title: Adolescence: a family affair.
abstract: In 'The Winter's Tale' Shakespeare has an old shepherd say: "I would there were no age between ten and twenty three, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there's nothing in between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing and fighting." Shakespeare highlights that the risks and crises of adolescence are development of adult sexuality; separation from parents (the 'ancientry') and development of independence; and the expression of (and coping with) aggressive feelings. I would add a fourth task: formation of an identity and development of the adult mind.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012725:Sexual Behavior