Early adolescence is a time of rapid physical, emotional, and personality changes, marked by the onset of puberty. The growth spurt includes the development of sexual organs and brain development, leading to increased reasoning ability. Emotional development is also affected, with sexual awakening being one factor. Adolescence is a stressful transition, and support from parents and peers is important for establishing values and achieving independence.
Early adolescence is the stage of human growth and development that occurs at age 12 or 13 and is usually associated with the onset of puberty. It is also a period in child development marked by physical, emotional and personality changes. A time of rapid development, this stage is considered the beginning of the maturation period. Growth specifically depends on increased secretion of hormones from the adrenal and pituitary glands, as well as from the sexual organs. These natural bodily secretions cause the sexual organs in early adolescence to begin growing to mature size.
In the early teens, or early teens, nearly all young people experience the adolescent growth spurt, a rapid series of physical changes. These changes include an increase in the growth rate of the body accompanied by the development of pubic and armpit hair, structural and functional changes of the reproductive organs including the development of the mammary glands in females, and the development of the sweat glands which usually causes the onset of acne . In males and females, these changes occur at different times, with females experiencing the growth spurt somewhat earlier than males. Usually, the initial sign of early adolescence in females is breast enlargement, but the actual onset of adolescence is marked by the onset of menstruation known as menarche. In males, enlargement of the reproductive organs, development of the prostate gland, and enlargement of the larynx are often the first signs of early adolescence.
During early adolescence, rapid brain development usually occurs as the thinking ability of young people usually becomes higher than that of children. Most psychologists believe that early adolescence marks the beginning of young people having the ability to reason logically, handle abstract ideas, connect cause and effect, and make generalizations. Some psychologists, however, argue that the increase in intellectual capacity is a result of the accumulation of knowledge and sensitivity to the environment, not a function of age.
Emotional development and personality changes also occur as early as early adolescence. Many psychologists, however, believe that emotional development comes from an emotional strain caused by the sexual awakening of adolescents. This belief is not accepted by other psychologists, as they consider sexual awakening to be just one of many adaptations that could lead to the search for an established identity. However, the cumulative effects of physical transformations, intellectual development, and emotional and personality changes all contribute to the formation of a new self-definition.
Adolescence is often considered a stressful transition phase, with all the changes young people go through to reach full maturity. Therefore, there is a need for parents and other adults to provide a set of values that young people can learn to emulate as part of the adjustment they need to make. The peer group also provides a criterion by which young people gain perspective on their own values. It also helps teenagers make a transition to achieve self-reliance and independence.
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