Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. It starts at the age of about 13 and ends at the age of 19 (commonly known as teenage). Among all the human developmental stages, adolescence is the most crucial and significant period in an individual's life.
1. Growth, Maturity and Development
- Maturity is the ability to respond to a particular environment.
- Maturity along with experiences produces a progressive series of changes in an organism. These series of changes are called development.
- Different phases of human development are called developmental stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age and old age.
2. Adolescence and Puberty
Adolescence
The term adolescence is derived from the Latin word 'adolescere', meaning 'to grow' or 'grow to maturity'. During this period changes occur in height, weight, sex organs, muscle mass as well as in brain structure and function. Biologically it is a physical transition marked by the onset of puberty and the termination of physical growth.