The Tasks of Life: Personality and Self-Philosophy

Adolescence is a time of profound change, when young people embark on two fundamental life tasks: establishing their own personality and forging a unique philosophy of life.

This often turbulent process is driven by a natural rebelliousness that allows them to question the world around them and differentiate themselves from their parents.

During this period, the center of their social universe shifts from family to friends, a shift that, while it may be disconcerting to parents, is an essential and necessary part of their development into adulthood.

Physical and Psychological Changes of Puberty

Adolescence begins with puberty, a stage marked by an avalanche of physical changes that signal the end of childhood.

The voice begins to change, bones and muscles densify and stretch, giving rise to the well-known "growth spurt".

At the same time, secondary sexual characteristics begin to manifest themselves: breast development in girls, the appearance of facial hair in boys, and pubic hair in both sexes.

These physical changes do not come alone; they are accompanied by an equally significant psychological transformation, as the adolescent begins to see himself and the world in a completely new way, paving the way for the construction of his adult identity.

Rebelliousness as a vehicle for establishing one's identity

In order to build a personality and a philosophy of his own, the adolescent needs to differentiate himself from his parents, and the main vehicle to achieve this is rebelliousness.

This rebelliousness is not an act of evil, but a necessary psychological mechanism that drives them to question and reject the concepts, beliefs and values they have received at home.

It is normal at this stage for them to start doing things they know they were not taught at home, simply to experiment and test the limits.

If an idea comes from their parents, they are very likely to reject it, arguing that they are wrong.

This behavior, although frustrating, is a fundamental part of their process to stop being an echo of their parents and start finding their own voice and their own truth in the world.

The Central Role of Friends and Socialization

During adolescence, a seismic shift occurs in the young person's social universe: friends become their top priority, pushing family into the background.

They no longer want to participate in the family activities they once enjoyed and may even feel embarrassed to be seen in public with their parents.

This turn to peers is crucial, as socialization at this stage is a vital training ground.