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As teenagers seek to establish a
sense of self they will experiment with different roles,
activities, and behaviors. This is important to the process of
forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction
in life.
Adolescence is a time when young
people become focused on their appearance and how they
perceive they are being viewed by others. Along with this is
the forming of sexual identity which becomes pronounced during
this time of great hormonal changes.
The radical changes that occur
during this phase of life transform a child into an adult. As
they make the transition from childhood to adulthood,
adolescents go through the hormonal changes of puberty,
cognitive changes, and reach adult height, which all
contribute to a drive for independence and individuality
necessary to forge a sense of self and place in the adult
world.
Adolescence is a time to explore
independence while developing an identity. A major
developmental task for teens is to develop a sense of self and
personal identity. Those who are encouraged and supported
through their personal exploration will emerge from this stage
with a strong sense of self, feeling independent and with a
sense of control.
Adolescents who have been
profoundly affected by exposure to trauma can experience
difficulties with the developmental tasks of this stage. |
