PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 11

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS OF ADOLESCENCE

In the eight stages of Psychosocial Developmental Theory of Erik Erikson, Identity vs.
Role Confusion (this stage is the age between 12 to 18 years old) explains that adolescents would
try to explore and figure out their own identity and try to fit in with social interactions at the same
time. According to Erikson, an adolescent’s main task is developing a sense of self. Adolescents
struggle with questions “Who am I?” and “What do I want to do with my life?” Most of the
adolescents try to explore various roles and ideas and look for a place where they can fit, set goals,
and attempt to discover themselves.

As an adolescent who is entering the stage of adulthood, you are responsible for your own
being. Accepting yourself and ensuring your body’s physical health help you build stronger
personality and sense of identity. Likewise, building a strong relationship with your family and
showing affection and respect to others can improve interactions with them. Establishing social
responsibility, moreover, develops personal and moral values to guide you on how to react to social
issues.

Entering adulthood is undeniably a big challenge. At this stage of your life, your family,
your school, and your community contribute to prepare you in this life-changing task. You should,
in turn, need to be emotionally prepared since you would need to choose people whom you think
would help you fulfill these tasks in order for you to reach you goals in life

Some years ago, Professor Robert J. Havighurst of the University of Chicago proposed that
stages in human development can best be thought of in terms of the developmental tasks that are
part of the normal transition. In his developmental tasks’ theory, he stressed out that when people
successfully accomplish the developmental tasks at a stage, they feel pride and satisfaction. He
defines developmental task as a task that arises at or about a certain period in life, unsuccessful
achievement of which leads to inability to perform tasks associated with the next period or stage
in life.

Havighurst identified eleven Developmental Tasks of Normal Adolescence associated with

the adolescent transition. However, he believes that adolescence do not progress through these
multiple developmental tasks separately because adolescence tasks may vary with early, middle,
and late periods of the transition.

DEVELOPMENTAL TASK ADOLESCENCE

Early Adolescence Middle Adolescence Late Adolescence
-Developing self-concept -Emergence of new thinking skills -Preparing adult life
- Self-evaluation of their -Accepting one's physique -Crystallize their
physical acceptability -Increase self-direction vocational goals
-Achieving personal -Achieving psychological -Establish sense of
independence independence personal identity
-Developing acceptable -Achieving mature relations with -Psychologically
attitudes toward society both sexes independent from their
-Learning to get along with -Achieving a masculine or parents
peers feminine social role -Shift to adulthood is
-Achieving emotional nearly complete
independence of adults -Preparing for marriage
-Establish psychological and family life
independence from one’s parents -Preparing for an
-Acquiring values and an ethical economic career
system to guide behavior
 -Desiring and achieving socially
responsible behavior
-Preparing for adult roles and
making preliminary decisions and
vocational goals

DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and early adulthood– the most
rapid stage of human development. According to World Health Organization (WHO), it is a period
of life with specific health and development needs and rights. It is also a time to develop knowledge
and skills, learn to manage emotions and relationship, and acquire attributes and abilities that will
be important for enjoying the adolescent years and assuming adult roles.
Cambridge Dictionary defines developmental as relating to the process of growing or
changing into a more advance, larger and stronger form, while challenges is defined as something
that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a
person's ability. The challenges the adolescents are facing occur during the development of his/her
biological, cognitive, and physiological, spiritual and moral aspects.
Early Adolescence Middle Adolescence Late Adolescence
Biological -Developmental -Development of body -Transition as the young
Challenges changes and the onset shape person consolidates his
of puberty as indicated -Physical changes from identity and comes to grips
by growth spur puberty continue with his future.
Psychological - Concrete thinking, but - The concrete thinking, - Complex abstract
Challenges early moral concepts but early moral concepts; thinking; identification of
- Development of progression of sexual difference between law and
sexual identity identity development morality
- Possible of sexual - The awakening of -Feeling himself/herself a
preferences; peer heterosexuality completer and more
interest separate person
- Development of personal
identity
Social -Start of strong peer -The first tentative interest -Form and maintain truly
Challenges identification and approach towards the intimate relationships with
- His group activities opposite sex usually takes others whose beliefs,
are primarily with place. -The awakening of ideals, and motives he can
members of his own heterosexuality that often see and respect as clearly
sex. disrupts previous peer as he does his own.
groupings and intimate -Development of
friendships vocational capability and
financial independence’
Behavioral -His behavior may -This is the stage when - He is more able to be
Challenges temporarily show a adolescent rebellion starts selective and
disorganized, erratic -Period of irritability, wide discriminating in his
quality along with a mood swings, and rapidly relationships
decreased willingness changing feelings.
to accommodate the
expectations of his
parents and others
-Wide mood swings and
periodic bouts of
feeling ill-treated and
unloved may dominate
his emotional life.
WEEK 1
In the previous lesson, you learned that life is full of challenges. Nonetheless, what matters is
how you manage and overcome the challenges that you encounter in your life. This may be
difficult, but learning to accept these difficulties may lead you in the right directions. Your
thoughts, feelings, and behavior toward a situation are reflection of yourself as a person.
Moreover, dealing with circumstances makes you become a better individual. Read and express
your thoughts, feelings, and ideas on the following situations. Write your answers in your
notebook.
Situation No. 1
John is an active member of school organizations. He has a lot of talents to share and ideas to
contribute to their club. Aside from that, he is known for his looks, neatness, and tidiness.
However, these seemingly likeable characteristics became the reasons that many get envious and
try to create rumors and gossips about him. This hurt him so much that he almost wanted to drop
from schooling.
Give your reaction:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
WEEK 2
Fill up the blank boxes with your thoughts, feelings about what your responsibilities and what
others expect form you. You may use separate sheets of paper to fill up this table.
MY ROLES The values that I need My responsibilities What are expected of
to fulfill effectively Based on my roles me based on my role
A Citizen of the
Philippines
A Resident of my
Town
A Member of my
Family
A Student of VIT
A friend to someone
A partner
I am me

WEEK 3
What is STRESS?
It is the body’s response to anything that makes us feel threatened or
pressured. It is caused by any kind of demand, to which we must adapt,
adjust, or respond. It is the body’s automatic way of reacting to
changes, challenges, and demands placed on us

Activity: ‘STRESS SIGNALS’

Think of the stress signals that you experienced lately and list down below. How much stress
do you think you are currently under? Discuss ways that you can eliminate some of
the stress that could start to cause you physical or emotional or behavioral difficulties. Write your
answer in separate sheet of paper.
WEEK 4
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress and change are part of our lives. We all talk about stress, but we are not always clear
about what it is. This is because stress comes from both the good and bad things that happen to
us. If we did not feel any stress, we would not be motivated to do anything. Too much stress,
however, can negatively impact our mental wellness. It also may put students at greater risk of
becoming involved in risk-taking behaviors. In senior high, students are becoming increasingly
more responsible for their own use of time. Often, they are beginning to learn how to
manage multiple tasks and expectations e.g., academic work, extra-curricular activities,
family, friends and work.
Activity: “QUIET TIME”
You have 15 minutes of quiet time. Play your favorite music. You can put your head on the
desk, you can nap for a while or find a quiet space somewhere in your house to relax. You can do
a belly breathing exercise. After 15 minutes of quiet time, use a separate sheet of paper and write
your experience on how you felt before, during and after the activity.