A presentation I created sometime between 2000-2005 for training U.S. Army garrison staff on principles of youth development.

1. Developmental Stages
of
Adolescence
Bradd Anderson
Youth Development Coordinator, 4-H/Army Youth Development Project
University of Missouri State 4-H Youth Development Specialist
andersonb@missouri.edu

2. Questions
• What was adolescence like for you?
• What are the top dangers facing teens?
• What is the public perception of teens?

3. Perceptions vs. Reality
Most public information is based on outdated research
RESEARCH CONDUCTED DIFFERENCES FOUND IN
PRIOR TO THE 1970’s MODERN RESEARCH
- Conflict with parents seen - About 75% teens report
as normal. positive family
- Rebellion considered relationships.
healthy & desirable. - Other ¼ had family
- The literature focused on problems before
parent survival. adolescence.
- “Storm and Stress” - Correlation between
paradigm emerged. adolescent mental health
and close family
relationships.
- Challenged “Storm &
Stress” perspective.

4. Perceptions vs. Reality
The academic view of teens is
not the view being sold to the public.
Cuddly Infant Vs. Hateful,
Spiteful
Teen

5. Realities of Adolescence
When we look at adolescence,
we look at four different areas:
PHYSICAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL COGNITIVE

6. Physical Development
• What physical changes take place as
children become teenagers?
• What are physical changes that you can
see?
• What physical changes can you not see?

7. Physical Development
in Young Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Experience rapid changes in Be willing to talk about physical
physical appearance, with growth changes because new teens are
spurt happening earlier for girls often uncomfortable with and
than boys. embarrassed by their changing
bodies.
Have intense sexual feelings and Provide honest information to the
a keen interest in their own sexual questions they have.
bodies. Prepare opportunities to help
youth discuss body development
as a natural, normal process.
Listen to their fears without
judging or trivializing.
Interested in sports and active Encourage active, fun learning
games. experiences.
Source: Missouri 4-H (http://4h.missouri.edu)

8. Physical Development in Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Most have overcome the Avoid comments that criticize or
awkwardness of puberty, but compare stature, size, or shape.
some boys are still growing at a
fast pace. Many are concerned
with body image.

9. Social Development
• What are some of the social
characteristics that you observe in the
teens you work with?
• What changes as children become teens?

10. Social Development
in Young Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Concerned about social graces, Encourage learning experiences
grooming, and being liked by related to self-discovery, self-
peers. understanding, and getting along
with others. Be patient with
grooming behaviors that may
seem excessive.
Moving away from dependency Parents may need help in
on parents to dependency on understanding that this shift is a
opinions of peers. sign of growing maturity, not
rejection of family.
Becoming interested in activities Provide opportunities for boys
that involve boys and girls. and girls to mix without feeling
uncomfortable — seems to work
best if youth plan activities
themselves

11. Social Development in Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Strong desire for status in their Establish a climate that is conducive
peer group. to peer support.
Interested in coeducational Allow teens to plan coeducational
activities. Dating increases. and group oriented projects or
activities.
Often want adult leadership roles. Provide opportunities for teens to
plan their own programs.
Want to belong to a group, but also Place emphasis on personal
want to be recognized as unique development whenever possible.
individuals.

12. Research Notes: Social Development
• Different family members have different views of
parent-adolescent conflict.
• Adolescence has a minimal impact on the teen,
but a potentially negative impact on the parent.
• After a conflict, the teen moves on. The parent
is more likely to hold on to negative feelings.
• Who walks away upset and stays upset?
– THE PARENT!!!
• Generally few storms, but some stress.
• “Arguing with a teenager is like being bitten to death by
ducks!” -- Parent quote.

13. Emotional Development
• What emotional characteristics do you see
in teenagers?
• Are there any physical or social factors
that affect the emotions of teens?

14. Emotional Development
in Young Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Can be painfully self-conscious Plan many varied opportunities to
and critical. Vulnerable to bouts achieve and have their
of low self-esteem. competence recognized by
others. Concentrate on
developing individual skills.
Changes in hormones and Remember that early adolescents
thinking contribute to mood are known for their drama and
swings. feelings that seem extreme to
adults. Accept their feelings and
be careful not to embarrass or
criticize.
Desire independence, yet need Encourage youth to work with
their parents' help. adults and older teens.

15. Emotional Development in Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Feelings of inferiority and Encourage youth by helping them
inadequacy are common. to see their positive self-worth.
Gaining independence and Give teens responsibility and
developing firm individual expect them to follow through.
identity. Provide opportunities that help
teens explore their identity,
values, and beliefs.

16. Research Notes:
Emotional Development
• Most adolescents make the transition without serious
difficulty.
• 40% of parents report an increase in stress during early
adolescent transition.
• Stressors are cumulative in impact.
• “Crossing Paths”– When adolescence and midlife crisis
happen at the same time in a family.
• Bickering is usually about autonomy-related concerns.
• Increased social support ~ decreases in the harmful
impact of stressors.

17. Cycle of Behavior
Parent Parenting
Stress Behavior
Teen
Behavior

18. Cognitive Development
• What kinds of intellectual changes do you
see as children become adolescents?
• How does their thinking change?
• How do their mental abilities change?

19. Cognitive Development
in Young Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Tend to reject solutions from Involve young teens in setting
adults in favor of their own. rules and planning activities for
your group or program.
Beginning to think more Ask questions that encourage
abstractly and hypothetically. Can predicting and problem solving.
think about their own thinking Help youth to find solutions on
and are becoming skilled in the their own by providing
use of logic and cause-and-effect. supervision without interference.
Can take responsibility for Allow young teens to plan
planning and evaluation of their activities and expect follow
own work. through. Help them to evaluate
the outcome.

