according to erikson the goal of adolescence is to

Particularly in Western societies, where the need to forge a new independence is critical (Baumeister & Tice, 1986 Twenge, 2006), this period can be stressful for many children, as it involves new emotions, the need to develop new social relationships, and an increasing sense of responsibility and independence.Īlthough adolescence can be a time of stress for many teenagers, most of them weather the trials and tribulations successfully. At the same time, as adolescents develop more advanced patterns of reasoning and a stronger sense of self, they seek to forge their own identities, developing important attachments with people other than their parents. The body grows rapidly in size and the sexual and reproductive organs become fully functional.

In fact, it is appropriate now to consider the period of adolescence and that of emerging adulthood ( the ages between 18 and the middle or late 20s) together.ĭuring adolescence, the child continues to grow physically, cognitively, and emotionally, changing from a child into an adult. Thus the period between puberty and adulthood may well last into the late 20s, merging into adulthood itself. For instance, children may go away to college but still receive financial support from parents, and they may come home on weekends or even to live for extended time periods. Today, children mature more slowly, move away from home at later ages, and maintain ties with their parents longer. In the past, when people were likely to marry in their early 20s or younger, this period might have lasted only 10 years or less-starting roughly between ages 12 and 13 and ending by age 20, at which time the child got a job or went to work on the family farm, married, and started his or her own family. Explain how adolescents develop a sense of morality and of self-identity.Īdolescence is defined as the years between the onset of puberty and the beginning of adulthood.Summarize the physical and cognitive changes that occur for boys and girls during adolescence.

According to erikson the goal of adolescence is to