Adolescent PDF

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.01 Introduction.
1.02 Meaning and Definition of Adolescence.
1.03 Importance of Adolescence Period.
1.04 Characteristics of Adolescence.
1.05 Theories about the Nature of Adolescence.
1.06 Causes for the Problems of Adolescents.
1.07 Effects of Adolescent Problems.
1.08 Meaning and Definition of Counselling.
1.09 Need for Counselling.
1.10 Social Work Intervention in Schools.
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INTRODUCTION
Life is filled with joy and sorrow, success and failure, health and sickness,
wealth and poverty. It is hard to find a person who has not experienced these. It
is also rarely seen, any family which does not have any problem. There is also no
scientific evidence to prove that a problem arises only after a certain age. In
fact, problems arise at any stage of life.
When changes take place in our life, we find it harder to adjust and this itself
leads to a problem. The changes taking place in our society have made
themselves felt in every sphere of life: political, economic and social.
Technological changes have made a major impact on people’s lives and work.
Industrialization has resulted in social and vocational mobility. It has affected
child-rearing practices too.
Technological advancements and the changing socio-economic and political

situation in the country shape adolescents and transition to adult roles and
responsibilities. It is the adolescents group which is highly and negatively
influenced by these changes. Even today we hear the elders and parents
expressing the difference between their generation and the present generation.
1
“Educational and occupational scene is fast changing here, there and
everywhere. Curriculum and co-curriculum offering have tremendously
expanded during the past few years. It is becoming extremely difficult for
the educational generalists to prepare the youth for education, for
occupation, for life in this rapidly changing world”.
1 S.K. Kochchar- Guidance and Counselling in Colleges and Universities. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers’ Pvt. Ltd., 1984.
Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

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This is very much evident in today’s society as we find intellectual and highly
qualified youth involving into anti-social activities.
High school life is to some extent felt stressful by the adolescents and their
parents as the curricular and extra-curricular activities along with family life and
school life cause stress among them; the importance of school counselling is
very much felt by the school authorities. Some of the states have made it
mandatory to appoint a school counselor. Yet school counselling is at the
experimental stage in India. Hence the present study on ‘Problems of
Adolescents and the effectiveness of counselling’ intends to study the
effectiveness of school counselling and the importance of it.
MEANING AND DEFINITION OF ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence means 'to emerge' to achieve 'identity'. Personhood is what we want
the Adolescent to attain not only just in its physical or intellectual aspects but
also in his/her whole humanhood, which includes the often neglected but equally
important aspects, which are emotional or psychological, social and spiritual.
The time of growing up from childhood to adulthood is known as the

Adolescence. It is a period of physical growth. However, it is more than that. It
is a time for the maturing of mind and behaviors as well. The length of time for
this period of development varies. Adolescence can start at nine (9) and end at
eighteen (18). It can start at fourteen (14) and end at twenty five (25).
Young people may grow quickly in some ways and more slowly in others. This
is why children who may be only 9, 10 or 11 years old may be Adolescents in
some ways already, while teenagers of 13 or 14 may just be reaching
Adolescence. On the one hand reaching out towards adult roles and on the other
still needing the love and protection of parents. It is a time when children
undergo a crisis of identity. Questions which have never bothered them before,

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start haunting them now as they struggle for independence from their parents.
They want to be their own person.
2
The term “Adolescence” comes from the Latin word ‘adolescere’ that means “to
grow” or “to grow to maturity”. Maturing involves not only physical but also
mental growth. It is a period, which fills the gap between childhood and
adulthood. Generally, this period is termed as “youth”.
3
According to A.T. Jersild, "Adolescence is a span of fears during which boys
and girls mo ve from childhood to adulthood mentally, emotionally, socially and
physically". In India Adolescence is a phase that is more difficult to define,
particularly in terms of age. The classic age-wise grouping for Adolescence is
between 11 to 18 years for girls and between 12 to 18 years for boys.
Dorothy Rogers has viewed this period as a process of achieving the attitudes
and belief needed for effective participation in the society. Thus, there is no
absolute age limit for a clear-cut boundary between the Adolescence and
adulthood.
Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood. It is not an age, but a
stage. In India, the Adolescent is a person who has not been sufficiently
recognized and encouraged. Due to financial reasons the Adolescent is
dependent on his parents for many more years than in the West. The emotional
dependence is also as great, producing what is termed ‘Delayed Adolescence’.
4
Adolescence is between 12 to 20 years. A delayed Adolescence goes on until 21
years and even up to 25 years.
2 Das G - Developmental Psychology: King Books: Delhi 2000.

3 Jagannath Mohanty and Susandhya Mohanty- Family life education: Adolescence education. New Delhi: Deep and Deep
publications, 1997.
4 Marie Mignon Mascarenhas- Adolescent behaviour and personality development: family life education, value education.
Bangalore: Centre for Research and Development, 1999.

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Early Adolescence: Early adolescence is from 10 to 12years. The rate of growth
increases, starting first in the hands and feet and later in the limbs. In early
Adolescence, they start initiating independence from the family, and desire for
privacy. There may be a clash between the wish for their autonomy and parental
authority.
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Middle Adolescence: Is from 12 to 16 years. The peak of the height velocity
curve is seen auxiliary hair and sweat glands develop. In 80% of girls the
dramatic event of menarche occurs. The timing for this is influenced by genetic
factors and nutritional status. Any chronic illness can delay puberty. The
eruption of the second permanent molar and menarche closely correspond in
timing.
In middle Adolescence, the school and peer group gain importance. Girls
develop into personal skills quicker, loyalty and commitment matter more,
shared information becomes important. Decisions of vocations and education are
made. Physical maturation can influence school performance and aspirations for
better achievement because the physical effect of pubertal development becomes
incorporated into the self-image.
7
Late Adolescence: Is from 16 to19 years. The body approximates the young
adult and development of secondary sex characteristics is completed. In late
Adolescence, career decisions are finally traced. The child gradually returns to
the family, on a new footing.
5, 6, Marie Mignon Mascarenhas- Adolescent behaviour and personality development: family life education, value education.
Bangalore: Centre for Research and Development, 1999.
7Marie Mignon Mascarenhas- Adolescent behaviour and personality development: family life education, value education.
Bangalore: Centre for Research and Development, 1999

6
Physical growth and development during Adolescence have a great impact on

the emotional world of a youth. An Adolescent boy or a girl gets a newer body
having newer ideas and attitudes. The main aspect of their thought is that they
pose themselves to be the fittest in the adult world. However, they can also get a
serious inferiority complex.
Adolescence may be looked upon as the last step in the long period of
development, which begins at the time of conception. By the end of
Adolescence, development has reached a point where the individual is legally
and socially regarded as mature, and thus capable of living an independe nt life,
free from supervision and guidance. Adolescence in Hall's views came to
represent "storm and stress" period that reflects the unsettling turbulence of
growth in modern societies.
Definition of the term ‘adolescent’ under various aspects:
 8 Chronologically, Adolescence ranges from age 12 to 18 years.

 Legally A boy who is of the age between 12-18years would be termed as
minor or juvenile (Adolescent) who also means to say that he has not
attained his maturity. Whereas in the case of girls the age group of 12 –
21 years would be termed as minor or juvenile (Adolescent). 9Legally
Adolescence ends with the assumption of adult responsibility for voting.
 Sociologically it is a period, which fills the gap between dependent
childhoods to self-sufficient adulthood. In addition, they are generally
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termed as youth and characterized as hot-blooded in nature. Socially it
ends with marriage.
8 Manju Mehta - Adolescent Psychology. Jaipur: Pointer Publishers, 2000.

