Adolescent Personal Development

Personal Developments

Children during adolescence are more capable of introspection (self- examination) because of cognitive developments described by Piaget.

Teenagers become capable of considering ethical questions and discerning whether a person is truthful or phony.

Teenagers are capable of rationalization.

Teenagers are able to think abstractly and thus are more idealistic. They are opened to endless possibilities as solutions to problems.

Teenagers see the problems of reality as the failures of the adult generation.

Adolescents believe that they can fix all of the world’s problems.

This part of teenage development is known as the “Messiah Complex”

In 1984 Dr. David Elkin identified six problems which result from adolescent immaturity being coupled with the ability t think abstractly:

Elkin’s Six Problems with teenagers

1. Finding Fault with authority figures.

2. Argumentiveness

3. Indecisiveness as a result of seeing too many choices.

4. Apparent hypocrisy- They cannot live up to their own ideals.

5. Self- Consciousness- Every teenager believes that everyone is thinking about them!

6. Invulnerability – All teenagers believe that they indestructable.