When was adolescence defined

NeuroImage 88 , — Rubia, K. Sawyer, S. Lancet Child Adolesc. Health 2, — Article Google Scholar. Download references.

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Article Google Scholar Download references. KU Leuven Leuven, Belgium. Early adolescents have concrete, black-and-white thinking. Things are either right or wrong, great or terrible, without much room in between. It is normal at this stage for young people to center their thinking on themselves called "egocentrism". As part of this, preteens and early teens are often self-conscious about their appearance and feel as though they are always being judged by their peers.

Pre-teens feel an increased need for privacy. They may start to explore ways of being independent from their family. In this process, they may push boundaries and may react strongly if parents or guardians reinforce limits.

Physical changes from puberty continue during middle adolescence. Most males will have started their growth spurt, and puberty-related changes continue.

They may have some voice cracking, for example, as their voices lower. Some develop acne. Physical changes may be nearly complete for females, and most girls now have regular periods. At this age, many teens become interested in romantic and sexual relationships. Another typical way of exploring sex and sexuality for teens of all genders is self-stimulation, also called masturbation.

Many middle adolescents have more arguments with their parents as they struggle for more independence. They may spend less time with family and more time with friends. They are very concerned about their appearance , and peer pressure may peak at this age.

The brain continues to change and mature in this stage, but there are still many differences in how a normal middle adolescent thinks compared to an adult. The frontal lobes play a big role in coordinating complex decision making, impulse control, and being able to consider multiple options and consequences.

Middle adolescents are more able to think abstractly and consider "the big picture," but they still may lack the ability to apply it in the moment. For example, in certain situations, kids in middle adolescence may find themselves thinking things like:.

Do I really have to wear a condom during sex if my girlfriend takes the pill? While they may be able to walk through the logic of avoiding risks outside of these situations, strong emotions often continue to drive their decisions when impulses come into play.

Late adolescents generally have completed physical development and grown to their full adult height. They usually have more impulse control by now and may be better able to gauge risks and rewards accurately. In comparison to middle adolescents, youth in late adolescence might find themselves thinking:. In recent years, research has suggested that adolescence is wider than the teenage years. Girls and boys may start puberty at an earlier age, eight and maybe younger in some cases. Recent research also suggests that adolescence is going on for longer than the teenage years, even into the early twenties.

Sooner or later after puberty, a person will be expected to take on adult responsibilities. Adolescence is a universally recognised phase often marked by instruction and ceremony throughout the world. Definition of adolescence. Synonyms for adolescence Synonyms minority , nonage Visit the Thesaurus for More. Examples of adolescence in a Sentence Their children are on the verge of adolescence. He struggled through his adolescence.

Recent Examples on the Web What appeals to you about that time in adolescence? First Known Use of adolescence 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2. Buying Guide Our team at The Usage has selected the best phones for kids of Learn More About adolescence. Time Traveler for adolescence The first known use of adolescence was in the 15th century See more words from the same century.