Psychological & Behavioral Psychological & Behavioral Changes of Adolescence Changes of Adolescence

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Fatima Al-HaidarFatima Al-HaidarProfessor & ConsultantProfessor & Consultant

Child and Adolescent PsychiatristChild and Adolescent PsychiatristCollege of Medicine-KSUCollege of Medicine-KSU

Adolescence is a period of global & pervasive Adolescence is a period of global & pervasive changes and not a matter of developmental changes and not a matter of developmental crisis.crisis.

Most of adolescents pass through it Most of adolescents pass through it smoothly.smoothly.

Averagely, it expands between 12 & 20 yr of Averagely, it expands between 12 & 20 yr of age.age.

Physical DevelopmentPhysical Development------------------------------------------------

- Puberty- Puberty

- Primary sexual characters- Primary sexual characters

- Secondary sexual characters- Secondary sexual characters

- Increased hormonal release- Increased hormonal release

- Fast & disproportional growth- Fast & disproportional growth

- Health status.- Health status.

Physical Development Physical Development contcont..

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Psychological consequences of Psychological consequences of physical physical changes:changes:

→ → embarrassmentembarrassment

→ → sensitivity to criticism sensitivity to criticism

→ → social isolationsocial isolation

→ → sadnesssadness

→ → irritability . . . . . . irritability . . . . . .

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development--------------------------------------------------------

- - IQ & special talentsIQ & special talents - Attention span &concentration- Attention span &concentration - Perception & deep meanings- Perception & deep meanings - Memorizing- Memorizing - Day-dreams- Day-dreams - Thinking- Thinking - Idealism- Idealism - Independence.- Independence.

Social DevelopmentSocial Development------------------------------------------------

- Social relationship during - Social relationship during adolescenceadolescence

- Relationship with parents- Relationship with parents

- Relationship with peers- Relationship with peers

Emotional DevelopmentEmotional Development----------------------------------------------------------

- - Extreme & inconsistentExtreme & inconsistent

- Impulsivity & recklessness- Impulsivity & recklessness

- Anger & easily provocation- Anger & easily provocation

- Looking for self-assertion / identity- Looking for self-assertion / identity

- Authority resistance - Authority resistance

- Critical comments- Critical comments

- Love & romance.- Love & romance.