9 Das G. - Developmental Psychology, Delhi: King Books, 2000.
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0 Das G. - Developmental Psychology, Delhi: King Books, 2000

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 Medically adolescence begins with the growth and a hormonal change
associated with sexual maturity and ends when there is no further growth.
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 The adolescent period between puberty and the completion of physical
growth is roughly from 11 to 19 years of age.
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 The period of adolescent development is between the onset of puberty
and adulthood. This period is generally marked by the appearance of
secondary sex characteristics, usually from 11 to 13 years of age, and
spans the teen years.
 Educationally adolescence is the time spent in high schools and early
colleges.
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 Psychologically it is a period of transition, during which cognitive,
physical, personality and social changes occur.
15
 WHO defines adolescence both in terms of age spanning the ages
between 10 and 19 Years.
16
 In India adolescent age is defined as children in the range of 10-19
years.
17
According to Bigner (1983), Adolescent can be defined as a stage in the life
cycle between 13 and 18 years of age characterized by increasing independence
from adult controls, rapidly occurring physical and psychological changes,
exploration of social issues and concerns increased focus on activities with a
peer group and establishment of a basic self identity.
1 Saunders - Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. 2007
1
1 Moby’s - Dental Dictionary, 2nd edition: Elsevier, Inc. 2008.
2
13 C. L. Kundu and D.N. Tutoo - Educational psychology. New Delhi: Sterling publishers private Limited, -1998
15 ‘Adolescents in India: A Profile’- UN Inter Agency Working Group on Population and Development (IAWG-P and D)
publication. New Delhi, 1998.
16 Psycho-social Morbidities among adolescents - A Report (WHO funded project) national Institute of cooperation and child
development: New Delhi 2001.

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Many psychologists use the term synonymously with "pubescence" or
reproductive maturation. Some of them define it as the transitional period of life
during which the child experiences a number of changes - physiological,
emotional and intellectual. This period runs between childhood and adulthood,
sometimes-called "the period of storm and stress". Piaget has defined
adolescence from a psychological viewpoint. According to him
“psychologically, Adolescence is the age when the individual becomes
integrated into the society of adults, the age when the child no longer feels that
he is below the level of his elders but equal, at least in rights”.
19
Adolescents in the age group 10- 19 years constitute 21.4 percent of India’s
population. Within this paradigm of population and development related issues,
the role of adolescents cannot be overlooked.
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IMPORTANCE OF ADOLESCENCE:
Adolescence is one of the periods when both the immediate and long-term
effects on attitudes and behaviour are important. Adolescence has both physical
and psychological effects accompanied by rapid mental developments. These
give rise to the need for mental adjustments and necessity for establishing new
attitudes, values and interests.
Adolescent’s life is full of hopes. The Adolescent is eager to interact with new
experiences, to find new relationships to examine inner strengths and explore the
strengths of inner ability. Adolescents try to have freedom to think and set their
own goals and discover means to achieve them. Adolescents want to have more
18 ‘ Adolescents in India: A Profile’- New Delhi: UN Inter Agency Working Group on Population and Development (IAWG-
PandD) publication, 1998
19‘Adolescents in India: A Profile’- New Delhi: UN Inter Agency Working Group on Population and Development (IAWG-
PandD) publication, 1998
20,.C. L. Kundu and D.N. Tutoo - Educational psychology. New Delhi: Sterling publishers private Limited, -1998

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freedom to enjoy. Although they are not fully mature to shoulder the
responsibilities of life, they enjoy life in youthful dreams. Love and power
become a strong motivating force in life. An Adolescent lives in a lush season
and it falls between the springtime and the summer of life. Adolescence is a time
when boys and girls feel the joy and pride of growing up. However, there are
many restraints that keep them under control. These controls come from home
and society and impose them to behave in a right manner by establishing
themselves and obey the rules at home and outside. No matter how much help
Adolescents are given, they still are dependent on others. The Adolescent’s task
is not simply one of interacting with the external environment or with other
individuals but one of developing their own potentialities. They try to explore
their role in the world in which they live.
Personality Development gets stronger at this period and continues to be in the

same for a long time. A proper shaping of the personality during adolescence can
prepare a valuable human resource for our nation. Hence the life script of
adolescence continues through out for a long time. Also as in India the
adolescence period is spent in High school or Secondary school for the school
going adolescents, a right career choice or a future plan can help them settle well
in their future. Hence this period is very important to plan their future. We find
many of the youngsters regretting that if they were made aware of the
consequences of neglection to life; a wrong career choice; lack of proper
planning etc., many research studies on unemployment have proved that wrong
career/course choice as one of the cause for unemployment. The happy moments
one goes through during adolescence makes them recall their good or happy
memories of adolescence period in their old age and the bitterness one has gone
through makes them painful even while they recollect those moments.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENCE:
21
Jersild has emphasized the following characteristics of Adolescent stage:
 Firstly, the Adolescent strives to grow up, to be big and yet also to have
some of the security that goes with being little.
 Secondly, there is something radical about being an Adolescent, yet also
something conservative.
 Thirdly, the Adolescents, if able to draw upon their resources, have a
great capacity for flexibility, yet they are rigid in many ways.
Adolescence can be a time of creative energy and vitality, of great zest for
living. It can also be a time for self-expression, curiosity, and exploration, a time
of discovery and adventure. Slowly but surely, the boys and girls accept more
and more responsibility for their own behaviour. If t hey do not expect too much
of themselves too quickly, they find Adolescence an exciting and rewarding time
of life.
Adolescence is something dynamic, something that changes from moment to

moment. Therefore, no matter how you define it, you could be right and at the
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same time, it may not apply at all. Adolescence is a period of anxiety, a time to
adjust with the changes occurring in them during that period, a time to find out
the reason for their existence. The family problems and foolish activities of
theirs make them land up in pain or depression. When they do not find any way
to solve their problems, they surrender to drugs. By consuming this they lose
their mental balance and try to forget their anxiety and depression.
Another well recognized feature is that Adolescents get motivated by very short-
term goals, and find it almost impossible to forego an immediate pleasure in
order to ensure for themselves a much greater one. This dependency on short-
21 C. L. Kundu and D.N. Tutoo - Educational psychology. New Delhi: Sterling publishers private Limited, -1998.
22 Chandrasekhar C.R - Mental Problems in Adolescents’ (Kannada). Bangalore: Nava Karnataka publications pvt. Lmt, 2000.

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term incentives is also one of the reasons for the teenagers to be notoriously
motivated to conform to the customs and values of their age group rather too
steadfastly thereby creating anxiety in the parents.
23
Adolescence has certain characteristics that distinguish it from the period that
preceded it and that follows it. Following are some of the characteristics of
Adolescents.
Fast growth and structural changes in the body: The individual desires to be free
and independent of all authority. Due to the sudden changes in body and other
features like change in voice, changes in body proportions, secondary sex
characteristics, and expectorant, they feel inadequate at the beginning. They
desire to be like adults and therefore, imitate the behaviour of adults.
Development of new attitude towards oneself and others: Adolescents develop

new attitudes towards themselves and others. Parents too expect Adolescents to
behave more responsibly and adopt adult ways of behaviour. Adolescents
express their dislike towards the established rules and regulations in the societ y,
and strongly defend their views and opinions. Some adolescents show leadership
traits during this period.
Rising awareness of one's rights and duties: Adolescents become aware of their
rights and duties. They also become conscious about social approval. Due to
sexual maturity, many physical changes take place in the body and this leads to
changes in the personality of the individual. The ideas, thinking and personality
traits admired before seem to the Adolescent as childish and undesirable. A new
set of values and norms emerge and they are confused. They establish new
23. Dr. G. Das- Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

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relationships with others, find new friends and may break away from old
friendships. They are always eager to better their abilities (competency).
Adolescence is a transitional period: Transition does not mean a break with or a

change from what has gone before but rather a passage from one stage of
development to another. The physical changes that take place during the early
years of Adolescence affect the individual’s behavioral level and lead to re-
evaluations and a shifting adjustment of values. During any transitional period,
the individual’s status is vague and there is confusion about the roles the
individual is expected to play.
Confusing and dual standards: Adolescence is not an easy stage by any

standards. The Adolescent struggles between dependency and independence.
They are caught between what their parents expect from them and what they
want. They are confused about what they really want to do and be. Society on
the whole does not make things easy.
Admiring qualities of peers from the opposite sex: The Adolescents admire
certain traits in peers of opposite sex. Boys are admired by girls for traits like
frankness, protectiveness, pleasing personality, neatness and goo d sense of
humour. Boys admire girls for qualities like pleasant appearance, intelligence,
friendly mannerism and kindness. Boys are late in sexual maturity by about a
year than the girls of the same age. Therefore, generally girls are attracted to
boys who are older than they are.
Adolescence is a period of change: The rate of change in attitudes and behaviour

during Adolescence parallels the rate of physical change. There are almost five
universal concomitants of the changes that occur during Adolescence . First, is
heightened emotionality; its intensity depends on the rate at which the physical
and psychological changes take place.

