disorder is fat metabolism, which causes the hair to become greasy and the face to become covered with acne.

But if there is a hereditary tendency to serious diseases during adolescence, one should exercise increased caution and undergo regular medical examinations.

Boy growing up

Let's figure it out - when does adolescence begin in boys? Scientific research says that the “boyish” pre-pubertal period usually begins at 11. It ends at about 16.

Difficult age is caused by hormonal changes. The boy's voice changes, active muscle growth begins, genitals develop, small mustaches and fluff appear on his face, as well as hair on other parts of the body. The production of hormones in the body affects the behavior of a teenager: he becomes rude and uncontrollable. A strong sexual desire causes discomfort to a young man (even when he is in his early teens - which is 11 years old).

Growing up boys strive for maximum independence. She often becomes unpredictable and reckless. Hormone surges lead the young man to riots and hysterical behavior. Not only he, but also his household suffers from this. For boys, the difficult period is more difficult than for girls. This is confirmed by sad statistics: most often male children run away from home and become drug addicts or alcoholics.

In raising a boy, the father plays an invaluable role, who should be a model of masculine behavior. In order to form a future harmonious personality from his son, the father must establish contact with him on the basis of complete mutual understanding. If the family is incomplete, then this role is assigned to the grandfather or uncle.

What are the features of mental development during adolescence?

What age is a teenager in terms of mental development? What is its importance? Unfortunately, many parents do not realize that during adolescence, not only the male or female nature is formed, but also the human psyche.

Psychologists identify three key, main characteristics of the transition period:

• social development;
• activity;
• neoplasms.

Social development in this age period primarily refers to communication with peers. If in childhood a person’s priority was the opinion of his parents, grandparents, and teachers, then in adolescence the situation changes. The most important thing at this age is the opinion of peers and slightly older children. It is their approval that a teenager seeks.

What is meant by activity? Psychological processes occurring during everyday activities. For example, at school a teenager compares himself with others, and he forms an idea of ​​his own personality. When mastering a subject, a teenager no longer evaluates it at the level of interest, but from the point of view of whether he is ready to do it or not.

Neoplasms are all those mental processes that were not characteristic of a child, but appeared in the mind of a teenager. That is, they should include both interest in the opposite sex and an understanding of the value of things and money.

Boys and girls: end of post-puberty

When do teenagers become girls and boys? Adolescence ends at 16-17 years of age. Hormonal and emotional storms gradually subside, and a period of stabilization begins. Adolescence is a new stage with its own characteristics, difficulties and joys. Sudden mood swings, awkwardness in relationships with the opposite sex, conflicts with the older generation are left behind. Confidence and objectivity in assessing your capabilities comes, and the upcoming path of life emerges. New values ​​are a priority. High school students face an important step in life - choosing a profession, defining goals and guidelines for their future life.

Growing Up of a Young Man

Boys become adults by 21-25. By this time, they are fully formed physically, perceive themselves as mature and are emotionally ready for independent life. Until what age the maturation process continues depends on many conditions. Genetic predisposition, the surrounding society, personality and character traits play a role here. Some people, due to circumstances, have to grow up faster. They gain independence early, earn money on their own, live separately from their parents and create their own families. Others remain financially and emotionally dependent for a long time, continuing to live with their parents. There is nothing wrong with this - sooner or later, all boys grow up and become mature, self-sufficient men. Only in exceptional cases does this not happen, but this is already a pathology.

The maturity of men is determined by their attitude towards loved ones. The ability to care for, provide for, and protect others is what separates a mature man from an immature youth. The stereotypes that have developed in society oblige us to learn responsibility for our family.

High school students are puzzled by their choice of profession. Their well-being and moral satisfaction in the future depend on this. Not everyone manages to make the right choice in their teenage years. But this does not prevent purposeful, self-confident men from achieving success in adulthood.

Girl growing up

Adulthood ends at 20-23. Unlike teenage girls, girls realize and accept their role in society, feel harmonious, self-confident and self-sufficient. They already know how to control their feelings, they know what they want to achieve in life. For women, the role assigned to them in society as wife and mother remains important. However, modern young women go far beyond this. They strive to get a good education and succeed in the profession.

Teenage selfishness and harshness in judgment are not characteristic of adolescence. Growing up girls think about the future, become more responsible, and set realistic goals for themselves. An individual style of thinking and acting is formed.

During adolescence, children often experience dark thoughts, apathy, and self-doubt. In youth, on the contrary, talents, self-confidence, and bold dreams are born.

Teenage angst

Specific fears are also age-related characteristics. In older adolescence, children tend to be afraid of the following:

• don't be yourself;
• failures, failures, incidents;
• punishment and condemnation from peers;
• physical imperfection or deformity;
• loneliness;
• lack of prospects and opportunities for self-realization.

Each of these fears is inherent to all teenagers to one degree or another. The task of parents is not to dissuade the teenager, but not to fix his attention on a specific experience, not to turn youthful fear into a phobia.

It is quite paradoxical that at the stage of early adolescence, teenagers have almost no fear of independent life, but, on the contrary, strive for it in every possible way. However, as soon as the tendency towards adulthood changes to her feeling, this fear immediately arises.

Teenagers are no longer children, but they cannot be considered adults either. This statement is true both in relation to the psyche and in matters of physiology and social skills.