NORMAL PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ADOLESCENCE

Joseph D. Teicher Abstract It behooves physicians to be aware that adolescents are different people, that they have a vast capacity for change, that they often exhibit the sickest kind of behavior, which may be very frightening to us and to them. Physicians have to be able to wait and not become panicked by the turbulences, confusions, and contradictions that mark the adolescent's behavior; to keep in mind at all times that much of what is going on is relatively normal behavior in the drive toward maturation and adulthood; that the adolescent has to cope with his sexual drive which is continually frustrated, that he has to cope with the problems of emancipation from parental authority, that he has to cope with an aggressive drive to achieve and to dominate. Parents, too, have to be understanding and ready to render unselfish support, for they continue to be the source of strength and security, and even the source of healthy restrictions. Adults must be aware that the adolescent struggles with his conscience and its dictates, and we should look upon cliques, groups and clubs as a healthy assistance in the preservation of standards, ethics, and mores.

Parent Intuition and Teens

When kids become teenagers, too many parents mysteriously stop trusting their intuition. That is, five years ago, when your daughter was nine years old and had a guilty look on her face, you would confront her with your intuition without hesitation. What's going on here? You look fidgety and guilty. You can't even look me in the eye. What did you do wrong? At this point, your daughter would either 'fess up to the wrongdoing or sulk away in a huff. Either way, you both win. You've stood your ground as a parent and she's learned that her parents care enough about her to hold the limits even when they aren't sure exactly just what limits they are holding. You see, even when she doesn't confess to you, your calling her on her behavior (even without proof) says to her that you are noticing her behavior and aren't afraid to comment and step in. For most kids, this is enough to persuade them to stop that behavior. And parental intuition frequently supersedes expert opinions, which is something most parents learned just after their children were born. Vincent was only eighteen months old, but he was terribly bothered by something. He couldn't sleep, he was cranky, and he had no appetite. I thought for sure that it was an ear infection, but his physician ruled that out quickly. Instead, he insisted that there was nothing wrong with Vincent, that perhaps it was just a growth spurt. I tried to believe him, but in my heart I knew something was wrong with Vincentmaybe the doctor had worked with thousands of babies, but I was the only mom Vincent knew. After a couple more days with no improvement, I went to another doctor's office for a second opinion.

Still nothing. But three days later, on a visit to a third physician, we found out that Vincent did indeed have something wrong with him. It was an unusual illness, but still the first two doctors had missed it, even assuring me that everything was fine. Eventually, with the right medicine and a few days of rest, Vincent was his old self. And I learned more than ever to trust my intuition around my son. Always. These days, there are experts of all sorts, but none of them knows your child better than you. Wise parents consult experts whenever possible, but seldom follow their advice blindly. Instead, they filter the advice through their own knowledge and expertise of their sons and daughters, then they decide on the appropriate action. That trust in your intuition, however, wanes as your child grows older and eventually enters adolescence. When your son is fourteen and has that same look on his face (the look that he had as a child who was up to no good), rather than confronting him with what your intuition is sayingthat something is amiss many parents instead walk away and look for proof of wrongdoing. Instead of acting like parents, we act like detectives or district attorneys, neither of which is very helpful to our teenagers. Throughout your teenager's adolescence, it pays to remember the words of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, which, even though said in a very different context, are even more appropriate when it comes to intuition and your teenager: "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."

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Abstract
Violent crime is a key social and public issue that significantly contributes to the morbidity and mortality of adolescents and places a significant economic burden on society. Overall, juveniles (legally described as adolescents under 18) are responsible for only 19% of all violent crime committed in the United States. However, the peak age incidence for violent offenders is 18, well within the spectrum of the adolescent age grouping. Over the past 10 years, arrests for juvenile crime have increased by 67%, leading some experts to worry that, given the expected increase in the size of the juvenile population by the year 2010, the number of arrests for juvenile crime will double. Fortunately, there has been a decline in the rates of juvenile violent crime over the past 2 years. This article reviews statistical trends, contributing factors and innovative approaches to prevention and intervention.

new article published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry concludes that early intervention among young adolescents with delinquency problems may help prevent the development of long-term crime, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and risky sex behaviors, especially among disadvantaged youth. The study examined the influence of delinquency behavior in late childhood development among over 800 youth from low- compared to middle-income backgrounds, ages 10 to age 24. The adolescent and young adult subjects were asked to complete self-report assessments which included questions on delinquent involvement, alcohol use, and sexual activity in late childhood; delinquency and alcohol use in adolescence; and crime, AUDs, and risky sex in early adulthood.

Youth from low-income backgrounds were twice as likely to report early sex onset (by age 11) and more likely to report early delinquency (by age 10) than those from middle-income backgrounds. By contrast, youth from middle-income backgrounds were 1.5 times more likely to report early alcohol use (by age 10) than those from low-income backgrounds. Furthermore, those that showed early and frequent involvement with risky sex, delinquency, and alcohol use beginning in late childhood and extending throughout adolescence showed an increase in longterm crime, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and risky sex behaviors in young adulthood.

Problems of Adolescence
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 parents, teachers, friends, brother/sisters. 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.

Such perceptions can be anything in the range of studies, sex, society, married life, career, religion, politics, or any relevant subject. Every adolescent boy or girl is prone to such exposures - which ultimately are retained as perceptions in their minds to form their behavioural patterns. The problems of adolescence are classified as

morphological / developmental psychological social educational

Some problems are absolutely unimportant and trivial. They could be easily ignored. But even such problems cause great concern to adolescent people.