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Second, the rapid changes that accompany sexual maturing make young
Adolescents unsure of themselves, their capacities and interests, leading to
strong feelings of instability, which are often intensified by the ambiguous
treatment they receive from parents and teachers.
Third, changes in their bodies, their interests and in the roles the social group
expects them to play, create new problems which may seem more numerous and
less easily solved than any they have had to face before. Until they have solved
their problems to their satisfaction, they will be preoccupied with them and with
themselves.
Fourth, as values change, what was important to them as children seems less
important.
Fifth, most Adolescents are ambivalent about changes. While they want and
demand independence, they often dread the responsibilities that go with
independence and question their ability to cope with these responsibilities.
Adolescence is an age with problems: Adolescence is especially difficult for

boys and girls to cope with, for two reasons. First, throughout childhood, their
problems were met and solved in part at least by parents and teachers res ulting in
many Adolescents being inexperienced in coping with problems alone. Second,
because Adolescents feel that they are independent, they demand the right of
coping with their own independence, they demand the right of coping with their
own problems, regulating the attempts of parents and teachers to help them.
Their inability to cope with problems , results in their finding that the solutions
do not always come up to their expectations.
Adolescence is a time of search for identity: Conformity to group standards is

more important than individuality in the early years of Adolescence. Gradually

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they begin to crave identity and are no longer satisfied to be like their peers.
However, the ambiguous status of the Adolescent in today’s world presents a
dilemma that greatly contributes to the Adolescent “Identity Crisis” or the
problem of ego identity. As E.H. Erickson has explained, “The identity an
Adolescent seeks to clarify is who he is, what his role in society is to be. Is he a
child or is he an adult? Overall, will he be a success or a failure? ”.
Adolescents hope to attract attention to them and to be recognized as individuals
while, at the same time, maintaining their identity with the peer group.
Adolescence is a dreaded age: Acceptance of the cultural stereotype of teenagers

as sloppy, unreliable individuals who are inclined toward destructiveness and
antisocial behavior has influenced the self-concepts and attitudes of Adolescents
toward themselves, making the transition into adulthood difficult. It leads to
much friction with their parents and places a barrier between them and their
parents, which prevents them from turning to their parents for help in solving
their problems
Adolescence is a time of unrealism: Adolescents have a tendency to look life

through rose-tinted glasses; seeing themselves and others, they would like them
to be rather than as they are. This is true of Adolescent aspirations, which are
unrealistic and responsible for the heightened emotionality. As Adolescence
draws to a close feeling that this period of life is happier than what they will face
in adulthood, with its demands and responsibilities, it creates a tendency to
glamorize Adolescence.
Adolescence is the threshold of Adulthood: As Adolescents approach legal

maturity, they are anxious to shed the stereotype of teenagers and to create the
impression that they are near-adults. Apart from dressing and acting like adults,
they begin to concentrate on behavior that is associated with the adult status -

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smoking, drinking, using drugs, indulging in sex, etc., which they believe will
create the image they desire.
Physical Changes during Adolescence: There are individual differences in

physical changes. As physical changes slow down, the awkwardness of puberty
and Adolescence generally disappear. They are motivated to use their newly
acquired strength, which further helps them to overcome any awkwardness that
appeared earlier.
Few Adolescents experience body-cathexis or satisfaction with their bodies.

However, they do experience more dissatisfaction with some body parts than
with other parts. This failure to experience body-cathexis is one of the causes of
unfavorable self-concepts and lack of self-esteem during the Adolescent years.
Adolescents realize that people treat those who are more attractive more
favourably than those who are less attractive.
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Adolescence a developmental transition: “Adolescence is a developmental
transition between childhood and adulthood. In India, the Adolescent is a person
whose individuality has not yet been sufficiently recognized”.
When Adolescents become seniors at school, they are usually recognized by

their parents as nearly grown ups and on the verge of entering the adult world of
work, of going to college or of receiving vocational training of some kind. Their
status in school likewise makes them conscious of the responsibilities they have
never before been expected to assume as they take their place as “seniors” in
school. Awareness of this new and formally recognized status, both at home and
in school, motivates most Adolescents to behave in a more mature manner.
24 Dr. G. Das- Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

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Adolescence is a co-period of storm and stress: Many Adolescents come into

conflict with norms. They are divided between independence and conformity.
Their need to establish their identity often makes them confronting others.
Changes in the expression of emotions: Emotional expressions of Adolescents

are greatly influenced by maturity and training. They do not express their
emotions directly like young children but have great control over them.
Emotions become less general and more specific in expressions. With adult
guidance, they are able to control babyish anger, jealousy, fear etc. They learn to
use those expressions, which are more likely to be socially approved; in case of
an Adolescent, the heightened emotionality, results from the physical and
glandular changes. Sometimes, these changes make it difficult for him to make
necessary adjustments to new patterns of behaviour and new social expectation.
As a result, the Adolescent may suffer from anxiety and social pressure. Hence
this stage is also called the period of storm and stress.
Acquiring skills and building up attitude: During early Adolescence various

skills and special abilities are developed. In the later Adolescence, the individual
is more interested in the vocational courses, which will be useful for his adult
life. He also takes interest in reading novels, stories and other literature
concerned with romance, scientific invention, adventures, biographies etc. The
reasoning and abstract thinking also develop considerably in Adolescence.
Adolescence is a period of individuals’ emancipation: Western culture

emphasizes the teenage years as appropriate for establishing one's independence
as a mature person. The experiences of an Adolescent represent a struggle
towards the advancement of the behaviour pattern. The Adolescent becomes an
emancipated person who attempts to achieve a new self-definition in many ways.

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Westernized Interests: Adolescents are primarily interested in knowing more

about sex, and are especially curious about birth control, “pills”, abortion and
pregnancy. Boys on the other hand want to know about venereal diseases,
enjoyment of sex, sexual intercourse and birth control. Their major interest is in
sexual intercourse, its context and its consequences. Adolescents today are
sexually very active. Sexual activity like casual kissing, petting and genital
contact fulfill a number of Adolescent’s important needs, one of which is
physical pleasure. Some of the sexual behaviour and practices of Adolescence
are dating, masturbation, pre-marital sexual behavior and homosexual
tendencies.
Adolescents, like the students in high school, spend more than half of their
working hours with other teenagers and only very little of their time is spent with
their parents. Before young people become truly independent, they move from
being dependent on parents to being dependent on peers.
Friendships are likely to be closer and more intense in Adolescence than at any
other time of life. Adolescents have the most fun when they are doing something
with their friends with whom they feel free, open, involved, excited and
motivated. An important part of many teenagers’ lives is the music they listen to,
binding them to their peers and separating them from their parents. Music is an
important symbol, and rock music stands for many things in a teenager’s life.
Adolescence in today’s context: Adolescents are the citizens of tomorrow.

Behavioural patterns followed by a person during Adolescence will last a
lifetime. They influence the health and well being of an individual. Worldwide,
in the 21 st century, life is undergoing significant changes and the most affected
are the Adolescents.

