While many 17-year-olds are looking forward to a bright future beyond high school, others are afraid to enter the adult world. Even parents may find that raising a 17-year-old can be a little scary.
For example, you may wonder if you have taught your teen everything he needs to know to become a responsible adult. Of course, think about their development and help them accordingly to ensure they are ready for the real world.
Physical development at 17 years old
Most men and women are fully developed by the age of 17. They have reached sexual maturity and reached full height. 1 However, boys can continue to develop muscles.
They may also develop more hair on their face and armpits, and their voices may continue to get quieter. Body image issues often arise at this age as some teens are unhappy with the physical changes they have gone through. 1 Acne may also become common.
Major milestones
- Reached their full height
- Completed puberty
- Boys may still experience muscle development
Advice for parents
Talk to your teen about good health, not appearance. Focus on eating nutritious foods rather than dieting or gaining weight. 1
Psychological withdrawal
What difficulties do teenagers experience in communication, and why do they come into conflict with the outside world? This is explained by the peculiarities of their worldview. If adults correctly understand the different motives of youthful actions, then it will be easier for them to build behavior with children and find ways to resolve conflicts.
Adolescent self-esteem
Teenagers' opinions about themselves are biased and exaggerated. They are only trying to understand themselves as an individual in the world around them, to determine their place in society and their course of action. The sense of self-awareness is not fully formed and is unstable. Therefore, schoolchildren in adolescence can be overly touchy and react unconstructively to criticism. Unfair remarks from teachers and peers can deeply hurt and leave a mark for the rest of your life.
Internal conflict
Against the background of immature self-esteem, internal conflict arises. The teenager is dissatisfied with his behavior and suffers from the negative opinions of others about himself. But he is often unable to admit mistakes. This is where internal crisis, self-rejection, and depression occur.
Denial of reality
Emotional immaturity, exaggeration of existing problems, conflicts with family and peers often provoke withdrawn behavior in schoolchildren. When children are unable to cope with difficulties on their own and do not find understanding or help from those around them, they often withdraw into their own world, become uncommunicative, depressed, and aggressive. In this state, they deny reality, do not want to participate in public life, and strive for solitude.
Emotional development at 17 years old
Turn 17 is an interesting fork in the road for many teenagers. Some of them smoothly move towards adulthood. They become increasingly responsible and strive to become independent.
Others, however, fear the reality of adulthood ahead. Some of them seem lost and confused about the future. They may even struggle to be responsible in their homework, chores and daily responsibilities and may be afraid of becoming an adult.
For the most part, the 17-year-old's mood is calmer than in his earlier teenage years. This is due to fewer hormonal changes and a greater sense of control. But that doesn't mean teens won't struggle with their emotions when faced with a big problem. Whether they're dealing with a broken heart or college rejection, many 17-year-olds are facing adult-level challenges for the first time.
Likewise, most 17-year-olds are goal-oriented. They begin to imagine the kind of lifestyle they want to create after school. So make sure you give them the opportunity to understand who they are and what they want to do.
Major milestones
- Show more independence from your parents
- Have deeper abilities to develop closer relationships
- Take less risks
Advice for parents
Letting your teenager drive, get a job, and stay home alone at night are just a few steps toward becoming an adult. 1 It is also important to rein them in, especially if they make poor choices.
What psychologists advise
Advice from psychologists for successfully overcoming the crisis of seventeen-year-olds is as follows:
- strive to establish trusting contacts with your child (we sometimes say unpleasant words to each other because we are offended).
- increase your authority, which will inevitably lead to a positive influence on the teenager;
- accept the fact of growing up and be ready to release your child into adulthood;
- make a professional choice that inspires a sense of confidence.
The task of education is to instill confidence in one’s strengths and capabilities, as well as to create an atmosphere of emotional comfort.
Social development at 17 years old
Most 17 year olds form lasting relationships. They develop close friendships and are less likely to switch between clicks. They also understand the importance of being reliable. When they make a promise to their friends, they want to fulfill their obligations.
Your teen may spend most of their free time with friends, and when they are home, they may prefer to be alone in their room. 1 Parent-teen relationships may also change slightly at this age. For some, this may mean moving away from their parents as they gain independence, but for others, it may mean moving closer to their parents as their desire to rebel wanes.
Major milestones
- Finding intimacy
- Want adult leadership roles
- Able to take on responsibilities
Advice for parents
Set clear dating rules and talk often about healthy relationships, safe sex, consent, and dating.
Peculiarities
For the first time, a detailed description of the crisis of 17 years was given by the famous Soviet psychologist L. S. Vygotsky. It was he who identified the leading type of activity, mental neoplasms, typical social situations inherent in a given age period, and gave basic recommendations for correcting the behavior and personal development of adolescents.
