MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE (ages 15-18)

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MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE (ages 15-18)



Physical Growth

• Most youth have entered or completed puberty.
• Less variation in levels of growth and sexual development.
• Many youth have achieved their full adult height and other adult physical development milestones.

Cognitive Stage

• Major broadening of thinking abilities for many youth: can think abstractly and hypothetically; can discern the underlying principles of various phenomena and apply them to new situations; and can think about the future, considering many possibilities and logical outcomes of possible events.
• Greater perspective-taking ability can result in increased empathy and concern for others, and new interest in societal issues for many.
  

Moral Development

• Less egocentric with age. Increased emphasis on abstract values and moral principles.
• Increased ability (for some) to take another's perspective; can see the bigger societal picture and might value moral principles over laws: "principled" morality.
• Different rates of cognitive and emotional development. For example, often advocates for specific values and violates them at the same time.
  

Self-Concept

• Process of identity formation is intense. Experimentation with different roles: looks, sexuality, values, friendships, ethnicity, and especially occupations.
• Some girls might experience obsessive dieting or eating disorders, especially those who have higher body fat, are chronically depressed, or who have highly conflicted family relationships.
• Minority youths might explore several patterns of identity formation:
  a strong ethnic identity
  bi-cultural identity
  assimilation into the majority culture
  alienation from the majority culture

Psychological and Emotional Traits

• For some, increased ability to empathize with others; greater vulnerability to worrying, depression, and concern for others, especially among girls.
• Many show an increase in responsible behaviors.
  

Relationship to Parents and Other Adults

• Conflicts with parents often decreases with age.
• Improved ability to see parents as individuals and take their perspectives into account.
• Most maintain good relationship with parents.
• Greater interest in taking on "adult-type" responsibilities (own checking account, doing own laundry, buying own clothes, cooking meals, making repairs, etc.).
• Commonly makes most of own decisions, preparing for eventual family.
• Needs balance between time spent with adults and with peers.
• Continue to benefit from some parental limits and monitoring, while often objecting to them.
• Common conflicts over money, curfews, chores, appearance, and activities with peers.
  

Peer Relationships

• Peers help youth explore and develop own identity.
• Cross-gender friendships become more common.
• Antisocial peer groups can increase antisocial behaviors.
• Close friendships help youth with process of developing an individual identity separate from that of a child in a family.
  

Information from Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development, Oregon State University Extension Service.