Adolescence

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Adolescence
- the period of physical and psychological growth between childhood and adulthood.

Physical Changes Changes in Thinking Moral Development Personality Changes & Identity Formation
 * Physical Growth
 * Puberty is sexual maturation.
 * Rationalization - realizing why he/she recieved the given outcomes or consequences
 * Seeing a situation from another person's viewpoint.
 * Identity crisis - a time of storm and stress during which they worry intensly about who they are.

__Drugs and Peer Pressure__
 * Most teens try the use of drugs and this short period represents a time of testing the limits which are results of "at home" lifestyles.

[|How to Drug & Alcohol "Proof" Children]

//Unsolicited peer pressure is not the major variable contributing to adolescent drug abuse. Psychologically disturbed adolescents, wanting drugs, look for certain groups who support drug use.// "Lamarine"

=Normal Adolescent Behaviors=


 * Movement Towards Independence**
 * Struggle with sense of identity
 * Feeling awkward or strange about one's self and one's body
 * Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and poor self- concept
 * Interests and clothing style influenced by peer group
 * Moodiness
 * Improved ability to use speech to express one's self
 * Realization that parents are not perfect; identification of their faults
 * Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional rudeness
 * Complaints that parents interfere with independence
 * Tendency to return to childish behavior, particularly when stressed


 * Future Interests and Cognitive Changes**
 * Mostly interested in present, limited thoughts of future
 * Intellectual interests expand and gain in importance
 * Greater ability to do work (physical, mental, emotional)

"DMSEHS"
 * Morals, Values, and Self-Direction**
 * Rule and limit testing
 * Capacity for abstract thought
 * Development of ideals and selection of role models
 * More consistent evidence of conscience
 * Experimentation with sex and drugs (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana)

A graph showing students who skip with students who don't.

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