www.byjusexamprep.

com

1
www.byjusexamprep.com

ADOLESCENT LEARNERS
1. Adolescence is a crucial and significant period.It extends from 12/13 years to 18/19
years
2. Adolescence can be subdivided into two parts - i) Early adolescence (12/13 - 16/17
years) ii) Late adolescence (17 years to 18/19 years).
3. It is the stage when boys and girls move from childhood to adulthood physically,
mentally, emotionally and socially.
4. It is a stage of gaining sexual maturity and a stage of attaining legal maturity.

Let us discuss the characteristics of adolescence. It is important for school teachers and parents to
understand these characteristics, without which they can not be expected to be able to deal
effectively with the adolescents. The distinguishing characteristics of this period are:

Characteristics of young adolescent intellectual development include:

▪ Moving from concrete to abstract thinking.

▪ An intense curiosity and wide range of intellectual pursuits, few of which are
sustained over the long term.
▪ High achievement when challenged and engaged.
▪ Prefers active over passive learning experiences.
▪ Interest in interacting with peers during learning activities.
▪ An ability to be self-reflective.
▪ Demand the relevance in learning and what is being taught.

Characteristics of young adolescent social development include:

▪ Modelling behaviour after that of older students, not necessarily that of parents and
other adults.
▪ Experimenting with ways of talking and acting as part of searching for a social
position with peers.
▪ Exploring questions of racial and ethnic identity and seeking peers who share the
same background.
▪ Exploring questions of sexual identity in visible or invisible ways.
▪ Feeling intimidated or frightened by the initial middle school experience.
▪ Liking fads and being interested in popular culture.
▪ Overreacting to ridicule, embarrassment, and rejection.
▪ Seeking approval of peers and others with attention-getting behaviours.
▪ As interpersonal skills are being developed, fluctuates between demand for
independence and a desire for guidance and direction

2
www.byjusexamprep.com

Characteristics of young adolescent physical development include:

▪ Restlessness and fatigue due to hormonal changes.

▪ A need for physical activity because of increased energy.
▪ Developing sexual awareness, and often touching and bumping into others.
▪ A concern with changes in body size and shape.
▪ Physical vulnerability resulting from poor health/dietary habits or engaging in risky
behaviours.
▪ Bodily changes that may cause awkward, uncoordinated movements.

Characteristics of young adolescent emotional and psychological development include:

▪ Mood swings are marked by peaks of intensity and by unpredictability.

▪ Needing to release energy, with sudden outbursts of activity.
▪ A desire to become independent and to search for adult identity and acceptance.
▪ Self-consciousness and being sensitive to personal criticism.
▪ Concern about physical growth and maturity.
▪ A belief that their personal problems, feelings, and experiences are unique to
themselves.
▪ Overreacting to ridicule, embarrassment, and rejection.
▪ Seeking approval of peers and others with attention-getting behaviours.

Characteristics of young adolescent moral development include:

▪ An understanding of the complexity of moral issues (question values, cultural

expressions, and religious teachings).
▪ Being capable of and interested in participating in democracy.
▪ Impatience with the pace of change, and underestimating how difficult it is to make
social changes.
▪ Needing and being influenced by adult role models who will listen and be
trustworthy.
▪ Relying on parents and important adults for advice, but wanting to make their own
decisions.
▪ Judging others quickly, but acknowledging one’s own faults slowly.
▪ Show compassion and are vocal for those who are downtrodden or suffering and have
a special concern for animals and environmental issues.

Previous Year Questions

Q) Which of the learner characteristics will influence his/her perspective in a course of study?
[2019]

3
www.byjusexamprep.com

i) Learner’s commitment
ii) Parents interest in the learner
(iii) Prior knowledge of the learner
(iv) Skill of the learner in the concerned area
(v) Family size of the learner
(vi) Socio-economic background of the family to which the learner belongs

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(1) (i) (iii) and (iv)

(2) (i), (ii) and (Iii)
(3) (iii), (iv) and (v)
(4) (iv), (v) and (vi)
Answer: (1)

Q) Which of the following learner characteristics are likely to influence the effectiveness of
teaching aids and evaluation systems to ensure positive results? [2016]

(A) Learner’s family background, age and habitation.

(B) Learner’s parentage, socio-economic background and performance in learning of the
concerned subject.
(C) Learner’s stage of development, social background and personal interests.
(D) Learner’s maturity level, academic performance level and motivational dispositions.
Answer: (D)

4
www.byjusexamprep.com