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The health of Adolescents is strongly linked to their development. Their
physical, psychological and social abilities will decide what they do, how they
act and with whom they associate. Technology and advances in communication
have made the world a global village. Today, Adolescents are exposed to more
information and cultural alternatives than previous generation, providing them
with more cultural alternatives than in earlier periods, providing them with
liberal culturally diverse options, which cannot be easily exercised due to
economic constraints. Ironically, an Adolescent has to prepare for a global life of
competition, comparison and independent functioning in a dependent
environment.
Rapidly changing values social, moral, ethical and religious have ushered in
certain ‘Life Styles’ in the present society especially among the youth or
Adolescents affecting their health significantly. Some of the health problems and
behaviors prevalent among the Adolescents are poor eating habits, poor oral
hygiene, lack of rest, need for quick results, pleasure seeking behavior and
stress. Thus ‘Unholy Triad’ sums up these as substances abuse, violence and
early sexual experimentation.
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Stress and Adolescents: One of the greatest times of stress for families is the
onset of the Adolescent or teenage years. In today's complex society, these years
can be more turbulent than ever before. The frightening realities of AIDS, drugs,
violence and broken homes add a real dimension to stress that make being a
teenager one of the greatest challenges a young person will face. No parent is
perfect. Regardless of age, all children experience the stresses of life and are just
as prone to stress reactions as we are.
25, 2 Dr. Andrew Goliszek - 60 second stress management. Mumbai: Magna Publishing Co. Ltd, 1992.
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Psychological characteristics of adolescents: Adolescents are keenly aware of
the problems of morality. They are ambitious. They are not easily amenable to
discipline, authority and strictness. They favo ur freedom and democratic life.
They like permissive atmosphere. They want parents and teachers to be lenient
towards them. They tend to be rebellious by nature.
Conscience formation: takes place at this time and at times the adolescent is
disturbed by non-formation of values and double standards. Moreover when
peers or leaders in the contravening environment replace the authority of parents
and teachers, conscience of young people is further decimated by the beliefs and
teachings of these new educators namely, "stars" of the film world, sports and
political field.
The Adolescent is plunged into a whirlpool of confusion and needs much help to
form a sound system of val ues with some emotional, social and spiritual
stability. She/he needs to enter into a dialogue and share with caring adults both
in the home and community, and arrive at a mature ethos.
The Adolescent and Religion: Adolescents possess a self-owned yearning for

religion, God, worship, prayer and spiritual values. If religion is shown to them
as something which is not monotonous, irksome, and burdensome, and if God is
not pictured to them as a monstrous creature, ready to punish and condemn, then
Adolescents will find the fulfillment of their own achievements in the love of
God.
2
7 C. L. Kundu and D.N. Tutoo - Educational psychology. New Delhi: Sterling publishers private Limited, 1998.

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Needs of the Adolescents:
1. Visceral food, water, sleeps rest, clothing and

shelter.
A. Biological: 2. Safety needs - suitable temperature, protection

from dangers and external threats.
3. Sex urges - basic to the perpetuation of the species
and individual fulfillment.
4. Sensory, motor needs - need to have sensory and
motor exercises.
1. Need for love and affection.

2. Need for approval.
3. Need for nurturing.
B. Psychological:
4. Need for affiliation.
5. Need for orientation.
6. Need for feeling of adequacy.
7. Spiritual needs.
28 Marie Mignon Mascarenhas - Family life education, value education in the new millennium (Sixth Edition). Bangalore: CREST,
1999.

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1. Need for dominance.

2. Need for achievement.
3. Need for retention.
C. Egoistic Needs: 4. Need for attention.
5. Need for autonomy.
6. Need for acquisition.
7. Need for cognizance.
8. Need for destruction.
29
THEORIES ABOUT THE NATURE OF ADOLESCENCE:
According to Sigmund Freud, conflict is an essential part of the physical
changes of Adolescence; Freud viewed conflict as a preparatory phenomenon to
the genital stage of mature adult’s sexuality.
Anna Freud considered the Adolescent years more important for the formatio n of
personality. She believed that the libido, which quieted during the latency years,
reawakens in Adolescence and threatens to upset the delicate balance of ego and
id. The resultant anxiety calls forth such ego defense mechanism as
intellectualization and asceticism.
Erik Erickson (1968) believed that the chief task of Adolescence is to resolve the
conflict of identity versus identity confusion- to become a unique adult with an
important role in life. To form a person’s identity, the ego organizes abilities
needs, desires, and helps adapt them to the demands of society. The search for
29 Dr. G. Das - Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

22
identity is lifelong –it comes into focus during Adolescence. Erickson sees the
primary danger of this stage as identity (or role) confusion which can express
itself in a young person's taking an excessively long time (until after 30) to reach
adulthood. However, a certain amount of identity confusion is normal and
accounts for the chaotic, volatile nature of much Adolescent behaviour, as well
as self-consciousness about appearance.
G.Stanley Hall explains the "storm and stress" of Adolescence. Hall, the first
psychologist to formulate a theory of Adolescence proposed that the major
physical changes that take place at this time cause major psychological changes.
He believed that young people's efforts to adjust to their changing bodies
ushered in a period of "storm and stress". Hall saw Adolescence as a period of
intense, fluctuating emotions from which young people may emerge morally
stronger. Although this view of Adolescence as an invariably stormy period of
life was widely accepted for many years, the dominant opinion today is that
storm and stress are not inevitable for most Adolescents
Margaret Mead emphasized the importance of cultural factors in shaping the

personality of the Adolescent. Mead was an anthropologist who studied
Adolescence in the South Pacific Islands off Somoa (1928) and New Geneva
(1935). She emphasized the importance of cultural factors in the transitions of
Adolescence. Mead observed "storm and stress" but rather a serene and gradual,
transition from childhood to adulthood and an easy acceptance of adult roles.
She concluded that Adolescence is relatively stress- free in a society.
Harold W Bernard also subscribes to the opinion that Adolescence is a cultural

phenomenon. In some societies, the young person passes swiftly and smoothly
from childhood to adulthood. Sometimes, "pubertal rites are held to mark the
recognition of the young as an adult. He can then marry and assume his adult
role in the society". However, in western countries, this transition from

23
childhood to adulthood is not so smooth and it is accomplished in stages and by

degrees. In this context Bernard says, "Thus one often may, by law be allowed to
marry at 16 years of age, be compelled to stay in school at 18 and vote when 21
and continue in school till the late twenties".
According to the biological explanations based on psychological tranquility, the

Adolescent youngster is confronted with a chaotic and strong sexual drive. He
experiences unpredictable anxiety, stress and strain during this period of puberty
and takes recourse to many activities as means of avoiding threat of sex.
The cultural interpretation of Adolescence states that (a) Adolescents experience

a rapidly widening life - space along geographic, social and future time-
dimensions, and (b) are caught in ambiguous overlapping between the roles of
the child and adult. In a dynamic and heterogeneous culture with ambiguous and
conflicting situations young adolescents feel ill equipped to tackle them.
Therefore, they are engrossed with conflicts, values, emotional tension and
extreme attitudes.
PROBLEMS OF ADOLESCENTS:
As people live together personal problems, family problems and community
problems appear on the horizon of everyday living. Drug abuse, homelessness,
crime, delinquency, mental illness, suicide, school dropouts and numerous other
social problems which are around us at every turn. Globalization has not only
affected the economy alone, it has affected every individual, their behaviour and
the society in a whole. The changes taking place in the society further leads to
adolescent problems.
Features of changes in the society:

The whole society is changing; this includes changes in our very social fabric,
changes in our surroundings and changes in us as individuals. Changes began to

24
take place in our way of life; in our lifestyle. Changes take place even into our
manner of thinking. This was not only in the world of grown-ups but in the
world of children as well. So, naturally changes also come about in parenting
patterns.
The educational system is also responsible for a good portion of this change.
Schools no longer cater to just academic achievements and excellence. Extra-
curricular activities like sports, games, arts and crafts have their place as well.
Parents are putting in greater efforts on their behalf and a lot of focus is directed
towards them in terms of budgeting, living location, fixing the social calendar
and so on. It sounds to be an easy task. The end-result is stress.
This stress is taking a heavy toll on parent’s sense of well being and creating
untold problems for parents to whom children are the embodiment of their
unfulfilled dreams and ambitions, insurance for the future and their sourc e of joy
and happiness. This pressure is transmitted in turn to the Adolescents and
affects their well being too.
Children today know more, learn more, and want more. They make demands on
their parents, which cannot always be met. More often parents do not agree with
many of these demands. This leads to arguments, friction and tears on both
sides. The media blitzes have a very bad effect on youth.
Globalization has further brought about social strains that were non-existent
before. At the time of Independence, it was said that our country was fifty years
behind the times. As time went by, this too began to change. For example: the
fads and fashions of the West of the 1950’s were being followed here in the mid-
1960; those of the ‘60s in the ‘70s and so on. Today, it is all copied in the same
year, the same month and perhaps even in the same week. What is even more

25
striking now is that we in India are also becoming trend setters in many foods
and fashions.
30
Cultural gap: In India, we are not merely facing a generation gap today, but a
wide cultural gap. The result is more and more friction between parents and
children, which reaches its peak during Adolescence. Parents are realizing that
children cannot be controlled any more. They want to be seen and heard.
They have no time for cumbersome procedures to do anything the ‘old

fashioned’ way. There are pre-furnished houses. There are services available
within minutes or ‘just a phone call away’ or ‘at your doorstep’. Parents want
advice in the area of parenting on the same lines, something similar to a ‘do-it-
yourself kit’.
31
Disorganization of city: Absence of community feelings, lack of family unity,
moral laxity, unstable personality, increase in crimes, disorganization, marital
problems, shortage of houses, diversity, artificial and dependent existence and
stimulating atmosphere. Urbanization has lead to decline in social sympathy,
lack of informal social control, decline in family control, decline in the influence
of religion, changes in the status of women, changes in the institution of
marriage, changes in family structure, professionalisation of entertainment,
scarcity of living accommodation, slums, changes in moral values, breakdown of
joint family, increase in evil professions, increase in the incidence of crime,
increase in juvenile delinquency, corruption, conflict and competition.
32
Mental Health among the adolescents: Mental health experts say that the shift
towards the nuclear family living has brought about disorientation because of the
30, Das G- Developmental Psychology. New Delhi: King Books Educational publishers, 2000.
31 3
, 2 Laxmi Narain Agarwal - Social Disorganisation. Agra: Agarwal publications, 1992.

