Adolescence is a stage of physical and psychological transition. The period of adolescence is most closely associated with the teenage.

Understanding of adolescence in a society depends on information from the areas of

•    Psychology,
•    Biology,
•    History
•    Sociology,
•    Education,
•    Anthropology.

Adolescence is viewed as a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, whose cultural purpose is the preparation of children for adult roles.

It is a period of multiple transitions involving

•    Education,
•    Training,
•    Living circumstance.

The end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood varies by

•    Country,
•    Function
•    Culture.

There can be different ages at which an individual is considered to be legally mature enough to be entrusted by society with certain privileges and responsibilities like

•    Driving a vehicle,
•    Having legal sexual relations,
•    Serving in the armed forces
•    Purchasing and drinking alcohol,
•    Voting, Marriage.
•    Entering into contracts,
•    Finishing certain levels of education,

Adolescence is usually accompanied by an increased independence allowed by the parents or legal guardians and less supervision as compared to preadolescence.

•    Social changes as a period of preparation for adult roles.
•    Biological changes: growth of sex organs, height, weight, and muscle mass, as well as major changes in brain structure and organization.
•    Cognitive changes: and in the ability to think abstractly and to reason more effectively.

COGNITIVE CHANGES :-

By the time individuals have reached age 15 or so, their basic thinking abilities are comparable to those of adults. These improvements occur in five areas during adolescence:

•    1. Attention. Improvements are seen in selective attention, a process by which the adolescent focuses on one stimulus while tuning out another.
•    2. Memory: Improvements are seen in both working memory and long-term memory.
•    3. Processing speed: Adolescents think more quickly than children.
•    4. Organization: Adolescents are more aware of their own thought processes and can use mnemonic devices and other strategies to think more efficiently.
•    5. Metacognition:

Abstract thinking :-

Adolescents can contemplate possibilities outside the realm of what currently exists. There is increased facility with thinking about possibilities, which leads to the development of hypothetical thinking. This provides the ability to plan ahead, see the future consequences of an action and to provide alternative explanations of events. It also makes adolescents more skilled debaters, as they can reason against a friend's or parent's assumptions. Adolescents also develop a more sophisticated understanding of probability.

This also permits the application of advanced reasoning and logical processes to social and ideological matters such as interpersonal relationships, politics, philosophy, religion, morality, friendship, faith, democracy, fairness, and honesty.

Metacognition :-

It is thinking about thinking itself. It often involves monitoring one's own cognitive activity during the thinking process. Adolescents' improvements in knowledge of their own thinking patterns lead to better self-control and more effective studying. It is also relevant in social cognition, resulting in increased introspection, self-consciousness, and intellectualization (thought about one's own thoughts). Adolescents are able to understand that people do not have complete control over their mental activity.

Adolescents can understand how the thoughts or actions of one person can influence those of another person.

Relativistic thinking :-

Adolescents question others' assertions, and don’t accept facts as absolute truths. Through experience outside the family circle, they learn that rules they were taught as absolute are in fact relativistic. This can lead to a period of questioning authority in all domains.

Risk-taking :-

Most injuries sustained by adolescents are related to risky behavior (rash driving, alcohol abuse, sex (more risk when it is unprotected.).

Adolescents give more weight to rewards, rather than consequences leading to risk taking behavior.

During adolescence, there is an extremely high emphasis on approval of peers as a reward leading to risk taking behavior. Teenagers have the motivation & confidence necessary to grow from childhood to adulthood due to risk taking behavior.

Adolescents particularly boys are involved risk-taking behavior to impress the girls.

Sensation seeking also affects risk-taking behavior in adolescents.

Some qualities of adolescents' lives that are often correlated with risky sexual behavior include higher rates of experienced domestic violence, lower rates of parental support and monitoring.

Psychological development :-

Adolescence is viewed as a time of internal turmoil and upheaval, disturbance and psychological confusion.

An adolescent’s development is shaped by the time period and location in which he grows up. The development of an adolescent is shaped by the interconnected network of relationships of which one is a part;

Social development :-

Identity development :-

Three approaches for understanding identity development are

•    Self-concept,
•    Sense of identity,
•    Self-esteem.
•    Teens put forth an effort to look presentable. Adolescents with a less privileged upbringing will have a more difficult time developing their identity.
•    Self-concept

Early in adolescence, cognitive developments result in greater self-awareness, greater awareness of others and their thoughts and judgments. As adolescents, they define themselves based on their values, thoughts and opinions..