ELPIDA Course - English

„Is this object my body?!" A question frequently raised by pubescent people, when physical changes take place within their body.

There are changes in proportion and appearance of limbs, arms and legs become longer, primary sexual features develop, and secondary ones become visible. Hair grows where there was no hair before. For parents’ it is relatively easy to recognize physical changes. It gets more difficult when it comes to tackling emotional elements. There is often an open or silent revolt against regulations, discussions about the time of returning home, the choice of clothing style, appearance and so on. This is when teens become bitchy and aggressive, all but the “best friends” are stupid and parents are just embarrassing. These are signs of puberty.

But how are the changes of puberty perceived by young people?

In the first phase of puberty, the adolescent often feels insecure with the change in their physical appearance. They are almost "taken by surprise" by the physical changes and do not really know how to handle it.

There is a spontaneously increased sense of shame. The child suddenly no longer likes to be seen naked in front of the parents. Self-doubt and depressive moods are not uncommon in this phase. However, these can also result in tantrums.

Their behaviour is affected by physical alteration, as well as hormonal change. Because of change in physical appearance disturbed young people react by violent mood swings to even smaller events. As male sex hormone testosterone acts towards increase in aggression, young boys may especially incline towards violent behaviour. The aggression can be directed against anything opposes the youthful urge to unfold, especially against parents and socially prescribed rules and standards. [1]

In addition to the outbursts of rage, there can be excessive joy and in the next moment remorse for the outburst of rage. Other "new" emotions such as rivalry and jealousy are also being discovered. The adolescent may compare and measure themselves against their peers in an effort to be "the best", and, "the most popular".

Youngsters find themselves in a “tensional field” of familiar childhood kind of relationships and new, yet untested opportunities. This and an unknown future trigger a riot of emotions. On the one hand there are “the pain of parting” and grief over the end of childhood, as well as a fear of loss of security, a feeling of insecurity in the "new" body and doubt. This all stands opposite hope and confidence, confidence in their own strength and rage at everything that opposes their set goals.

In this emotional chaos the question of sexual identity also arises. Who am I as a man or a woman? How do I feel in this role? How do I appear to others? Hormonal change creates interest in potential partners.

Within the Sexual Health module these physical aspects have been described in detail, e.g. see Chapter on puberty.