26
absence of emotional roots. It has given rise to many neuroses that are reflected
in the growing fragmentation of our society.
Adolescents notice their physical appearance at this period, if their physique

does not match with that of an average person, it causes tension and worries in
them. We come across several cases where their attempts to solve these
problems have caused health hazards.
The overall increase in the number of AIDS patients, especially in the age group
of 15-30 and experimenting sex has lead many into a death trap. If they fail to
succeed in any relationships, they land up in psychological problems like
depression and anxiety.
In spite of all its drawbacks and iniquities the joint family system of the ‘good
old days’ had a sound in-built support system that cannot be debated upon. In the
large joint families, friction was present but wisely diffused by an older member
of the household or the ‘head of the family’. One did not have to go to legal or
social counselors to sort out husband-wife squabbles or children’s
maladjustments. Within the joint family, children did not feel alienated from
family and friends. They were never lonely. There was always a sibling or a
cousin to play with. There was always someone to listen to them. There was
always a lap to snuggle in and a shoulder to cry on. To cap it all there was
always someone to shower affection on them, give them a hug or a kiss at
frequent intervals. Children felt loved and secure even during the so -called
turbulent teens.
Our nation was moving from the era of labour to machine-based economy. This
led to an evolution from a rural to the urban-based family system. The nuclear
family system became the new unit of society. With its rise, things began to

27
change. Tasks had increased since mothers started working and time was at a
premium, and parents just had no time for their children.
33
Working Mothers: Changes in parenting patterns also emerged due to the
increasing number of educated women and working mothers. Man is no longer
the only earning member of the family. Woman became a co-earning member
now. In a number of cases this was due to a financial need, which could be
traced to rising prices and cost of living. In many cases it was also because
women wanted to find a creative outlet and assist their own personality. They
not only wanted to walk hand-in-hand with men but to work shoulder to shoulder
with them in their quest for an ideal marriage and a happy family.
In fact, today, more and more mothers are asserting their views and exercising
their ideas of bringing up children. At the same time, fathers are also beginning
to attach more importance to their role as fathers and have begun to take more
interest in their children.
There is greater awareness about parental roles and duties and parents do talk of
spending quality time with their children and being a friend particularly to their
Adolescent children. However, there is very little that translates into actual
practice. Parents are so busy earning a living or striving to achieve their
ambitions that they really do not have the time. Distance between home and the
workplace and commuting further aggravates this problem.
34
Latchkey Problems: Left to fend for themselves most of the time children are
often left unguided and unsharpened. A number of problems have arisen because
of this. Some of these include laziness loss of interest in school and the fact that
they are left alone in the house, and the problems multiply - extended telephone
33, Sumathi Ghosh - The penguin guide to Adolescent behaviour. New Delhi: Penguin Books India (p)
ltd., 1999.
3 , Das G - Developmental Psychology. New Delhi: King Books Educational publishers, 2000
4 .
28
calls resulting in phenomenal bills; having friends over leading to messing up the
house and emptying the refrigerator; experimenting with sex and drugs and
alcohol, viewing blue films and devouring pornographic literature.
This situation has arisen not merely because of the working mother; It is also
because of the non-availability of proper domestic help. Parents are ‘killing
themselves’ trying to make life easy and comfortable for their children-
Adolescents in particular. Therefore, they have little or no time to communicate
and interact with their children.
35
Family disorganization: family disorganization is mainly due to lack of family
unity, decrease in family control, strife, laxity in marital bonds, lack of
protection, conflict between parents and children.
a) Changes in family life are reduction in the economic functions of life,

reduction in other activities of family, increase in family recreation, laxity in
marital and sex relationships, changes in relationship of men and women,
increase in importance of children, decrease in the importance of blood
relationship, disorganization of joint family, smaller family, family
disorganization and instability.
b) New problems confronting the family are problems of adjustment between the
husband and wife relationship, problem of sexual adjustment, marriage based on
romantic love, problems of broken marriage, problems of working women, laxity
in family control, family conflict and lower birth rate.
c) Divorced or Separated Parents: The divorce rate and incidences of separation

have increased tremendously during the last two decades. The effect it has on
35 G.R.Madhan – Social Disorganization and Social Reconstruction in India. India: Karnataka

University, 1973.

29
Adolescents is far more traumatic than were an Adolescent to lose a parent. This
is primarily because tension, disagreements, arguments and fights often
dominate the preceding period. This may completely drain those who are
affected with emotions. What often remains is a feeling of emptiness and even
bitterness. It is most traumatic when the case has been fought out in court and
the battle for custody of the child had been involved.
To Adolescents all this could spell doom and the end of the world. They feel
very embarrassed to discuss it with friends and peers. It becomes very difficult to
Adolescents when their loyalties are divided, as they must be when parents
separate. Their self-image takes a nosedive and it affects their behaviour.
Indian culture and tradition can make a divorced woman carry some sting. She
experiences a mixed feeling of embarrassment, anger, resentment and a kind of
free-floating anxiety about the future. Since social gatherings in urban India are
dominated by invitations extended to husband and wife, the change in status
affects the single parent with almost no invitation forthcoming. Going out is
difficult and they become very isolated. That is why women become so child-
oriented after divorce. The Adolescents feel stifled by this as all attention of
mothers is centered on them. They feel a lack of privacy and a sense of being
caged.
Adolescents are at a loss about role models that they can consistently emulate .
The parents too are not sure how to guide them. They know that the scientific
and electronic age is important, but they do not want to let go of their culture and
their traditions. They are always trying to strike a balance between Western
influences and our own culture and heritage.

30
36
Personal adjustment: Quite a Number of students of our college and university
campuses find themselves in the grip of personal adjustment problems. Drug
addiction is no longer an uncommon experience in our institutions o f higher
learning. Unfortunately, the suicide rate among the students too is increasing. All
these factors imply that we take a hard realistic look at the problems of the
Adolescents to take right measures at the right time in their life. Pressures on the
home front are numerous. One of the primary ones relates to studies. So the
social pressures tend to carry over to school life.
Relationships: The pressures at school often exist because of the insecurity at

home. Of course, the school itself can be a hotbed of tension in several areas;
academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, adjustmental problems
with teachers and peers, relationships with classmates and schoolmates. The
negative relationship with the parents, teachers, and classmates disturb the
Adolescents.
Stress: Stress is one of the major health hazards of the modern world affecting
all people irrespective of age, gender, education, occupation, domiciliary status,
finance, region, race, ethnicity and nationality. All young people today face
significant stresses in their lives and many go through their youth without
significant problems. However, nearly one in five children and Adolescents will
have emotional and behavioral disorders at sometime in their young lives
regardless of their geographic region or social economic status. Even by
conservative estimates ten percent of child population, has mental disorder with
serious associated impairments, including learning problems, health problems
and drug abuse, at any given time. At least three percent of school children
suffer from serious emotional disturbances such as severe depression, suicidal
thoughts, psychosis and serious attention problems (Kapur 1994).
36 Prem pasricha- Guidance and counselling in Indian education. New Delhi: The secretary National council of educational
Research and Training, 1976.

