PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES IN

Lemuel Jan D. Rosano, LPT MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

ADOLESCENCE
It is the period between childhood and adulthood characterized by psychological, cognitive,
behavioral, social, and spiritual development or maturity. This normally but not necessarily coincides
with the period of puberty wherein the physical changes in one’s body, more specifically the changes
and development of sex characteristics, become evident and more pronounced.

Brackets of Adolescence
1. Early Adolescence – 10 to 13 years old
2. Middle Adolescence – 14 to 16 years old
3. Late Adolescence – 17 to 20 years old

Adolescence does not necessarily start once an individual is on the normal age of onset.
The onset may be later or early and the factors of genetics, environment, and economic condition
as well as other minor factors may affect the start of the adolescent period for an individual.

EIGHT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

According to Erik Erikson an individual’s life and development may be divided into eight
stages each with different conflicts or crisis that must be resolved. Failure to resolve the conflict
will subsequently affect the future stages.

FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE
STAGE AGE CONFLICT INFLUENCE
RESULTS RESULTS
being able to trust others
when primary caregiver
birth to 18 Trust vs. Mistrusting others or
Infancy (parents/mother) was Parents
mos. Mistrust withdrawal
able to provide love,
care, and attention
develop self-control
Autonomy compulsive self-
Early 18 mos. to physical skills with
vs. Shame restraint or Parents
Childhood 3 years independence while not
and Doubt compliance
losing self-esteem
when using too much
power and control,
learns that being might experience
Late purposeful and assertive disapproval resulting
3 years to 5 Initiative vs. Parents and
Childhood can affect the in lack of self-
years Guilt Teachers
(Pre-school) environment; develops confidence and
sense of purpose feelings of guilt; fear
of being wrongly
judged
develops sense of
loss of hope;
competence and
withdrawal from peers
6 to 12 Industry vs. perseverance; learns Parents and
School Age and school; sense of
years Inferiority how to cope with the Teachers
mediocrity and
demands of school and
feelings of inferiority
environment
 develops a sense of self
weak sense of self;
Identity vs. and identity; plans to Teachers and
12 to 20 feelings of confusion,
Adolescence Role actualize one's abilities; Significant
years indecisiveness, and
Confusion develops the ability to Others
anti-social behavior
stay true to oneself
impersonal, weak
develops a strong need
relationships;
for love, commitment,
avoidance of
and affection; need for
Young 20 to Intimacy vs. relationships, career,
intimate loving Friends
Adulthood 25years Isolation or lifestyle
relationships;
commitments;
commitment; develops
isolation and
strong relationships
loneliness
creates and nurtures shallow involvement
things that would outlast in the world;
Generativity
25 to 60 them; creativity, legacy, pessimism; self-
Adulthood vs. Community
years feeling of usefulness, indulgence; lack of
Stagnation
accomplishment, and interests and
concern for others commitments
sense of fulfilment and sense of loss and
accomplishment; contempt for others;
Integrity vs.
Maturity 60 to death wisdom; acceptance of may result in Community
Despair
uniqueness and worth; bitterness, regret and
acceptance of death despair

DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS
According to the American culture there are ten (10) developmental tasks expected of
adolescents:
1. Adjust to sexually maturing bodies and feelings
0 Being aware of the bodily changes, managing sexual feelings, engaging in
healthy sexual behaviors; establishing sexual identity and developing skills for
romantic sexual relationships

2. Develop and apply abstract thinking skills

0 Effectively understand and coordinate abstract ideas, thinking out
possibilities, trying out theories, planning ahead, reflecting on how and what
they are thinking, and coming out with own philosophies

3. Develop and apply new perspective on human relationships

0 Developing compassion and empathy, as well as being able to look at matters
from a different perspective

4. Develop and apply new coping skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, and
conflict resolution
0 Develop new thinking capabilities and capacity which allow for more creative
solutions and applications of knowledge as well as handling conflicts; ability
to see the consequences of their actions and think of the future
 5. Identify meaningful moral standards, values, and belief systems
0 Due to an adolescent’s idealism, they start to develop their own principles,
values and virtues as well as belief system that directs their actions

