Late adolescence what is, characteristics and changes

Adolescence is the vital period that begins with puberty, around 10 years, and develops through several stages until approximately 19 years. It is a period with which we abandon childhood and prepare ourselves at the physical, emotional and psychological level to enter adult life.

Adolescence contains three stages within its development: early, middle and late stage. In this psychology-online article we will deepen the last of the stages, we will see What is late adolescence, the characteristics it presents and the changes that it supposes.

1. Stages of adolescence and ages
2. What is late adolescence
3. Characteristics of late adolescence
4. Physical changes of late adolescence
5. Psychological changes of late adolescence

Stages of adolescence and ages

Adolescence occurs throughout three stages:

1. Early adolescence: It occurs between 10 and 13 years and in it there is an imbalance caused, fundamentally, by pubertal changes.
2. Average adolescence: period between 14 and 17 years characterized that the adolescent begins the identification process with the group of peers, which means the abandonment of the reference criteria established by the paternal figures.
3. Late adolescence: It occurs between 17 and 19 years and is a progressive recovery of balance, now becoming a new person of their process of change and personal creation lived throughout this stage.

What is late adolescence

The late adolescence It constitutes the last stage in the development of adolescence. It occurs between 17 and 19 years and is a Settlement of all changes lived throughout this vital period. Little by little, the teenager recovers the balance lost with the beginning of puberty, the result of the acceptance and integration of all physical, emotional and psychological changes lived. This equilibrium recovery is necessary to start the way to adult life in a state of healthy at all levels. Occasionally, adulthood entry with certain unresolved imbalances will be a cause for social maladaptations that will manifest in the medium and long term.

Characteristics of late adolescence

The teenager, during this stage, manages to create a Personal identity (Result of the integration of your previous being with your new and free personal choices), create new social relationships and internalize moral and ethical values ​​that will determine their progressive entry and functioning in the adult world.

Thought reaches the level of formal operations, which allows them to carry out all a series of cognitive operations with which it will evolve in this last stage of adolescent development.

Physical changes of late adolescence

The physical changes produced in adolescence occur much more intense during the first stage. In late adolescence, progressive growth is produced. In this way, hormonal segregations, growth and body changes (size, weight, bone mass, etc.), the development of organs and systems (sexual maturation, increase in different organs), etc. They stop their progression for the maturation achieved.

At this stage, the following changes take place:

• size definitive of male adolescents, which can be extended to 21 years (in the case of females adolescents, the definitive size is established during medium adolescence)
• brain development continues to develop, completing its maturation between 25-30 years
• The control excitesl is achieved in this last period of the adolescent
• The acquisition peak of bone mass

Psychological changes of late adolescence

The Psychological changes most prominent in this stage of adolescence occur with respect to: independence, body image, friends and their identity:

• Independence: After the hard process of des-identification with the paternal values ​​and the possible conflicts that occur during the early and a half stage, these values ​​are re-covered but from a place of own personal construction.
• Body image: the changes lived since the beginning of adolescence produce insecurity and comparisons regarding the personal image itself. During this stage, the changes and the final result are accepted, a new personal image with which they identify and accept.
• Friendships: adolescence begins with a shy openness to the world, outside the limits of the family sphere. Through the different experiences lived, the adolescent is integrated into a group of equals and is in the late stage when their relationships with friends consolidate and their emotional relationships seek more intimacy.
• Identity: In the search for their own identity, adolescents are having different experiences moving from the egocentric and fantastic child to a more abstract and realistic reasoning that allows them to establish clear objectives and limits and internalize own moral, cultural and social values.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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