31
Stress is not a modern disease; however, it is a life experience as old as t he

human species. The stress itself does not cause the illness but helps to bring it
about by decreasing immunity. Studies have shown that stress can be a major
factor in triggering the onset of hypertension. In a study of 9-16 year-olds, it was
discovered that a routine act such as reading aloud in front of classmates caused
insignificant elevations in blood pressure. Studies continued to show that it is not
only adults, but also children, who fall victims to hypertension as a direct result
of stressful events in their lives.
Juvenile Delinquency: Juvenile delinquency is a social phenomenon that could

be universally observed. The processes of industrialization, urbanization and
individualization have further accentuated the span of delinquency.
A child is the maker of the future society. Therefore, during their period of
growth the parents invest in them their energy, resources and hopes and rear
them up so that they could take up the socially established roles and continue the
heritage begotten by them through generational transfer on becoming an adult.
This is a universal explanation of highlighting conformity as a process in the
internalization of social norms and values. Thus, there occurs character
formation along with the development of personality, which reflects in his
normal social behaviour. When the parents fail in their responsibilities, they
deviate and behave as delinquents causing injury to both individuals and society.
37
Criminologists stress that crimes among the Indian youth have increased. The
department of Tata Institute of Social Sciences has done the study on various
aspects of crimes. These studies have stated that the crime rate is at 40% among
the youth; of all groups. According to National Crime Bureau, 56% of the crimes
are committed by the youth aged between 16-25. In Mumbai in 1998, murder
37 Ram Ahuja –“Youth and Crime”-criminology. New Delhi: Rawat Publications, 2000.

32
rate was 551, out of which 80% of them were committed by the youth and they
were the first attempts in the field of crime.
Elders put Adolescents into confusion, by treating them as children and grown-
up simultaneously. Therefore, Adolescents want to prove their identity to their
parents and usually they adopt unhealthy and dangerous means/hobbies. E.g.
smoking, alcohol consumption, drug addiction, open discussion of sexual
activities, vulgarity, watching blue films, sexual experiments, suicidal attempts
and other criminal activities like rape and murder.
Drug Addiction: When problems merge and seem to be heavy for the
Adolescents, they take refuge in drugs. Drug addiction among Adolescents has
spread throughout the country; even villages are not excluded. Any drug addict
will follow any means to earn/have it, and will not hesitate to commit any crime.
They become very dangerous to their family members and the society and may
attack anyone anytime, like lions on the prowl.
38
Adolescents’ problem of development is of basic nature. If they are warmly
accepted at home, they will feel happy and emotionally secure. If they move into
a group of peers, which is dominated by youngsters, they are likely to have
different values. Other factors can also influence their behaviour. A good home
may do well and a bad home may affect their social and mental adjustment.
Healthy attitudes in Adolescents are necessary. They can stand up better to
problems of the world in such a situation. If they are uncertain of their worth,
there can be a lot of problems for them.
Teenage Pregnancies: Parents fail to understand their growing children’s

inhibitions regarding sex matters and the Indian family scene is still embedde d in
38 Das G- Developmental Psychology. New Delhi: King Books Educational publishers, 2000.

33
the age-old concept. The changes occurring in the Adolescents and the lack of
guidance combine to create a communication gap between the two generations,
which has lead to many complicated problems. Added to this there are problems
of early marriages among Adolescents. The problems raised out of these
marriages usually affect the personality of the females as well the personality of
the children born to them.
Problems of adolescent socialization: Many Adolescents have problems of

socializing and they are merged into the adult world. These are sex hormone
related and need understanding. The physical growth and development during
Adolescence have a great impact on the emotional world of a youth. An
Adolescent boy or a girl gets a newer body having newer ideas and attitudes. The
main aspect of their thought is that they pose themselves to be the fittest in the
adult world. But they can also have a serious inferiority complex.
Conduct disorder is noticed in actions such as truancy, defense-mechanism,

stealing others money, absenting from the school, usage of bad language against
the teachers, retaliating nature, threatening/physically attacking the teachers, etc.
The thoughts of communalism are easily sprouting in the Adolescent minds
along with other peer pressures.
The problem of Adolescents is a never-ending problem; Like any other human

problem it can never be obsolete, it can never be ended with a full stop. To
elaborate on this is a factual point to say that it started from Adam and it will last
long as this world lasts.

34
CAUSES FOR THE PROBLEMS OF ADOLESCENTS:

Technological changes have made a major impact upon people’s lives and work.
Industrialization has resulted in social and vocational mobility. It has affected
child-rearing practices too. The causes for adolescent problems are studied under
the following sub heads:
Individual: Adolescence is preceded by childhood. It is widely acknowledged

that maximum development takes place during the first six years of childhood.
Children show a tremendous capacity to absorb a lot from their surroundings that
consist of their homes, families, peer groups and the general environment they
are exposed to. It is important to note that whatever children feel or observe is
stored up in their subconscious mind. In addition, memories so accumulated
since childhood have a profound impact on ‘the growing up into maturity stage’
i.e. Adolescence.
Moral values are assaulted almost everyday by materialism that has crept into
our society. Consequently, we lack conviction and the resulting “practice what
you preach” attitude of the younger generation towards the older generation has
complicated each and every aspect of a child’s life.
Adolescence undoubtedly is the most crucial part of our life. For that matter
during this phase, a number of changes begin to take place – both physical and
behavioural. There is doubt and confusion in the minds of teenagers. They are
often torn between what they are told by their parents, what they find outside and
what they actually want to do. All this has its effect on the family and
particularly the parents.
Family: Adolescents are deprived of imbibing the culture and traditional values,
which they formerly did through grand parents and felt time with mothers and
aunts in the joint family way. They have time, which they spend with their peers.

35
Radio, movies, cheap literature and other media for communication retard their
moral growth and transmit shallow short-lived goals and estrange them from
older generation.
With joint families becoming increasingly extinct and nuclear families a norm,
the first casualty with both earning parents is the family ties. There is hardly any
interaction between parents and children, which has an adverse effect on both.
Parents tend to shower their children with materialistic things in order to
compensate for their absence. This becomes a problem later on when this
generosity backfires and the children get out of hand and become rude and
disrespectful when their wishes are not granted immediately.
39
Social: Influence of the Peer Group: The peer group is everything to
Adolescents. It constitutes their real world. That is the yardstick by which they
function. It determines their attitudes, values, lifestyle and behaviour.
40
According to Mr. Bunsel, the ps ychological reasons for suicide are the
inferiority complex and its fulfillment. Runaway have been characterized as
insecure, unhappy and impulsive (Jenkins and Stable 1972), having low self -
esteem (Beyer 1974), and feeling out of control (Bart Ollas, 1975 ) the bulk of
research on runaways shows them to be more disturbed than normal teenagers.
This is evident from the steep rise in the cases of run away children and in the
crimes committed by them. Criminologists stress that the crimes among the
41
Indian youth have risen. The department of Tata Institute of Social Sciences
has done a study on various aspects of crimes. These studies have stated that the
crime rate is at 40% among the youth, where all the different groups of youth
39, Laxmi Narain Agarwal - Social Disorganisation. Agra: Agarwal publications, 1992.
40,Das G- Developmental Psychology. New Delhi: King Books Educational publishers, 2000.

36
belong. According to National Crime Bureau, 56% of the crimes are committed
by the youth aged between 16-25years. In Mumbai in 1998, murder committed
was 551, out of which 80% of them were committed by the youth and they were
their first attempts in the field of crime.
Grueling and De Blassie (1980) have found that suicide is the second leading
cause of death among Adolescents. The concept of suicide is not limited to self -
murder. Some contend that suicide is simply the ultimate form of self-destructive
behaviour. According to Miller (1975) the causes of Adolescent suicide include,
1. Feelings of isolation; 2. Stress due to strained relations with parents or in
reaction to parental abuse; 3. Drug abuse; 4. Alienation from society; 5.
Depression; 6. High suggestibility to suicidal ideas; 7. Internalized, self-directed
aggression and; 8. A need to communicate, a desire for help.
To prove that they are grown-up, independent and to oppose the elders whenever
they restrict them, they adopt unhealthy and dangerous means/hobbies. E.g.
smoking, alcohol consumption, drug addiction, discussing about sexual activity
openly, vulgarity, watching blue films, sexual experiments, suicidal tendencies
and other criminal activities like rape, murder etc.
Adolescents quickly realize and oppose partial treatment by their parents and
teachers. This may lead to psychological problems in them like depression,
42
anxiety etc. Parents fail to understand their growing children’s inhibitions
regarding sex related matters. Reserved and withdrawn attitude of the parents
makes matters worse for these youngsters. Ignorance pertaining to natural
phenomena of life like masturbation and menstruation has lead to many
complicated problems.

