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Normal Adolescent Development from: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology Each teenager is an individual with a unique personality and special interests, likes and dislikes. In general, however, there is a series of developmental tasks that everyone faces during the adolescent years. A teenager's development can be divided into three stages - early, middle, and late adolescence. The normal feelings and behaviors of adolescents for each stage are described below. Early Adolescence (12-14 years) Movement Towards Independence Struggle with sense of identity Moodiness Improved abilities to use speech to express oneself More likely to express feelings by action than by words Close friendships gain importance Less attention shown to parents, with occasional rudeness Realization that parents are not perfect; identification of their faults Search for new people to love in addition to parents Tendency to return to childish behavior, fought off by excessive activity Peer group influence interests and clothing styles Career Interests Mostly interested in present and near future Greater ability to work Sexuality Girls ahead of boys Same-sex friends and group activities Shyness, blushing and modesty Show-off qualities Greater interest in privacy Experimentation with body (masturbation) Worries about being normal Ethics and Self-Direction Rule and limit testing Occasional experimentation with cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol Capacity for abstract thought Middle Adolescence Movement Towards Independence Self-involvement, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept Complaints that parents interfere with independence Extreme concerned with appearance and with one's own body Feelings of strangeness about one's self and body Lowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from them Effort to make new friends Strong emphasis on the new peer group with the group identity of selectivity, superiority and competitiveness Periods of sadness as the psychological loss of the parents takes place Examination of inner experiences, which may include writing a diary Career Interests Intellectual interests gain importance Some sexual and aggressive energies directed into creative and career interests Sexuality Concerns about sexual attractiveness Frequently changing relationships Movement towards heterosexuality with fears of homosexuality Tenderness and fears shown towards opposite sex Feelings of love and passion Ethics and Self-Description Development of ideals and selection of role models More consistent evidence of conscience Greater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoning Late Adolescence (17-19 years) Movement Towards Independence Firmer identity Ability to delay gratification Ability to think ideas through Ability to express ideas in words More developed sense of humor Stable interests Greater emotional stability Ability to make independent decisions Ability to compromise Pride in one's work Self-reliance Greater concern for others Career Interests More defined work habits Higher level of concern for the future Thoughts about one's role in life Sexuality Concerned with serious relationships Clear sexual identity Capacities for tender and sensual love Ethics and Self-Direction Capable of useful insight Stress on personal dignity and self-esteem Ability to set goals and follow through Acceptance of social institutions and cultural traditions Self-regulation of self esteem Teenagers will naturally vary slightly from the descriptions in the charts above, but the feelings and behaviors listed for each area are, in general, considered normal for each of the three stages. The mental and emotional problems that can interfere with these normal developmental stages are treatable.

If a teenager seems very different from the descriptions presented here, it may be appropriate to consult with a mental health professional.