Adolescence is often referred to as period of storm and stress, likened to the “

Question

Adolescence is often referred to as period of storm and stress, likened to the “terrible twos” for teens. But research into adolescent development has failed to show that this period of time is universally, one of turmoil (J. J. Arnett, Adolescent Storm and Stress Revisited, American Psychologist). What it is, is different; and for almost all families, it is a time of adjustment. The status of the person who for so long depended on the adults in the family unit changes as she or he must now begin the last phase, or in some cultures complete, the developmental processes of becoming an independent adult member of her or his social group. Your total response should be at least 250 words, include at least one in-text citation, and should answer each one of the following questions. Is adolescence a period of "storm and stress" or not? What is your evidence? Where do you draw your evidence from? E.g., personal experience, information from readings or lectures?

Explanation / Answer

A number of psychologists have called adolescence to be a stage of Strum and Drang, which Hall (1916) has referred to as the period of “storm and stress”. Storm suggests that anger, with its accompaniment of temper outbursts, is one of the dominant emotion and stress means anything which in a relatively extreme form tends to disrupt normal functioning. The reasons are many. A host of new drives and needs assail the boy and girl during the adolescent years with which s/he is unable to deal with and understand, many of these emerging drives and needs bring inevitable conflict with parental concepts of responsibility and cultural prohibitions and so adolescence has been said to be a stage of turmoil, rebelliousness, moodiness and anxiety (Berne, 1974; Lansdown & Walker, 1991). Adolescents enter head-on into emotionally undesirable situations and lack the capability of handling them properly. They are only partially capable of gratifying those needs and desires whose gratification must be withheld until they reach a certain age. Hence, in the adolescent, we have a person easily tempted and stimulated by a multitude of drives and desires, still possessing many he had in the childhood and some new ones, with whom s/he lacks the capability of dealing with effectively and are even fiercely resentful of adult supervision in their gratification (Finesinger, 1960).

As compared to children adolescents are more capable for effective coping with their feelings but still face more frustrations, relatively bigger and deeper than faced by young children, which absorbs this increased capability. Moreover, because of their insistent and growing demand for independence, adolescents often have less desire and obligation to control their emotional expression than does the more dependent child. Again, adolescents are far less capable for coping with emotional bouts than the adults.

So, this means that adolescence is a stage of storm and stress.

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