37
Most teenagers are more concerned about their physical appear ance than about
any other aspect of themselves and many are dissatisfied with what they see in
the mirror –especially if they are maturing much sooner or later than most of
their friends.
There is enough stress placed on Adolescents by the education system. The

parents who should be the source of strength and support put additional strain on
them. A number of these anxieties end in suicide attempts.
The areas that bring about these negative reactions to school are many. The
most common are poor teaching, boring lessons, too much homework, strict and
meaningless rules and regulations, and the manner in which the school is run.
Adolescent students are often critical of teachers, not just the way they teach but
also the way they dress, behave and play favorites.
EFFECTS OF ADOLESCENT PROBLEMS:

India has its own traditional culture where family relationships are very strong.
However, if the Adolescent problems increase, these relationships will lose their
values and people will go astray. It becomes very tough to build a harmonious
society. The increase in juvenile delinquency would lead to increased rate of
crime. Education level would decrease the value for education. Early Adolescent
marriages will lead to broken marriages. There will be increased numbe r of
maladjusted families due to lack of proper guidance. The values of Indian
families will be completely lost. As per the famous proverb “Today’s child is
tomorrow’s citizen” and the problematic Adolescents of today would be the
problematic citizens of tomorrow. The highest suicide rates will create an
adverse impact on the other youth.

38
43
Adolescents bring their family to the school in the sense, the tensions,
frustrations, and conflicts experienced at home affect their behaviour in school.
This indicates the education level would fall due to the increase in school
dropouts.
Juvenile delinquency is a social phenomenon that is universally observed. The

processes of industrialization, urbanization and individualization have further
accentuated the span of delinquency. The increase in Juvenile delinquency
would lead to increased rate of crime.
All these Problems call for a new horizon to keep the society intact; therefore
changes in all spheres of life should be taken to account more to the problem of
adolescents which is a crucial period.
MEANING AND DEFINITION OF COUNSELLING:

The people who go for counselling are normal people who need help to cope
with their personal problems. The goal is to achieve a better personal adjustment
and growth in maturity by stimulating the counselees to exploit their potential
and use more of their resources. The psychologists, marriage counselors, pastoral
counselors, teachers, parents and friends practice personal counselling. They
exhibit a deeper self-knowledge, a change of attitude and modification of self-
perception of others.
Counselling is an act of assistance. When a person is in difficulty and seeks out

someone in whom he has confidence for advice and guidance, a situation exists
for counselling. It requires the special knowledge skill and competence of a
counselor in order to understand the problem of the other person in the
perspective of the other person and then lead to the person through a process of

39
discovery to a solution or alternative solutions, which are not only feasible but
acceptable to the person. The art of counselling depends so much on specific
knowledge, understanding, skill attitudes and values of the counselor that it has
become a specialized job for which one requires professionalism.
Counselling is a familiar concept in our society. Since time immemorial, people

have sought advice from elders. In times of difficulty, involving difficult
decision making, individuals have found it helpful to go to an older, more
experienced and educated and seek help for taking important decisions. During a
conflict situation, people find it helpful to talk to someone and unburden the
tension caused by the conflict. This however is not professional counselling.
Counselling is a relationship in which a counselor helps people with problems of

behaviour, which are closely connected with their motivation and emotional
experiences. The level of emotional maturity and integration is directly related
with the ability of the individual to tackle these problems and is a function of the
individual’s life history. It is often believed that normal people do not need
counselling. The present point of view, however fails to support this belief. On
the contrary, it suggests that all people may gain from psychological counselling.
Rogers defines counselling as “A series of direct contacts with the individual

which aims to offer him assistance in changing his attitudes and behaviour”.
Rogers also mentions that (1962) ‘counselling is to enhance the personal
development and psychological growth toward a socialized maturity of its
clients’. Shostrom and Brammer define it as “A self-adjustive process, which
helps the client become more self-directive and self-responsible”.
Counselling is an old and well-known concept in Indian society but the type of
work done under the traditional set-up differs significantly from the professional
counselling. Traditional work can more appropriately be called advising because

40
it consists of information giving, based on the experience of the older individual.

Counselling in the professional sense is helping the problems of a counselee,
based on empirical study and understanding of the individual, his interests,
aptitudes and emotional maturity. Counselling is a one-to one relationship in
which a professionally qualified individual tries to help another individual who
is caught up in emotional conflicts and difficult decision-making.
This however is not professional counselling; it is different, in the sense that it is

based on empirical evidence rather than the subjective judgements of the
counselor. During traditional counselling parents have often counselled their
children to go to a particular profession simply because that was the line they
themselves would have liked to pursue but could not.
Every human being sometime or the other has experienced conflicting fe elings
and desires, which cause dissatisfaction and unhappiness when he takes an
action or fails to do so. He is unable to adjust to this discrepancy between his
feelings and desires on the one hand and the demands of the world on the other.
Maturity and integration are required to bring about harmony in the inner desires
and the external demands. The process requires the individual to exercise some
control over himself and his urges, to achieve a certain degree of freedom from
the external demands. There are significant individual differences among people
as far as the maturity and the integration are concerned. At times people need
help in establishing harmony between their desires and the expectations of the
world; this is the process where counselling begins.
Every well wisher of education today feels that educational institutions should
take extra responsibility in providing guidance and counselling to improve the
performance of students in different spheres, introduce an atmosphere conducive
to intellectual excellence and minimize tensions.

41
In the ancient universities of our country like Nalanda and Taxila, the learned
monks were sagacious and wise in their handling of students. They were
occupied with the process of guidance and counselling, of course informal and
incidental right from admission of students to these seats of higher learning to
see them through to enter the world of work and face life. The process was
highly successful as these monks knew the students and no undesirable element
could either enter or stay in the universities. Even the old ‘Gurukula’ system of
this ancient land was very healthy and led to harmonious relations between the
teacher and the taught. All this was possible because the number of students was
small, courses of study were simple and job opportunities were limited and
world of work was more or less stable and students had few problems. Now
with the tremendous increase in the number of students in the educational
institutions, rapidly changing world of work and great complexity of student’s
needs and problems, there is a definite need for providing a time nucleus for an
organized programme of professional help, in the form of guidance and
counselling by mature, experienced and professionally qualified persons for the
development of all the unique personalities of the students, for individual
fulfillment in particular and social and national uplift in general
Good teachers have always been interested in providing understanding assistance

to students to over come problems of learning and adjustment so as to ensure
optimum achievement and profitable placement.
The need for guidance and counselling is felt the most during career choice.
With our society getting industrialized so rapidly, the young students need help
with information about various jobs available to them and the requirements,
responsibilities and the nature of work involved in a particular job or career. The
need for counselling is enhanced with larger number of students seeking
admissions to colleges. Education is no more a privilege of the elite; our

42
educational institutions are open to all who can meet the minimum standards set
for admissions.
The individual student brings with him the attitudes, beliefs and the values
typical of his own background. Conflicts arise between two sets of values which
require professional help. In order to be able to derive the maximum benefit
from the educational facilities, it is necessary for the student to make an
adjustment between the values at home and the values prevalent in the school.
Here again a counselor may be helpful to him.
The student is required to make a place for himself in the social and co -
curricular life of the institution besides maintaining his status in the curricular
and academic sphere. This involves the skill to budget his time and energy
between the curricular and the co-curricular both of which are equally important
to the total development of his personality. A counselor can help him with this
adjustment and budgeting of his time.
Children bring their family to the school in the sense that the tensions,
frustrations, and conflicts experienced at home affect their behaviour in school.
A counselor helps children understand and modify emotional attitude that may
have grown out of the home environment. Many other social factors add to the
insecurity experienced by the student. Competition for positions, fulfillment of
ambitions and high goals, unemployment and the economic strain are a few that
can be mentioned.
The counselor does not make plans and decisions for the counselee. Neither does
he solve his problems. He confines himself to help the client gain new
perceptions and insights into his problems, change his behaviour patterns so that
they are satisfying for him and acceptable to the group he is a member of.

