Late adolescence, an increasingly common phenomenon

Age of people is becoming less important in today’s world. We have discovered that life does not necessarily fit the theoretical schemes we use. Proof of this is the phenomenon of late adolescence, an increasingly common reality.

Let’s say first that adolescence is that stage of life that serves as a bridge between childhood and adult life. It is characterized by great emotional instability and an intense search for one’s own identity. Much of the ups and downs in this stage depend on the multiple physical changes that occur. Sexual maturation arrives and with it a particularly dynamic hormonal activity.

The concept of late adolescence has two connotations. One is the one that corresponds to the years late adolescence. When all the changes have been completed and the young person is ready to properly enter adult life. The other connotation has to do with those stages of life that seem to be a rebirth of adolescent traits. The first is a technical term. The second, a construction of popular psychology.

Late adolescence as a technical concept

Developmental psychologists divide adolescence into three stages. Early adolescence, which goes from 11 to 13 years old and corresponds to puberty. Middle adolescence, which goes from 13 to 16 or 17 years old. AND late adolescence, which includes the stage between 15 to 17 years old and 21 years old.

Late adolescence is a stage of much greater stability than previous ones. The identity is much more established. Great idealism prevails and enormous capacity to get excited about the future. Sometimes some crises appear due to the new adult responsibilities that must be assumed. The teenager does not always feel ready for it.

Unlike previous stages, in late adolescence it is no longer so important to be part of a more or less stable group. In this phase, greater importance is given to relationships Person to person. The bond with the family becomes more peaceful. Big projects and the desire to change the world prevail, all at once.

Teenagers “up all night”

At the moment Late adolescence has also been called those emotional states that show adolescent traits, even though one is already an adult.. It happens that in human beings the stages are not completed as indicated by the theoretical schemes. There are circumstances that lead to childhood or adolescent aspects being prolonged or reappearing, even at advanced ages.

This late adolescence manifests itself in many ways. The most typical, we would say, is one in which the person remains “an eternal rebel.”, full of dreams, but without concrete goals to achieve. There is resistance, without precise reasons, to adapting to adult life. The world is not accepted as it is, but neither are concrete and thoughtful actions taken to change it.

It is usual that in these cases adolescent tension with parents is also maintained.. They are blamed, they are recriminated, but at the same time it is impossible to separate from them emotionally. Sometimes cohabitation is also maintained.

The myths about growth

Many times a teenager’s parents are the first to resist letting him grow up.. Beyond emotional attachment, what may be encouraging them to act that way is their own fear of growing old or taking charge of their life. Therefore, they themselves are responsible for prolonging economic, emotional and psychological dependence.

In general, modern society has built the myth that youth is the only stage worth living.. It is not for nothing that a prolific cosmetics industry has been built, where just under half of the products are intended to “delay aging.” The word “adult” is unfriendly to many. She sounds serious and subdued. It sounds like responsibility, which would be the opposite of youth.

All this is not in itself negative. What can be counterproductive is the renunciation of autonomy and responsibility., which implies continuing to maintain an adolescent attitude. Late adolescents miss out on knowing what they are really capable of.

This is only discovered when one decides to take charge of oneself and overcomes the fear of doing so.. If we renounce this, it is likely that a certain discontent will take hold of us. It becomes chronic, without us realizing it, and this leads us to deprive ourselves of great experiences.

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