Adolescence is a defining period in a person’s life. A child focuses on learning fundamental information about the world and obtaining primary survival skills. The priority shifts by the time when he or she transitions into puberty.
Exploration of the independent sense of self replaces exploration of the world. This life period is as critical to the shaping of one’s personality as it is unstable. There are physical and hormonal changes along with the lost feeling of safety and the realization that childhood is gone. All these factors contribute to the fact that adolescence is a highly emotional stage. However, these emotions are not just a passing quality of teenage years. Emotions experienced during this crucial stage of development significantly affect the formation of one’s personality and identity, and it is necessary to manage these emotions effectively.
People associate intensive emotional swings with adolescence, but they frequently take them out of the context of development. The topic drew my attention since I was interested in exploring how to handle these emotional experiences productively. I have studied the relevant works of several psychologists who have dedicated their works to the study of this transitional life period. For example, Carl Pickhardt, a notable author of parenting books, has shared the article “Adolescence and Processing Painful Emotion” (February 19, 2018) as a part of his continuously reviewed Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence series.
Alisa Crossfield explores the theme in her publication “How to React to Adolescent Emotions” (September 16, 2019.) These articles provide helpful insight as they review emotions in the context of psychological consolidation and management.
The publications look at the origins of emotions in adolescents, their consequences, and effective methods of managing them from a parental perspective. Pickhardt’s article focuses on negative emotions in adolescents because they have a negative impact on the psychological well-being of both the adolescent and his or her family (1). He attributes the occurrence of emotional problems to the overwhelming nature of the changes and demands that occur during puberty. These problems include anxiety about transitioning to adulthood, fear of not fitting in, and frustration with unfulfilled childhood ambitions. Crossfield focuses on emotions in a general sense and links heightened sensitivity to changes in hormones and delayed development of emotional control versus reactivity (4).
Both publications point to the importance of recognizing and interpreting personal emotions, as this is essential for a proper understanding of oneself and others. However, the article “Adolescence and Processing Painful Emotion” places more emphasis on the long-term consequences of emotional turmoil. According to the author, failure to deal productively with a teenager’s negative emotions on the part of parents can shape self or socially dangerous behavior. In comparison, Crossfield focuses on validation-based communication strategies that facilitate dealing with emotional arousal and promote positive outcomes (5). The information discussed in the articles offers valuable additions to the topic from different perspectives.
After reading the articles, I have formed the impression that parental involvement is integral to a teenager’s proper development. The reaction of parents to their child’s emotional outbursts correlates to the cultivation of healthy emotional habits and communicative skills. Without communication, one cannot learn to identify the source of own distress and mitigate its negative consequences. The articles highlight the importance of mutually empathetic conversation, and I completely agree with this notion. Pickhardt offers parents a way to help their child through an emotionally difficult period with four processing questions.
Among them is the question: “Who could I talk to (like parents or a counselor, or both) for emotional support to help get through a difficult emotional time?” (3). In the context of this question, I want to point out that the articles focus exclusively on the actions of adults. As teenagers transition from childhood to the age of independent thinking, they should learn to process their own thoughts and feelings. Overall, the articles make a helpful contribution to the topic, but they do not consider the autonomy of adolescents.
The publications are based on established psychological practices and reveal some useful information. For example, Crossfield’s article mentions Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that is used for Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT has been developed according to the needs of people with intense emotional swings in order to help them subdue unstable feelings. I was surprised to learn that the same type of therapy is used for teenagers who struggle with emotional control. In addition, I appreciate the novelty of Pickhardt’s approach to emotions: they are a powerful informant, and they should be viewed as a key to better understanding the adolescent.
Learning how to understand personal feelings increases one’s self-awareness, improves the ability to make rational decisions, and translates into valuable traits and skills later in life. Emotional turbulence should be regarded as an opportunity rather than a temporary obstacle. These facts and opinions on the topic were interesting to learn.
The themes of the “Adolescence and Processing Painful Emotion ” and “How to React to Adolescent Emotions” articles related to the material studied in class because of both the articles and the material address the nature of certain adolescent emotions. The class material looks at adolescents from both biology and psychology perspectives. However, it does not provide an answer for parents on dealing with their children’s emotions. For example, the class material analyzes the biological stages of adolescence and their psychological aspects but does not discuss parental actions for each stage. The articles reviewed in this paper are an excellent complement to the classroom material, as they address coping with adolescent emotional problems.
Pickhardt focuses on negative emotions and coping methods through dialogue between parents and children (2). At the same time, Crossfield looks at emotions in general (5). The articles support the information provided in the class material, as their theses are similar in many ways. For example, the statement that parental rejection of adolescent experiences can have negative psychological consequences. Both the articles and the classroom material provide a comprehensive discussion of adolescent emotions and complement each other perfectly.
In conclusion, emotions experienced during adolescence make a lasting impact on a person’s psychological development. However, there are researched ways to manage them productively. Parental participation is crucial at this stage of life, and it should be based on the principles of understanding and validation. Failure to approach an adolescent’s emotions efficiently may result in the self-destructive behavior of the teenager and damage his or her long-term social habits. On the other hand, the acquisition of emotional control skills in adolescence guarantees better self-awareness and a healthier self-image for the growing individual. Researching the topic of emotions in adolescence is essential for securing a better future for the young generations.
Works Cited
Crossfield, Alisa. “How to React to Adolescent Emotions.” Psychology Today. 2019. Web.
Pickhardt E, Carl. ” Adolescence and Processing Painful Emotion.” Psychology Today, 2018. Web.