Middle adolescence: characteristics and changes that take place in it

This is a vital phase in which we begin to form much of the identity that defines us.

Middle adolescence is one of the sub-stages that human beings go through after childhood and before adulthood. human beings go through after childhood and before adulthood. It is a stage that is crucial for the development of complex psychological processes such as identity, and is itself a period in which significant Biological and social changes occur.

We will now see what the phases of adolescence are and how middle adolescence is characterized.

What is adolescence?

Adolescence is one of the stages of the human life cycle. It is characterized by important psychological, biological and social changes.It is considered the stage that follows childhood and precedes adulthood, making it one of the broadest and most crucial moments for any person.

The psychologist and International Consultant in Programs and Policies on Adolescence and Youth, Dina Krauskopof (1999) tells us that adolescence is the period between 10 and 20 years of age. More than a transition process, it is a stage that marks different differential aspects in human development, manifesting itself as important transformations at the psychosocial level and in sexual development.

Likewise, one of the processes that takes place in this period is individuation, as it contributes to personal definition.It contributes to personal and social definition, as well as to exploration, differentiation from the family environment, the search for belonging and the construction of a sense of life.

We will now follow the analyses made by the same researcher to describe the main characteristics of middle adolescence, as well as the differences with the other sub-stages of this period.

Phases of this stage of development.

In an attempt to facilitate its understanding, adolescence has been divided into different sub-stages, among which are early adolescence, which is also the pubertal phase or puberty; middle adolescence and finally, late adolescence or the final phase of the adolescent period. Each corresponds to the following ages:

• Early adolescence, from 10 to 13 years of age.
• Middle adolescence, from 14 to 16 years of age.
• Final phase, from 17 to 19 years of age.

The first of these stages is characterized by a bodily differentiation with caregivers and peers, thus requiring a readjustment of the body schema and an important concern about it.

In contrast, the second stage involves a social differentiation from the family group and peers, which requires a reaffirmation of the body schema and a major concern about it.which requires an important reaffirmation. Such reaffirmation occurs at the individual level but in close connection with external recognition.

Finally, the third stage is based on the development of projects, exploration of social alternatives, and the search for affinity groups.

Middle adolescence: general characteristics

As we mentioned before, middle adolescence is characterized by a concern for reconciling both personal and external recognition. While in the first stage recognition is based on physical or bodily exploration, in the second stage there is a special psychological concern, which manifests itself in the search for affective bonds and in the acceptance of the peer group.

Due to the above, the main reference group and even psychological security, ceases to be the family nucleus and begins to focus on the bonds of friendship. begins to focus on friendly or affective bonds with their peers..

This is a process that is fundamental for the development of autonomy, individual responsibility and identity, as well as for the development of complex cognitive processes such as symbolization, generalization and abstraction, which allow for the establishment of broader visions of the world.

It also forms the basis of much of the concerns during this stage, in fact, sentimental relationships usually begin to consolidate during this stage.around shared experiences and interests.

Finally, intergenerational relations are a key element, as they allow the identification process to be strengthened by establishing complementary or antagonistic differences between members of different groups. establishing complementary or antagonistic differences between themselves and the members of different groups..

Some psychosocial elements

We summarize below some of the specific elements surrounding middle adolescence, especially on a psychosocial scale. According to Krauskopof (1999), middle adolescence is mainly characterized by a concern for personal-social affirmation, which includes some elements that we will see below:

• Differentiation of the family group.
• Parental grief due to the loss of a desired child.
• Desire to assert sexual and social attractiveness..
• Emergence of sexual impulses.
• Exploration of personal abilities.
• Concern for social and new activities.
• Questioning of previous positions.

Characteristics of neuronal, cognitive and psychological maturation.

As we have said, adolescence is characterized by the manifestation of changes at the biological as well as psychological and social levels. According to the World Health Organization (2010), some changes that take place during middle adolescence, especially related to neurological, cognitive and psychological development are the following:

• Growth of the prefrontal cortexGrowth of the prefrontal cortex, which is related to the influence on social problems and the development of problem-solving skills.
• Cognitive skills such as the development of abstract thinking (although there is concrete thinking under stressful situations); and a better understanding of the consequences of actions, along with a special concern for self.
• Body image development.
• Development of impractical or implausible projects.
• Significant sense of empowerment.

Social factors associated with this phase of life.

In addition to all of the above, although adolescence can be considered a period through which all people go through, its specific development and its specific characteristics may vary, its specific development and characteristics may vary according to the cultural according to the cultural elements that surround it.

Thus, there are historical and social factors that may have an impact on the way adolescence is experienced by some people, and in very different ways by others.

Such elements may be, for example, the social changes brought about by globalization, where there is a demand for cultural exchange while socioeconomic polarities are accentuated.

Another element is the modernization and rapid technological development that is affecting social relations and adolescents' own construction of their identityThis is compounded by the increase in life expectancy and, therefore, a possible prolongation of this stage of development.

Finally, due to the gap in knowledge and practices between generations, the aspirations of adolescence tend to be different from family expectations and even from those of the educational system, which in turn generates new needs for the communication of bonds.

Bibliographical references:

• Stages of Adolescent Development (2010). World Health Organization. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Available at http://apps.who.int/adolescent/second-decade/section/section_2/level2_2.php
• Krauskopof, D. (1999). Psychological development in adolescence: transformations in an era of change. Adolescence and Health, 1(2): Online Version. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Available at http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1409-41851999000200004