6. Understand and express more complex emotional experiences

0 Being able to identify and understand the emotions arising from certain
situations happening around them or they are involved in; as adolescents
become more aware of and affected by the emotions and feelings they are
experiencing, they should be able to interpret and express them and discern
the necessary actions; being able to detach themselves from
emotions/emotional situations if ever the need arises

7. Form friendships that are mutually close and supportive

0 Adolescents should be able to form positive and healthy relationships as their
perspective on human relations widen; as peer influence is very influential in
this age, it should drive adolescents toward productive relationships

8. Establish key aspects of identity

0 Develop their own healthy self-concept that reflect the uniqueness of the
individual in contrast with others, family, and the bigger community

9. Meeting the demands of increasingly mature roles and responsibilities

0 It is important the an emerging adult be able to acquire the skills and
knowledge as well as other competencies to be able to handle the increasingly
difficult roles and responsibilities expected to be given to the adolescent

10. Renegotiate relationships with adults in parenting roles

0 Since the age of adolescence is the time wherein the individual moves from
dependency to independence, individuals should be able to communicate their
changing needs and preferences to their parents or guardians so as not to cause
conflict; this is not pronounced in the Philippines

According to the Filipino context, there are 14 developmental tasks for the Filipino
adolescent.

1. Developing occupational skills

0 Skills that can help the adolescent develop responsibility for future tasks, jobs,
and responsibilities

2. Self-reliance
0 The ability to be able to determine one’s skills, capabilities, and competencies;
this leads to being able to rely on oneself for certain tasks rather than rely on
others indiscriminately

Disclaimer: This handout is provided as a softcopy and learners are not required to print their own copies. This is not intended for monetary
collecting and in no way will it be used for such activities. This handout is provided for free.
3. Ability to manage their own finances
0 Be able to determine their “needs” and “wants” and be able to prioritize
whatever is deemed important

4. Social responsibility
0 Adolescents should be able to see themselves as a part of a community; they
should be able to see beyond themselves and see the bigger picture, taking
into consideration other people and the community in general

5. Mature work orientation

0 Develop pride and excellence in their tasks and not settle for less

6. Personal responsibility
0 Adolescents should be able to take and handle whatever the repercussions and
consequences of their actions are; this is taking responsibility for all decisions
and actions and not blaming them on others

7. Positive attitude toward work

0 This means looking at their work as an expression of love to themselves, others,
and the community; on that mindset the attitude becomes positive as one would
not settle for anything less if it pertains and would affect themselves

8. Being courageous in standing up and being different from their friends

0 Adolescents have a strong drive towards social belongingness and this
becomes a major force for their actions but while this is important they should
be able to stand up for their own identity, opinions, and preferences, not
necessarily being ruled by the decision of the mob or group

9. Developing self-esteem
0 Learning to understand, accept and appreciate oneself as a unique person;
avoiding comparing oneself to others

10. Being true to oneself and avoiding the tendency to please others
0 Since belongingness is very important to adolescents, they find it hard to
assert their individuality out of fear that they might not be accepted by their
peers; as the thought that they need to please others lessen, so do their desire
to be able to please others just so that they can belong in the group

11. Learning how media and advertising are trying to influence their thinking and feeling
0 As adolescents become more open to ideologies, they tend to be easily
affected and influenced by the things around them as well as what they see
and hear; they need to be aware how different things can influence their
thoughts and feelings and in general, how they develop
Disclaimer: This handout is provided as a softcopy and learners are not required to print their own copies. This is not intended for monetary
collecting and in no way will it be used for such activities. This handout is provided for free.
12. Becoming aware, critical, and involved with social issues
0 Adolescents should be aware and formulate their own opinions regarding the
social issues in their community; however aside from this they should also do
something about it, thus being involved

13. Embracing a healthy lifestyle

0 Being aware of the food they eat and engaging in physical activities;
adolescents should be able to define their own meaning of healthy and this
would direct what their lifestyle would be

14. Developing spirituality

0 Discovering and determining what gives their life and experiences meaning;
as principles, consciousness, values, virtues, and perspectives are being
developed, the meaning to their life is slowly being defined and the adolescent
is tasked with discovering what that is
Disclaimer: This handout is provided as a softcopy and learners are not required to print their own copies. This is not intended for monetary
collecting and in no way will it be used for such activities. This handout is provided for free.