Adolescence

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What is adolescence ?

Adolescence is a period between the onset of puberty and adulthood. It occurs between the age of 11 to 13 years of agr with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics and over the teenage years terminating at 18 to 20 years of age which begins the period of adulthood. During this period an individual undergoes extensive physical, psychological, emotional and personality changes.

Changes during adolescence

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Different changes occur during adolescence

Physical changes

Growth spurt- in a span of 7 to 9 years boys and girls grow and become young men and women for a brief period they undergo many changes known as growth spurt.
Changes in body proportions - the rapid increase in height and weight can be seen in the body proportions.
Changes in facial features - there is a slight change in facial features jaw become larger with nose boys grow beard.

Psychological and cognitive changes

The main features of adolescent thought is systematic thinking. The adolescent develop the capacity to organise their thoughts reflect on them and then come to a decision that they implement. Adolescent are also capable of abstract thinking. This is ability to image which doesn't happen. They are hypothetical or imaginary. One can understand statements like ' all the glitter is not gold' or 'life is not a bed of roses'.

Social and Emotional Changes

The increase activity of hormones during adolescence produces many changes in the emotions of adolescents.they experience frequent changes in their mood, ranging from a feeling of extreme happiness to a feeling of sadness. With the changes in hormones, the sex drive emerges in both boys and girls. The sex drive is an impulse related to sexual need. It is biological instict. The outcome of sex drive of adolescent is:

1. attraction towards opposite sex.
2. feelings for certain person.
3. need for sexual satisfaction.
4. need for intense emotional support.

Why do these changes occur?

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The changes occur in our body from childhood to adulthood is controlled by the central nervous system. It regulates growth through its influence on the gland of endocrine system namely thyroid gland.

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