43
NEED FOR COUNSELLING:

44
We live in a challenging, fascinating world. We have learned how to go to the
moon and project a satellite around Mars, yet we often have difficulty reaching
some one in the same room. We live in a fast moving, push-button space age; yet
we find that people are still the centre of the world and its values. The rocks, the
stars, and the moon are important; but human beings are more important.
A growing individual needs counselling help at various developmental stages in

his life. He needs help when he is choosing a career and he needs help when he
is faced with conflicting situations and emotional frustrations. A counselor does
not make plans and decisions for the counselee but he helps him in developing
skills to make his own decisions. Counselling aims at attitudinal change and does
not concern itself with action. Counselling functions at the emotional level and
does not confine itself to the intellectual learning. The nature of relationship
between the counselor and the counselee is the most important aspect of the
counselling process. If properly established and generalized, it helps the
counselee with his adjustment with other people too.
Problems of Adolescents in India are more complex. They arise out of the
Adolescent’s total interaction with the environment which has various aspects
namely, educational, social, cultural, economic, and religious. In the grip of
personal adjustment problems, loneliness and feeling of insecurity, conflict with
peers and teachers, low academic achievements; bad company, sexual problems
etc., create emotional tensions and anxieties in the students. To face these
practical problems of helping the youngsters, teachers in schools have to
understand the psychology of the child and the Adolescent wherein the much
earlier times the teacher in India performed the role of a guru, which included
counselling. It is no longer possible in the present times.
44 S.D.Mudgal - An Introduction to Social Work. Jaipur: Book Enclave, 1997.

44
Understanding students and perceiving them correctly is the basic tenet of

counselling. Understanding of student behaviour should not be based on
generalizations and qualitative impressions; our judgments in this area should be
based on research and empirical studies conducted on student behaviour. In 1960
The All India Educational and Vocational Guidance Association started work on
the first nationwide survey of student problems and guidance needs. Some of the
most revealing findings of this survey were: 1) On the whole male students
marked more problems than female students did. 2) More males than females
worry about the future. 3) More males than female students expressed a concern
with problems of sex and friendship with members of the opposite sex.
The developmental tasks are saddled with the growth needs seeking satisfaction.
Unsatisfied growth needs often lead to certain adjustment problems which need
professional help from the counselor. The growth need during which the
counselor is called upon is the need to belong, the need to express and the need
to succeed. Understanding needs and behaviour is a helpful quality of teachers
and parents but is a requirement for successful counselling.
Understanding of students and their needs can be enhanced and the work with
their problems made more effective if the teacher or counselor possesses certain
personal qualities in them. Warm personality with attraction to draw people and
to encourage them to confide in the counselor is an important help in counselling
work. Cold personality is likely to keep young people at a distance and
discourage them from confiding in the counselor.
Adolescents should be allowed to grow according to their own interest.

Adolescents want freedom and activities; they want to enter into spontane ous
relationships with other persons. They want to be powerful and ambitious. If
environment is not very congenial for the growth, they may develop dislikes for
the things around them. They show a need for affection and attention. Rejected

45
Adolescents are likely to encounter difficulties in many ways. They may not
learn to bank on their own worth or feel confident about their own resources.
Counselling aims to help an individual with his problems, which may be

educational, vocational or personal in nature. This kind of help is possible only
when information regarding different aspects of the individual’s life is available.
To procure comprehensive and reliable information, the counselor uses certain
professional techniques.
SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION IN SCHOOLS:

45
Socialisation, which is “taken to mean the process of training a human being
for social participation in his group”, is achieved through a number of
socializing agents of which family and school stand out. Together they exert the
most profound influence on the growing child.
In recent times, there is a growing realization that both school and family should
work in close collaboration with each other. Accordingly, conscious efforts are
being made to identify ways and means by which these two systems can join
hands effectively. The necessities of home - school linkage and increasing
responsibilities of schools have necessitated the induction of professionals, other
than teachers and administrators, in present day schools.
Among several professionals who have found a place in school, one is the social
worker. Equipped with the principles and methods of social work, special skills
and knowledge of counselling and of facilitating, communication, they play
numerous roles in school. To be brief they try to prevent or remove the
disequilibrium caused by the interaction of the child with his environment.
45 Rameshwari Devi and Ravi Prakash -Social Work Practices. Jaipur: Mangal Deep Publications, 2001.

46
Professionals like psychiatrist, psychologists and social workers are engaged in

the field of promoting mental health and are beginning to recognize the school as
an agency for the promotion of Mental Health.
The profession of social work, likewise, views intervention in school as

meaningful, purposive and effective. Expressing similar views Norma Rodin
remarks, "It is in school that children can be crippled psychologically for life or
aroused to do great things. Schools are seen by many, where the action is -
therefore a primary target for creative and energetic social work”. Social
workers are becoming more and more interested in preventive aspects of
delinquency and crime. Philosophically, they believe that if more time and talent
can be put into preventing anti-social behavior in the first place, society as well
as individuals and families, will be much better off. Several studies show that
there are many boys and girls in school who are near delinquents and will get
into trouble if something is not done to help them solve their problems and
adjust to school, their families and life in general. Marriage and family
counselling, particularly pre-marital counselling is another avenue that seems to
be promising in preventing social ills.
Social workers work with principals, teachers, pupils and parents. Frequently
they work with the teacher and the principal striving for greater understanding of
the difficulty that confronts the pupils. School social workers are an 'extended
arm' of the educator in fulfilling educational objectives. They act as consultants
as well as caseworkers, group workers and community organizers. They share
knowledge with pupils, teachers and parents and other supporting disciplines.
Their special contributions and strengths are the pattern and character of practice
- direct and indirect - uniquely identified with the profession of social work. In
the school itself, social workers provide diagnostic counselling and treatment
services to individuals or groups or arrange for such services.

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CHAPTER I

Technological advancements and the changing socio-economic and political

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

MEANING AND DEFINITION OF ADOLESCENCE

The time of growing up from childhood to adulthood is known as the

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

2 Das G - Developmental Psychology: King Books: Delhi 2000.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Physical growth and development during Adolescence have a great impact on

Definition of the term ‘adolescent’ under various aspects:

 8 Chronologically, Adolescence ranges from age 12 to 18 years.

8 Manju Mehta - Adolescent Psychology. Jaipur: Pointer Publishers, 2000.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

17 Das G. - Developmental Psychology, Delhi: King Books, 2000

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Personality Development gets stronger at this period and continues to be in the

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Adolescence is something dynamic, something that changes from moment to

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Development of new attitude towards oneself and others: Adolescents develop

23. Dr. G. Das- Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Adolescence is a transitional period: Transition does not mean a break with or a

Confusing and dual standards: Adolescence is not an easy stage by any

Adolescence is a period of change: The rate of change in attitudes and behaviour

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Adolescence is an age with problems: Adolescence is especially difficult for

Adolescence is a time of search for identity: Conformity to group standards is

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Adolescence is a dreaded age: Acceptance of the cultural stereotype of teenagers

Adolescence is a time of unrealism: Adolescents have a tendency to look life

Adolescence is the threshold of Adulthood: As Adolescents approach legal

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Physical Changes during Adolescence: There are individual differences in

Few Adolescents experience body-cathexis or satisfaction with their bodies.

When Adolescents become seniors at school, they are usually recognized by

24 Dr. G. Das- Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Adolescence is a co-period of storm and stress: Many Adolescents come into

Changes in the expression of emotions: Emotional expressions of Adolescents

Acquiring skills and building up attitude: During early Adolescence various

Adolescence is a period of individuals’ emancipation: Western culture

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Westernized Interests: Adolescents are primarily interested in knowing more

Adolescence in today’s context: Adolescents are the citizens of tomorrow.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

The Adolescent and Religion: Adolescents possess a self-owned yearning for

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

1. Visceral food, water, sleeps rest, clothing and

A. Biological: 2. Safety needs - suitable temperature, protection

1. Need for love and affection.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

1. Need for dominance.

29 Dr. G. Das - Developmental Psychology. Delhi: King Books, 2000.

Problems of Adolescents and the effectiveness of Counselling

Margaret Mead emphasized the importance of cultural factors in shaping the