20. Cognitive Development in Teens
Characteristics Implications for Volunteers
Reach high levels of abstract Put youth into real life problem-
thinking and problem solving. solving situations. Allow them
to fully discover ideas, make
decisions, and evaluate
outcomes.
Developing community Encourage civic projects that are
consciousness and concern a service to others.
for the well-being of others.
Increasing self-knowledge; Allow time and plan activities for
personal philosophy begins to youth to explore and express
emerge. their own philosophies.
Need life planning guidance as College visits, field trips to
they are beginning to think businesses, and
about leaving home for conversations with college
college, employment, etc. students or working adults
can be helpful activities.

21. Research Notes:
Cognitive Development
• McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass
• Groups of children ages 10-18 and adults are shown a
picture and asked to identify the emotion.
• 100% adults answer correctly (“fear”).
• Almost all teens are wrong (say “aggression”).
• Most teens who do answer correctly are female.
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is done
to track which parts of the brain were active as the
decision was being made.
• Teens used the amygdala, while adults used the frontal
cortex of their brains in making the decision.

22. Research Notes:
Cognitive Development
Frontal Cortex
- Analysis
- Decision-making
- Judgment
- Planning
Amygdala
- Gut reactions
- Instincts
- More primitive part of
the brain.
REF: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/work/onereason.html

23. Research Notes:
Cognitive Development
• Implications
– Teen brains are still maturing.
– Communications pathways between lower and
higher brain functions aren’t fully developed yet.
– Teens more likely to react on instinct than process information.
– Judgment and analytical skills are still developing: Teens are not
“miniature adults.”
– Teens cannot be expected to make adult decisions.
– Teens may often not react the way we expect.

24. Adolescent
Development
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL
COGNITIVE

25. “But Why?”
Using your knowledge of developmental stages to
answer the questions of caring adults
(and refute the public perceptions of teens!).

26. “But Why?”
• “Sometimes my teen is a real know-it-all.”
• Teens are developing new abilities to
analyze, deduce, reason, and think
abstractly. It’s normal for them to reject
adult solutions in favor of their own. Involve
them in making plans, when possible. Allow
them to make decisions and help them to
evaluate the outcomes.

27. “But Why?”
• “My teenager is an emotional basket
case! She spends a lot of time being
moody and paranoid.”
• Teens can be painfully self-conscious
and critical. Self-esteem can be an
issue and it’s common to feel
inadequate or inferior. Be encouraging
and patient. Help them see their worth!

28. “But Why?”
• “My teen argues with me all the time,
and I think it’s disrespectful. What can I do?”
• Along with intellectual abilities, social skills are
developing also. Allow them to find their own
solutions, which may not be the same as
yours. Then help them find ways to express
themselves in ways that will not be perceived
as disrespectful or abrasive.

29. “But Why?”
• “My teen is so hung up on clothes,
jewelry and how they look. What gives??”
• Teens are emotionally vulnerable and have a
real need for acceptance from their peers, and
belonging to a group. Be patient, encourage
experiences related to self-discovery and self-
understanding. Set appropriate boundaries for
clothing, etc.

30. “But Why?”
• “My kid makes a lot of really dumb
decisions, if you ask me. Sometimes it seems like
we can hear the same thing but they interpret it in a
totally wrong way.”
• Listen to them and ask questions that encourage
predicting and problem-solving. Help them find their
own solutions, and be patient. Teen brains are
“under construction,” and still building the
connections that allow them to analyze and reason
like adults. Keep the communication lines open!

31. “But Why?”
• “My kid questions everything I say!”
• Socially, teens move and become much
more dependent on the opinions of their
friends than their family. They are also
developing intellectual abilities they’ve
never had before, and are still learning how
to use. Use two-way communication,
respect their ideas and demand respect for
your own. Ask questions that encourage
predicting and problem-solving.

32. “But Why?”
• “Okay, my kid is suddenly a walking
hormone…what’s going on here?”
• The surge of hormones is giving them
intense feelings they’ve never dealt with
before. Emotional vulnerability and the need
for (peer) acceptance also affect the high
interest in dating and forming close
relationships. Give honest answers to their
sexual questions. Hear their fears, and don’t
judge or downplay them. Communicate!

33. “But Why?”
• “We used to be best friends, but now my
daughter just wants to spend all of her time
with her friends.”
• This is normal, as teenagers are more
dependent on friends as their primary social
unit. Keep talking and listening to your child.
Understand that this is a sign of growing
maturity, not of family rejection. Adolescence
can be harder on the parents than the teens!

34. “But Why?”
• “My freaky teenager is outgrowing his
clothes every month!! Am I feeding him
the wrong thing?”
• Teens bodies change and grow rapidly,
and the growth spurt starts even sooner
for girls. This can be embarrassing to a
teenager, so be sensitive about it. Also
be willing to talk with them about the
many physical changes taking place.

35. “But Why?”
• “My 14-year old is always so defensive! No
matter what I say, they think I’m accusing
them of something.”
• Dealing with all these new feelings and
changes to their bodies is difficult for many
teens. When they just want to “fit in” this can
cause major stress and result in mood swings.
Also remember that teens do not always
interpret what they hear in the same way an
adult does. Be sensitive, patient, and help
them understand what you truly mean.

36. Adolescent Development
SUCCESSES
VULNERABILITY CHANCE
GROWTH
POTENTIAL
DANGER FAMILY
MISTAKES
CHALLENGE
WHO AM I ?
MILESTONES DATING IS THIS NORMAL?
COMMUNICATION
FRIENDS OPPORTUNITY