Sexual maturation (or pubertal period) is the period of development during which physical changes occur in the body, leading to sexual maturation and the appearance of the ability to sexual activity and reproduction. Sexual maturation is also accompanied by psychological changes, during which the thinking of a teenager is transformed from a child into an adult. The development process that allows people to become independent members of society is a product of the impact of both biological and social factors. Laying the foundations of a personal identity is an important step towards becoming a normal, happy adult. It includes determining who is a person, what values and ways he will choose to follow in his life. Adolescents can endure identification crisis - a temporary period of uncertainty and depression when they experiment with different options before setting their ultimate goals and determining values. They begin to question things that were previously unconditionally perceived as truth.
Intellectual development
In the pubertal period, an ability is formed for abstract thinking, which opens up new areas of knowledge. Adolescents learn to absorb complex scientific principles, discover the hidden meaning of poetry and use language more and more subtly. New intellectual abilities make their judgments more substantiated, but at the same time more idealistic and critical, which inevitably leads to conflict with adults.
The importance of peer groups
Peer groups for adolescents are an important social structure. Such a group can be a source of friendly support and adventure and provide samples to which the teenager can equal. To avoid rejection, many adolescents in an effort to meet the standards of the group go to extremes. They can radically change the manner of dressing, attitudes and behavior. When a peer group has views and values that are different from those taken in the family, this can cause conflicts.
Changing Relationships
The period of puberty is a time when a teenager no longer looks at his parents through rose-colored glasses, but begins to perceive them as ordinary people. Family relationships do not protect the adolescent from mood swings associated with changes in the hormonal level and the social environment. Conflicts can also arise in connection with the need to rebuild the nature of kinship relations, since the teenager seeks to be perceived as an adult. Young people from an industrial society - as opposed to non-industrial societies - remain economically dependent on their parents for a long time after puberty. Sociologists argue that the modern replacement of physical care from the family is psychological distancing, which is observed in our time.
Gender roles
The early adolescence period is a time of exaggerated gender stereotypes - its influence is also exerted by biological, social, and intellectual factors. Sexual maturation enhances the perception of gender differences, forcing adolescents to spend more time thinking about themselves in a gender perspective and being more sensitive to someone else's opinion. During this period, parents can encourage acceptable gender behavior. In the past, girls who were not previously informed about the impending menstruation, perceived what was happening as a shock and cause for concern. However, modern parents are more tolerant of discussing sexual themes with their daughters, which makes the unexpected onset of the first menstruation a rare occurrence. Girls adapt especially well when the father takes part in these discussions, which creates an atmosphere of trust and tolerance in conversations about physical and sexual problems in the family. In contrast, boys receive much less support for the physical changes associated with puberty. They are more likely to receive information, for example, about ejaculation from books or from friends than from their own parents. Eventually, while almost all girls usually talk to friends or parents that they have already started menstruating, far fewer boys tell anyone that they are ripe sexually.
Sex and Relationships
Hormonal changes lead to increased sexual desire, both in boys and girls. Sexual hormones in the blood penetrate the blood-brain barrier into the brain and bind to receptors that trigger sexual awakening. The opposite sex turns from an object of neglect in childhood into enchanting coveted creatures. Adolescents become more attentive to their own appearance and begin to experiment with physical and emotional relationships. The first dates, except for fun and pleasure, give lessons of interaction, etiquette and the ability to communicate with people in different situations. On the other hand, it can lead to unwanted pregnancies and first disappointments in love, with inevitable experiences in this case. For 3-6% of adolescents who find that they are homosexual, growing up can be particularly difficult in terms of making positive sexual identification.
Psychiatric Disorders
Such as eating disorders, depression, suicidal and criminal actions, are more frequent in adolescence than in childhood, but this level is supposed to be comparable to that of adults. Among adolescent girls, depression occurs twice as often as boys, due to unjustified expectations of their relative appearance. Sexual maturation experienced by girls in early adolescence contributes to passivity and dependent behavior, which can result in anxiety and helplessness when faced with stress and complexity. Experiments with drugs become more frequent. For some adolescents, drugs are seen as an element of courage and risk, while others, through drugs, seek the approval of peers. Sexual maturation is not an easy period, it's years of conflict and stress. First of all, this is the time when a teenager is confronted with sexual relations and choices about his future. This is also the time when a person has a sense of self.