Mental neoplasms of crisis:
- value-semantic self-regulation of behavior;
- formation of an internal position that is different from others, awareness of one’s individuality;
- building a clear hierarchy of values, stable views on the world - a worldview is formed;
- development of protective mechanisms against outside intrusion;
- self-determination - personal and professional;
- development of logical intelligence and hypothetico-deductive thinking;
- active use of rational techniques for voluntary memorization of information;
- acquisition of metacognitive skills;
- improving mastery of the operations of analysis and synthesis, argumentation and proof, generalization and abstraction.
The leading activity is balancing between socialization (the desire to communicate) and isolation (the desire for loneliness, distrust of others).
The main manifestations are fears and youthful maximalism.
Periodization:
- early crisis (15-17 years old) - associated with the first exams and manifests itself in those who leave school after 9th grade;
- normal (17 years old) - a classic example of an age crisis at 17 years old;
- late (17-18 years old) - observed in those who remain to live with their parents and have not decided on their choice of profession.
The main problem is excessive self-absorption and ignoring interpersonal relationships. This imbalance becomes the psychological basis for feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Cognitive development at 17 years old
By the age of 17, most teenagers have good organizational skills. As a result, they can successfully juggle extracurricular activities, part-time work, and studies. But even though many 17-year-olds think they are adults, their brains are not yet fully developed. Thus, although they may have skills in regulating their impulses, they may still behave recklessly at times.
Most 17-year-olds also think about the future. They begin to make more concrete plans for college and life after high school. 1 V
Fluid intelligence is also achieved at this age, which means that 17-year-olds have an improved ability to cope with new problems and situations. 2
Speech and language
Most 17 year olds can communicate like adults. However, they may not ask for clarification or speak if they do not understand a word or the meaning of a phrase.
Slang is also common among teenagers and can have more meaning than formal language at this age. Meanwhile, some 17-year-olds still have trouble understanding double negatives. And although their attention span has increased, they often lose sight of long and complex questions.
Play
Play for a 17-year-old might include going to a restaurant with a friend or participating in a hobby. Many 17-year-olds engage in the same leisure activities as adults. And most of them have developed hobbies and interests that allow them to relax.
Major milestones
- Can communicate like an adult
- Use slang words often
- Coping with new problems and different situations better than in the past
Advice for parents
Encourage your 17-year-old to read for fun. Reading helps develop a teenager's vocabulary and also improves his or her writing skills.
Choice of profession
The age of seventeen is a transitional stage before adulthood and professional self-determination is an urgent need; young people begin to think seriously about their future. Parents should remember that this important step requires inner sensitivity. A child cannot be forced to choose a prestigious profession, guided only by mercantile considerations. Full disclosure of abilities and talents will bring both moral satisfaction and the ability to ensure a financial position.
Moms and dads don’t need to strive for their child to follow their professional path. Each person has his own purpose, and the child needs to be helped to realize it to the fullest.
Other milestones
Seventeen-year-olds may experience a variety of things for the first time. Some of them get a driver's license and a car. Others take part-time jobs. Others may experiment with more risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex, alcohol, or drugs. 1
And for some teens, 17 is the first time they've experienced a serious romantic relationship and maybe even their first heartbreak. Also, beware of unhealthy dating relationships, including teen dating violence. Many teenagers have difficulty coping with problems similar to adults.
Consequences
High anxiety and the impact of frequent stressful situations on the fragile teenage psyche often result in dire consequences for health. Against the background of constant worries, when the child does not feel support from the outside, the following may occur:
- psychosomatic disorders: increased or, conversely, too low body temperature, asthenia, headaches, disturbances in the functioning of the stomach, skin rashes;
- neuroses, psychoses, obsessive-compulsive disorder;
- sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea;
- panic attacks, phobias;
- tendency to hysteria;
- social maladjustment;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases (gastritis, neurodermatitis, allergies);
- alcoholism and drug addiction, gaming addiction;
- suicide.
The age crisis of 17 years is often complicated by the fact that parents themselves experience stress against the background of exams and the admission of children. In this state, they often need outside help themselves. So family consultations with a psychologist should not be neglected in such situations.
When to worry
If the thought of sending your 17-year-old out into the real world within the next year scares you, you're not alone. Many parents cannot imagine their teenager navigating the adult world on their own. But often between 17 and 18 years of age there is significant growth. And during this year, teenagers are ready to go to college, the military or work.
