Emotionality and Family Relationship During Adolescence

Emotionality During Adolescence

Traditionally adolescence has been thought of as a period of 'storm and stress' - a time of heightened emotional tension resulting from the physical and glandular changes that are taking place. Instead of having temper tantrums adolescents express their anger by sulking, refusing to speak, criticizing those who angered them. They envy others. Parents and teachers should help them to disclose their feelings and personal problems including adjustments made to members of the opposite sex. Since adolescents spend most of their time with friends, it is understandable that they have a greater influence on adolescent attitude, speech, interests, appearance etc.

They take a lot of interest in extra curricular activities like sports, travelling, reading, movies, radio, television etc., Some of the social interests of adolescents are partying, drinking and smoking, helping others and world affairs.

There is a growing interest in sex and sex education is important at this stage which can be provided by the family members and teachers.

Family Relationship during Adolescence

A very common expression used is 'generation gap' between adolescents and their parents. This gap is partly the result of radical changes in values and standards of behavior that normally occur in any rapidly changing culture and partly the result of the fact that many young people now have greater educational, social and cultural opportunities than most of their parents had when they were adolescents. Thus it is more correctly a 'cultural gap' not entirely due to differences in chronological age.

As adolescence progress, the fictional relationship is replaced by a more pleasant and affectionate relationship.

Common causes of family friction are standards of behavior, methods of discipline, relationship with siblings, hypercritical attitude, feeling victimized due to difference in socio-economic status etc.

They put up a 'pleasing personality' knowing what their friends and member of the opposite sex admire.

How successful adolescents will be in their attempts to improve their personalities depends on.

1.     They must build up ideas, that are realistic

2.     They must make a realistic assessment of their strength and weaknesses.

They must be reasonably well satisfied with their achievements and eager to make improvements in any area in which they feel deficient.