Maturity

Part Two

By: Elham Rezaii

Translated by: Behrouz Khorram

Psychological Developments in the Maturity Period

Some of the psychologists believe that maturity starts at 12 and ends at 18. They have divided this period into three parts and have mentioned some of the characteristics of these periods:

a) (12 to 14): the major characteristic of this period is the appearance of social spirit, quest for independence and adolescent group life.

b) (14-15): the prominent characteristic of this period is the tendency towards the opposite sex.

c) (15-18): in this period idealism and passionate tendencies toward the opposite sex appear. 

Obviously, maturity has major differences with the previous stages of growth. Generally, psychological development in the first period of maturity is characterized by sexual and reproductive aspects. Then in the second period, it manifests itself as a crisis, while in the third period, it manifests itself in the form of personality formation. The first sign of the transformation of the adolescent's personality is the awakening of the emotions and passions toward the opposite sex. This appears among boys at 16 and among girls a little earlier.

In this stage of growth, this tendency slowly increases. For the sexual glands start to function and the adolescent clearly understands that he/she has gravely differed compared to his/her previous stage. As a result, dreaming and imagination about sexual matters become noticeably active. 

In the beginning of the maturity period, a discord among boys and girls becomes evident. This discord first shows itself among boys. They show more enthusiasm for same sex groups. In this stage, boys and girls each form attitudes toward their opposite sex. Girls think about boys as harsh, impolite, funny and unbearable, while boys think about girls as spoilt and coward.

Other psychological traits that may appear include revolt and fury toward others, especially parents. At this point, the parents express surprise and worry about their children.

-         I don’t know what has happened. She used to be a nice and calm girl, but it is now a year since she has become very violent.

-         What has happened? My son was very nice and motivated. He was very respectful, but now he is very careless and irresponsible.

-         We didn’t have any problems until two years ago. Now he becomes furious very soon and starts to shout. 

-         I can’t say anything to my daughter. She becomes angry very quickly and quarrels with me and her father.

Here the adolescent likes to be himself/herself, and he/she doesn’t like to see anyone preaching him/her. She doesn’t regard herself as a child anymore; she thinks she is an adult now. She thinks: “I am no longer any different than my parents; therefore I can think for myself and decide.” This results in a struggle and conflict with parents.

The boy who had always followed his father now tends to act differently towards his father. Similarly the girl does not obey her mother anymore. Some adolescents in this period even get drawn to smoking and returning home late at night. However, boys usually fit into this category more often than girls, and this is because of the accepted norms regarding boys as coarse and daring and girls as conservatives.

The adolescent looks to complete her personality in a valuable way. To do so she usually adopts a role model. In her search for identity, she tries to imitate the ideal heroines, and regards their success or failure her own success or failure.

Boys choose male figures as role models and girls select female figures as theirs. Obviously no normal man likes to choose a woman as a role model, and no normal woman similarly likes to imitate a man. One of the characteristics of the maturity period is admiration and respect for the chosen role models sometimes in an exaggerated manner that even reaches the level of developing love towards the role model. An adolescent loves an artist, a star or an athlete whom he has never met or might never meet.

Another characteristic of the maturity period is the tendency to live with peers. Although the adolescent acts with harshness toward his family, he finds intense enthusiasm toward his peers, and likes to take an active role among them. He develops a sense of loyalty toward them for he considers himself a member of their community. Some parents explain this experience clearly:

-         I am surprised to see my runaway son. He always likes to be among his friends.

-         He is always angry when he is home and he never helps. But in the group works in his school, he is very successful.

In brief, one can say that respect, admiration, loyalty, friendship, honesty, activity and responsibility form the basis of adolescent communities.

Another characteristics of the maturity period includes reasoning; the adolescent likes to think, reason, calculate complex problems and likes to accept only what is supported by evidence. His sense of curiosity awakens and he no longer accepts things blindly. The adolescent enjoys discussion and debating, and strongly defends the position he has adopted. However, he might defend a position today while opposing it the next day. The adolescent likes to show a state of independence in these instances.

Another characteristic among the adolescents is adventurism. The adolescent likes to have new experiences, and he does not really consider the dangers and risks which may ensue. He encounters dangers and tries to overcome them.

And finally, one of the most observed characteristics of the maturity period is introversion. Adolescents become introverts. While they like to spend their time with peers, they also like to sit alone and ponder for some hours, break free of the real world and dive through the world of ideas, dreams, imagination and hopes. Some parents illustrate the situation as follows:

-         Sometimes he spends hours in his room and does not come out.

-         Sometimes he sits at a corner. Although his book is open, he gazes at a spot and sometimes smiles.

-         Sometimes he daydreams to the extent to which we have to call him several times in order to make him answer.

-         Sometimes he sits alone in a corner and daydreams; he laughs or sometimes weeps quietly.

There is no doubt that the physiological development of the body that includes the activity of body glands directly influences the psychological life of the adolescent. Such development awakens sexual feelings and reinforces a tendency toward the opposite sex. At the beginning of development, their bonds to the family weaken and their social behavior changes. The joyfulness of the child vanishes, and depression and anxiety appear.  

While the adolescent feels proud, he feels to the same extent a sense of lack of confidence. On the other hand, he also shows irresponsibility toward the family, and shows enthusiasm for peers and active participation in their affairs. He likes to be with friends, and at the same time he likes to spend hours alone. As a result, inquisitiveness and quest for knowing increase too.   

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