If your teen seems particularly ill-prepared for the realities of adulthood, you may want to talk to your child's doctor. You should also be concerned if you notice major changes in your teen's mood or behavior. Decreased grades, changes in sleep patterns, changes in weight or appetite are just a few symptoms that may indicate a mental health problem or another underlying problem. 3
Word from mentalar
As your 17-year-old approaches milestones like graduating from high school and his first year of college, you may begin to wonder if you've done everything you can to prepare him for life outside the home. But it's important to remind yourself that it's not too late for teens to learn new skills like managing money, staying safe, and even cooking their own food.
Proactively look for areas in your teen's life where they may need to sharpen their life skills. As their parent, you play an important role in guiding and teaching them to become the best version of themselves that they can be. And if you hit a few roadblocks along the way, don't be afraid to seek help from a pediatrician or psychiatrist.
Signs
Since the symptoms of the 17-year-old crisis manifest themselves quite clearly, parents immediately notice the changes occurring in the teenager.
Fears
First of all, the crisis manifests itself in constant fears about everything that is happening:
- How will the new life turn out?
- How many points will the exams be worth?
- Will you be able to get in?
- Have you chosen the right educational institution?
- What happens if they draft you into the army?
The burden of expectations from others, responsibility towards oneself and parents become the cause of increased anxiety, and in some cases, stress. If in the end your fears are at least partially realized, you are not far from depression, which threatens suicide. Having not passed the Unified State Exam, the teenager thinks that this is a shame, his life is over, he won’t go anywhere now, he will be drafted into the army. He is ashamed that he did not live up to expectations. Those who are especially suspicious and exhausted from the stress of recent months swallow pills, throw themselves under cars, and step out the window. To exclude such a scenario, understanding and loving parents should always be nearby.
Neurotic reactions
Autonomic disorders:
- dizziness;
- muscle twitching and cramps;
- increased heart rate;
- chest pain;
- pressure surges;
- lack of air;
- gastrointestinal disorders;
- increased sweating.
Emotional disturbances:
- unstable mood;
- irritability;
- decreased performance;
- self-doubt, self-criticism, increased demands on oneself;
- feeling of hopelessness, pessimism;
- depression;
- increased level of anxiety.
Neurotic reactions characteristic of a youth crisis are unstable and multisystem in nature.
Youthful maximalism
This is one of the main signs of the crisis of 17 years, which manifests itself:
- categorical judgments;
- intractability;
- stubbornness;
- excessive self-confidence;
- the desire not to be like everyone else;
- inflated demands on oneself and others;
- uncompromisingness;
- inadequate perception of criticism, when the slightest remark seems to be a real declaration of war;
- excessive passion in defending one's opinions and arguments;
- dividing the world into white and black, people into good and bad, without intermediate options or halftones;
- desire to have the best.
Psychologists explain youthful maximalism by selfishness, lack of experience and flexibility of thinking.
How is the period of growing up divided?
As for dividing the period of growing up into separate stages, the United Nations has adopted the following classification:
- early – from 10 to 14;
- late – from 14 to 19.
This is the division that is followed in most countries, and it is generally accepted and international.
Of course, there are other options for dividing growing up into separate stages. For example, in the Soviet Union it was believed that early adolescence was 12-14 years old, and late adolescence was 15-17.
Psychology of teenage girls
During puberty, intensive growth of the body and hormonal changes occur. Therefore, many girls begin to gain weight, their bodies become rounded, becoming more feminine.
Since the body does not have time to quickly adapt to the ongoing metamorphoses, it has to work hard. Hence, girls experience increased fatigue, drowsiness and apathy. Chronic illnesses may also worsen or new ones may appear.
The condition of the skin may worsen due to an increase in the production of estrogen and progesterone, which also negatively affects the emotional state of the child. This stage is also marked by the appearance of the first menstruation, which is often accompanied by pain and weakness.
All processes occurring in the body inevitably affect the children's nervous system. In addition, far-fetched shortcomings such as excess weight, problem skin, and the appearance of sweat odor negatively affect the self-esteem of a teenage girl. This is fertile ground for the emergence of various complexes in a teenage girl.
Due to the increased production of sex hormones, the emotional background of girls is unstable, its various forms can change every second - from apathy to joyful causeless excitement, from tearfulness to obvious aggression.
Teenage girls are often depressed. They are convinced that everything is bad for them. Girls are often prone to tearfulness. They often feel hatred and irritation towards those closest to them.
Their memory deteriorates, their concentration decreases, and their ability to express their thoughts is impaired.
Girls who are at the described stage of growing up often resemble three-year-old children in their own actions and words. You can often hear from them: “I myself,” “don’t meddle with me,” “leave me alone.”
