Concept of Adolescence

Human life completes its journey through various stages and one of the most vital stages is adolescence. Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood and plays a decisive role in the formation of pro-social or anti-social adult.

All of us undergo this stage which poses many challenges and is full of excitement. At the same time it demands adjustment on many fronts. When we come to this world we are completely dependent upon others and learn gradually to be independent.

In India, the adolescents do most of the work themselves but the final decision regarding various domains of life is taken by their parents. For example, an adolescent wishes to enjoy movies but parents may force him or her to complete study first. Parents claim that they have more practical knowledge and experience and tend to treat adolescents like children.

Adolescence is a period of transition when the individual changes - physically and psychologically - from a child to an adult. It is a period when rapid physiological and psychological changes demand for new social roles to take place. The adolescents, due to these changes often face a number of crises and dilemmas. It is the period when the child moves from dependency to autonomy. It demands significant adjustment to the physical and social changes.

The adolescence period in the Indian social system comes under Brahmacharya (apprenticeship). This is the first ashram (stage of life) of development stages. In this stage, the child learns the basic skills in relation to his future role as a responsible adult.

All living beings pass through specific stages or phases of development. Erikson believed that each stage of life is marked by a specific crisis or conflict between competing tendencies. Only if individuals negotiate each of these hurdles successfully they can develop in a normal and healthy manner. During this phase adolescents must integrate various roles into a consistent self-identity. If they fail to do so, they may experience confusion over who they are.

Transition Period

Adolescence represents one of the greatest of these periods of crisis. It is the stage of stress, strain and storm. It brings many ambiguities in life. During this phase one really does not know where he or she stands. It is believed that this uncertainty about one’s role causes many conflicts.

It is a well-known fact that delinquency rates soar during the period of adolescence, that suicides become increasingly prevalent, that drug and alcohol addiction may have their beginning, and that much general happiness exists. Adolescence is also a period when satisfactory heterosexual adjustments are facilitated or hindered, when career is planned and philosophies of life are molded.