Introduction

Characteristics
Social

Problems Overview Problems Regarding Family Problems Regarding School Problems Regarding Peer Group Problems Regarding Association Education and social Maturity Conclusion

 Derived

from Latin adolescere:means to

grow. Transitional stage between childhood and adulthood. Involves pubertal, social, psychological changes. Growing toward maturity. It is in period between: For Girls : 8-18 years Boys: 7-19 years. Adolescences extends from puberty to complete sexual maturity.

Adolescence represents an inner emotional upheaval, a struggle between the eternal human wish to cling to the past and the equally powerful wish to get on with the future.

Accelerated

Growth & Development : Physical Reproductive organs Changes in the functioning of: Neuroendocrine system Frequent changes in mood. Emotional turbulence due to the increased production of hormones. Development of moral reasoning regardless of their culture and religious background

Even as kids reach adolescence, they need more than ever for us to watch over them. Adolescence is not about letting go. It's about hanging on during a very bumpy ride.

Most

problems of adolescence are due to failure in understanding the anatomical, morphological and psychological changes expected during adolescence. Psychologically, adolescence is such a vulnerable stage that boys / girls of this age are easily carried away by perceptions generated by :

Misleading and misguiding. Ignorance of elders. Half - informed or ill - informed friends, brothers, sisters. Wrongful messages depicted through TV serials, advertisements, films

Publications carrying partially or fully false information.

Even as kids reach adolescence, they need more than ever for us to watch over them. Adolescence is not about letting go. It's about hanging on during a very bumpy ride.

Social

contacts of the person expand from infancy to maturity. Moving outside the family Circle, contact expands with Peer group & free to chose. Produces a number of problems for the person. Arises of the adolescent's adjustments with :
1. 2. 3. 4.

Family;
School; Associates of one's own sex; Associates of the other sex.

 As

individual tending to develop interests for groups outside the family. The peer group offering them esteem and status which is either lacking in the family. This causes less responsive, more rebellious, less involved in the life of the family Parents complicate the problem by placing demands. As the adolescent becomes more independent he needs not so much care, direction, and attention of his parents but parents thinks of his well being

 The

adolescent may feel the need of parental love, proud of himself that he does not want to accept. Conflict going on, adolescent needs care and at same time needs self sufficiently strong and independent. Adolescent resolves this conflict stubbornly and rebelliously. The struggle is caused by his attempt to live in accordance with a double standard composed of the expectations of his parents and those of his associates.

All this Rooted because the two do not understand each other sympathetically. The adolescent wants more independence but he also wants his parents to tell him what to do. The mutual problems should be discussed by the parents and the adolescents frankly. Unfortunately, both try to clarify the issues through discussions heated arguments are advanced by each to defend its own point of view. If he wants to become successful outside the family he should have emotional support and acceptance within the family.

 Adolescent

tries to run away from home, It is the school where he can be away a particular length of time. Where he can mix with associates. If there is no arrangement for social development through social gatherings, School becomes unsatisfactory place for Adolescent. Consequently, he becomes a truant.

 School

should organize social activities in its premises. These activities, if wisely directed, tend to develop social maturity in the adolescents. Maximum participation in extra curricular activities like evening games and sports, plays and dramatics And student councils will inculcate better social interests, skills and attitudes.

Increased need for independence, So primary social support shifts away from families toward peers. Youth is especially sensitive to peer pressure (meaning, to conform to the standards of the peer group). Adolescent Creates more meaningful and productive relationships with other people outside their circle of family and friends; like teachers, coaches etc. Romantic relationships begin to flourish during this developmental phase. May be flirtatious nature at early stage become more stable, mature, and emotionally intimate with time.

 Problems

raised when the adolescent tries to mix with the associates of his own sex. Children of different socioeconomic status work and play with each other. But the social distance increases in the adolescence period. Class difference existed. Many who are not popular, who do not belong, and occasional become isolates. Isolates are boys and girls who regard others their best friends but are disregarded by them become quarrelsome or unduly sensitive

 Interest

in the other sex is developed as a result of certain physical developments. Boy/girl try to learn about sex from each other; often, they do help each other but such help is fraught with difficulties. when the youngsters try to discover the other sex. At first the boys and girls do not know what to make of each other and how to get along together. Hence, must need for sex education at this stage when Adolescent discovers other sex.

 Adolescent

now sees girl in a new way. If he does not achieve a satisfactory adjustment to the other sex, he may have difficulties. If he becomes too interested in the other sex and goes too far he may cause scandal. Withdrawal from association with girls he will become mentally unhealthy. For the introverted youngster who does not have healthy normal associations with the other sex. Marriage becomes impossible or likely to be unhappy.

 As

sex maturity among boys and girls occurs at different ages, in a complicated and rapidly changing social situation the adolescents find it difficult to make social adjustment with the other sex. Adolescent girls try to attract adolescent boys. They are more active because of their earlier sex maturity. Many girls, who find the boys of their own age sexually not so mature and responsive, try to seek attention from older boys.

 The

teacher who has to guide the adolescent facing social problems will have to understand the social liabilities and assets. He has to find out the relationships between the adolescent on the one hand and his parents, the peer group, and the school on the other. The teacher has to make a close study of the quiet, commonplace youngster who is rejected by his group or the other sex.

 Early

or late maturing, higher or lower socioeconomic status of the family may be influencing his or her social maturity. Developing them socially he may do the following: (a) Know the settings and backgrounds of the adolescents. (b) Make an appraisal for their social status. (c) Plan a broad social program to meet the needs of all. (d) Teach them an informal applied Social Psychology directly or indirectly.

 The

teacher has to investigate the causes of social maladjustment But most of the social problems arise out of the school, in the family, in the group, in the relations with the other sex. To solve these problems an active cooperation of the parents and the society has to be sought so that desirable social adjustment may be fostered. It is said that adolescents are inept and outof-place socially.

 There

is little doubt about it. Some adolescents do lack in social skills considered desirable by adults. This social out of placeness is, however, due to their lack of experience and selfconsciousness. Adult judgment should be allowed to measure their aptness or ineptness in social skills. The adolescents should be provided with experience in social skills. When the youth is given a chance to express himself in the class, he expresses himself in the public.

 Despite

all efforts being made large numbers of adolescents face one or many problems. When the problem is aggravated, the parents may take them to doctors. But most of them face minor problems modifying their behavioral patterns, personality as a whole. By the time an individual enters adulthood, they usually have established a stable and resilient sense of their own personal identity. By timely and effective guidance - many of their problems could be solved.