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Biographical Analysis of Adolescent Development
Adolescent development is what psychologists define as changes that occur during a person’s transition from childhood to adulthood. There are numerous factors that play into how a person will develop and these include: biological, cognitive, social, and emotional factors. All of these factors, along with the effects of family, peers, school, and cultural contexts allow psychologists to develop an insight as to how adolescents develop into adults.
Bruce* is a 20 year-old male who describes his adolescence as, “Confusing, yet exciting. I went from playing with hot wheels with my friends, to picking up my girlfriend in my new car.”
The most common sign of adolescence is puberty; although many people misinterpret this sign and view puberty as the beginning of adolescence. Puberty is the physical transformation into adulthood, whereas adolescence is the bridge between being a child and being an adult. Erikson, Freud, and Hall all view the onset of menstruation as a “main event,” but in today’s society, girls and boys begin to develop at an even younger age. When Bruce was growing up he noticed a lot about the world around him, “Everyone has something that makes them unique.” That is what he stated at the beginning of the interview. Like most boys, Bruce began to notice the physical aspects
*- Name has been changed.
of adolescence, and puberty around age 13. He noticed he had lost some weight and that he needed new sneakers and pants more often. All of these signs pointed to the fact that Bruce was becoming an adolescent. But “being a male and being a man are different things,” Bruce said. Already through adolescence, Bruce became more focused on himself psychologically than when he was as an adolescent.
Biologically, adolescence is the most fascinating stage to explore and discover. During his entrance into adolescence, Bruce noticed that his hand eye...