Adolescence: The Four Questions

Adolescence is filled with intellectual and emotional changes in addition to the major biological and physical changes presented in Part I of this series. It is a time of discovery of self and one's relationship to the world around himself or herself.

This bulletin, the second of a three-part series, provides information about how to interact with your adolescent to enhance his or her positive development.

Major Questions Facing Adolescents

Abstract thinking ability takes place during adolescence. In early adolescence thinking is still concrete. By the end of this period, individuals are able to fully comprehend abstract concepts. They think of good arguments for their positions. As they begin to think abstractly, adolescents are more likely to question things that were unquestionable before. For example, an adolescent who has been attending religious services may begin questioning religious beliefs. Challenging the status quo is a normal part of adolescence even though it may appear rebellious.

For positive development, parents and adults who work with adolescents should allow them some freedom to explore their beliefs. Their questioning nature makes parenting and working with them a challenge. Keep a balance between your support and love and the boundaries and limits that you set with them.

Experimenting with risk behaviors is also a normal part of adolescence. Some of it is to be expected. However, experimentation can lead to habit-forming "risk behaviors" if not limited. Examples of risk behaviors are: alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency, and early unprotected sex.

Parents and adults who work with youth should monitor youth activities, but not over react when the adolescent is caught experimenting. Parental monitoring means that parents always ask their adolescent the "W" questions:

• Where are you going?

• With whom are you going?

• What are you doing?

• and When will you be home?

Start monitoring early. It is easier to establish the habit in childhood and continue through adolescence than to start monitoring when the child becomes an adolescent. Parents should also answer these questions when they go out. This shows caring rather than controlling to your adolescent.

What if you catch your adolescent experimenting in a risk behavior, like drinking? Try waiting a few hours or a day to discuss the situation. This will usually give you enough time to calm down and collect your thoughts. Then you can give logical reasons why they should not participate in the risk behavior. Also, they may be uncomfortable or embarrassed about what occurred and a day gives them time to reflect. Keep the consequence unpleasant but not extreme. Remember, to reward them when they do good things.

There are four basic abstract questions that adolescents begin to ask themselves:

• Who am I (pertaining to his or her sexuality and social roles)?

• Am I normal (do I fit in with a certain crowd)?

• Am I competent (am I good at something that is valued by peers and parents)?

• Am I lovable and loving (can someone besides mom and dad love me)?

For positive development, it is important to give adolescents chances to work on their own answers to these questions. As parents and adults, we need to provide safe environments where the adolescent feels free to ask such difficult questions.