Youth - what is it?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In all dictionaries, the definition of youth is reduced to one general concept. Youth is a certain age period when a person grows up, his transition from childhood to adulthood. Let's take a closer look at what is inherent in this age period.

Defining youth

Youth is the transition to adult independent life. Psychologists identify the boundaries of early youth, that is, senior school age, from 15 to 18 years old, and late - from 18 to 23 years old. When the youthful period ends, the physical development of the organism as a whole has already been completed. The psychological criteria for this stage are the development of self-awareness, self-determination in the profession, the transition to adulthood.

In the period of early youth, professional interests, the need for work, activity in society are established, plans for life are made. Childhood and adolescence in the development of personality are in the neighborhood, but the gradual transition from one stage to another makes adolescents more independent from adults, they are trying to assert themselves in society. In the team, in addition to general communication, at this age there is a growing need for closer individual relationships,attachments.

Moral consciousness is also formed in youth, certain life orientations, ideals, worldview, civic qualities are developed. Complex, responsible tasks in adverse public and social conditions often lead to psychological conflicts both with parents and with society as a whole. Behavioral deviations may appear in both boys and girls.

Early youth. Features

When moving to the time of early youth, the range of social roles available to a person, which are associated with a certain life activity, expands. It is at this age that a number of significant social events take place, such as obtaining a passport, the possibility of marriage, responsibility for criminal acts, suffrage.

In youth, it is already necessary to decide, to decide on the choice of a profession, to make further plans for life. The close environment and society begins to press, to rush with the choice of a profession. So that a young man can not get lost in this difficult task, he needs help. Self-determination in such a choice is the main new formation, the acquisition of a youthful personality.

The main feature of early youth is the construction of life plans. The young man already begins to look at the present from the point of view of the future. He makes plans, prospects, but only when he reaches his late youth can he begin to implement them.

Psychological characteristics of late youth

Late adolescence, the years of which fall on the age of 18, the main taskputs self-determination and establishment in the profession. It is a multi-step and multi-dimensional process. It is important at this time to highlight the tasks of society, to form an individual lifestyle, where the profession will be one of the main parts. Self-determination in the profession is a whole series of tasks set for the individual by society. They need to be solved sequentially in a certain set period of time. Decisions must be made in stages, keeping a balance between personal inclinations and preferences, the needs and requirements of society.

In the period of late adolescence, already stable formed psychological attitudes make it possible to make real decisions, be fully responsible for one's own activities and take responsibility for others.

Social motives, basic issues of youth

Youth is a period of life when a person has certain motives that characterize his activities. Young people are full of energy, bright hopes for the future, therefore they are guided by factors such as:

• Believing in the need for continuous development, that is, continuing learning.
• Self-determination in the profession is a necessary preparation for further independent life.
• Self-motivation - the desire to benefit society.

Youth is characterized by a mass of vital questions, the main ones include the following:

• Choosing a future field of activity. Associated with abilities, priority knowledge already acquired in a particular area.
• Values in life thatdetermined thanks to public conscience.
• Interpersonal relationships.
• Social activity, which is manifested in participation in any events.
• A formed worldview on fundamental issues.
• Sphere of interests and life demands that lead to the expansion of material needs.
• Finding a place in society.
• Searching for an answer to the question of the meaning of life, as well as the purpose of man.

Professional self-determination

Youth is a life stage when you have to face professional self-determination. Psychologists divide it into 4 stages:

1. In childhood, already during the game, the child loses certain elements of any profession.
2. In adolescence, children fantasize and see themselves in one form or another (profession).
3. In youth, the preliminary choice of a profession already begins. Here comes the sorting, evaluation of this or that type of activity, first from the point of view of interests, then the abilities of the student himself, in the end, based on the value system.
4. The result is the choice of a profession, making a decision for specific actions (admission to a particular institution).

Recommendations for adults

The essence of youth is maximalism, so you need to take into account the factors that influenced the choice of profession, objective and subjective conditions: social and financial situation, the level of claims and information content, the education of parents. It is worth noting that manyadolescents strive to achieve a higher position than their family members. An interesting fact is that for many applicants, the education of their parents seems more important than their material well-being.

When choosing a profession, young people are often guided by the opinion of society, they are attracted by the elite, the prestige of the profession. But at the same time, they must take into account that the competition in this field of activity will be much higher. To achieve the goals here, you will have to show all your strong personal qualities.

If a student does not have certain interests, then it may be difficult to choose a profession. It also happens vice versa, having chosen a speci alty already in childhood, the future applicant does not want to hear any more about any alternatives. What to do? Both cases require competent pedagogical correction, a wise approach on the part of parents. Throughout the study, it was necessary to expand the horizons of the child, introduce him to many speci alties, talk about different types of activities. In the second case, the young person needs to be explained the feasibility of a fallback so that in the future he will not face disappointment.

Friendship and love

The road of youth necessarily passes through such feelings as friendship and love. Most often, girls aged 16-18 fall in love, less often boys aged 12-15, this was shown by a research survey.

Love arises in youth due to several factors. This is puberty, and the desire to have a loved one to whom one could reveal the most secret secrets,and the need for emotional attachment, because the feeling of loneliness is especially acute during adolescence.

In youthful interpersonal relationships, friendship and love are simply inseparable. One often leads to the other. Girls and boys are active in search of partners, intimate contacts. They just can't be alone for long. Sometimes older students get so caught up in these relationships that they forget about other aspects of life. In a tactful, trusting manner, adults should help “come down from heaven”, point out other life values.