Adolescence, adulthood and old age

Adolescence is the bridge between childhood and adulthood. It begins with puberty: a growth spurt and sexual maturing, with primary sex characteristics (the reproductive organs mature) and secondary ones (deeper voice and facial hair in boys, breast development and the start of menstruation in girls).

It brings inner challenges too: new feelings and curiosity about sex, often with little accurate information; secrecy about worries; forming a sexual identity; and accepting one's body when media show only one 'ideal' look.

Thinking (formal operational stage, about 11 to 15 years). Adolescents can think abstractly and hypothetically ('What if there were no money?'), reason about ideals, and judge their own and others' actions. A special kind of egocentrism appears (David Elkind):

• Imaginary audience: feeling that everyone is watching you, for example being sure the whole class noticed you tripped on the stairs.
• Personal fable: feeling that your experiences are unique, that nobody, especially parents, could understand, and sometimes that nothing bad can happen to you.

Erikson: identity versus identity confusion. The main task is to work out who you are and what you want to do with your life: values, career, beliefs. Adolescents begin to see themselves as separate from their parents. Parents and peers are the two strong influences. Without a clear sense of identity, a young person may stay confused about their role into adulthood.

Some major concerns of adolescence:

• Delinquency: behaviour that breaks laws or social rules, such as stealing or violence. Often linked to low self-esteem, poor family support or harmful company. Most young people who get into trouble do not stay that way.
• Substance abuse: using alcohol, tobacco or drugs, often to fit in or escape problems.
• Eating disorders, linked to worry about body image: anorexia nervosa (an intense fear of being fat leads to severe under-eating, sometimes with excessive exercise; more common in girls) and bulimia (eating large amounts and then getting rid of the food, for example by vomiting).

Adulthood. An adult is responsible, mature and self-supporting, and part of a wider social world. Main tasks: choosing and building a career, marriage or partnership, and parenthood, which brings stress but also great satisfaction and the chance to guide the next generation. Divorce or the death of a partner brings special difficulties.

Old age. There is no fixed age at which it begins; it is marked more by changes in health, memory and roles. Concerns include retirement, loss of a spouse (widowhood), illness, and dependence on others. Support from family and community, staying active and keeping a sense of purpose help people age well.