Adolescent Decision Making

Abstract

Adolescence is a confusing and disturbing stage for most of the teenagers. They witness and discover many emotional aspects of their personality for the first time. This is the age where they love their independence and risk taking behavior is common. This research paper covers all the important aspects of adolescence through different data and literature available. Parents especially mothers can play an important role in developing effective decision making skills from a very young age. The main purpose of this research study is to analyze data and evidence related to adolescent decision making issues, process and influences. It shows that results are always better when an adolescent and mother both are supportive of each other's thoughts and agree on similar solution.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract2

Adolescent Decision Making3

Introduction4

Discussion4

Adolescent Decision Making5

Influences on Adolescent Decision Making6

Mother-Adolescent Relationship7

Input to decision making8

Conclusion9

References10

Adolescent Decision Making

Introduction

It has been proved my many researches that adolescents do not possess skills and attributes required to take sensible decisions alone. Many external and emotional factors affect their ability to deal with situations and take appropriate actions. Risk taking attitude is quite common and high in this age group. They are at the verge of discovering new things and independence which further encourages them to display it in their friends and family. According to a research study conducted in 1996, around 2.9 million people were arrested for juvenile crimes and their age group was under 18 years (Lerner et.al, 2001). Therefore it is very important to develop their competence in decision making from a very young age.



Discussion

Adolescence is defined as the time of growing up from childhood into adulthood or the period of life between puberty and maturity (Kirch, 2008). There are different changes taking place both physically and emotionally. This stage is very crucial for positive reinforcement of their thoughts and emotions. Following are some important aspects of adolescence.

Physical Transition

They seem to grow in terms of height and weight along with other pubertal maturation. Majority of teenagers at this time become very confused and embarrassed because of physical changes taking place in them. Parents need to sit down and explain that these things are normal and happen to every adolescent.

Cognitive Changes

At this stage teenagers develop multi dimensional thinking on the basis of experience and information gained from their surroundings. It can include friends, family or any other source of information and personal experience. They can think from a different perspective and develop an ability to analyze alternative solutions through reasoning and hypotheses. Piaget describe that there is a remarkable shift from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. Children use concrete thinking, they see tangible objects, things, people or places etc. while adolescents start developing abstract thinking and start employing principles, value and ideas that they get from the environment both external and internal (Kirch, 2008).

Social and Emotional changes

Adolescents go through a series of transition in terms of identity, personality, emotions, independence, sexuality etc. these variables are affected by parents, peers and other factors around ...