Final answer:
Adolescents aged 12-18 years undergo cognitive, psychological, and social changes. They develop the ability to think abstractly and reason logically, form a personal identity and moral values, and strive for independence from parents while being significantly influenced by peers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Adolescents (12-18 Years)
Adolescence is a significant stage of development that encompasses various psychological, social, and cognitive changes.
During this period, adolescents typically experience a rapid cognitive development where their abilities in attention, memory, processing speed, and organization reach levels comparable to adults.
They start to think abstractly and reason logically, which enables them to tackle hypothetical scenarios and solve complex problems.
Psychosocial development is also pronounced during adolescence. Teens undergo the process of forming a personal identity, which is part of Erikson's theory of identity versus role confusion.
They also develop their system of moral and ethical values and oftentimes try to establish independence from parents while balancing the strong influence of peers, who become a central part of their social lives.
Furthermore, the adolescent period is characterized by emotional changes and mood swings, stemming from fluctuating hormone levels.
These can influence their behavior and attitudes towards risk-taking, as well as lead to conflicts with parents, often over day-to-day issues.
Nevertheless, the severity of the mythical 'teenage storm and stress' is now considered to be less common than previously believed.
Moving into emerging adulthood, adolescents continue to refine their sense of self, with a focus on elements like work and love, as they transition into the early to mid-20s. This is a time of exploration and further development of identity.