8 Factors Determining Pattern of Transition

Optimal development in adolescence depends on successful accomplishment of the developmental tasks in infancy and childhood. How easy it will be for the adolescent to make the transition into adulthood will depend partly upon the individual, partly on environmental aids or obstructions, and partly on their experiences.

  1. Speed of transition: The changes during adolescence take place at very fast pace. During no other period does the individual undergo such a sudden and drastic change in such a short time period and at no other age is he less prepared to cope with the problems that this change brings.

  2. Length of transition: Those who mature rapidly (in term of physical growth), find adjustment especially difficult. They are expected to behave like adults simply because they look like adults. On the other hand, a prolonged adolescence also brings problems. The adolescent gets into the habit of being dependent, and this, is difficult to overcome later.

  3. Discontinuities in training: Much of the stress and strain during adolescence is due to the discontinuities in training. For example, the assumption of responsibility during adolescence is difficult because the child has so far been trained to be dependent and submissive.

  4. Degree of dependency: How dependent the young adolescent will be is determined mainly by the kind of training he or she received during childhood. Parents often foster dependency because they feel that adolescents are not ready to assume responsibility for their own behaviours.

  5. Ambiguous status: In the societies like India, a child is expected to follow the footsteps of his or her parents. This gives him or her a pattern of behaviour to imitate. In open society, by contrast, it is assumed that every individual should be free to choose his or her own course of self-development.

  6. Conflicting demands: The adolescent is often confronted with conflicting demands from parents, teachers, peers and the community.

  7. Degree of realism: When the adolescent begins to look like an adult, he or she is permitted an added degree of freedom. If not ready, either physically or psychologically, to play the adult role, he or she feels dissatisfied.

  8. Motivation: The adolescent goes through a period of wondering how he or she will meet the new problems the life presents. He or she would like to grow up but being unsure of the ability to cope with the challenges of adulthood. So long as this feeling of insecurity exists, there will be little motivation to make the transition in adulthood.

As the barriers to growing up are lowered or removed by parents, teachers, and society, the adolescent can move smoothly in the direction of reaching the goal of adulthood, and motivation to make the transition is normally increased.