DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENT IDENTITY TODAY

Adolescenciju obilježavaju pozitivne i negativne karakteristike koje se često opisuju kao razdoblje „bure i oluje“, a i jedne i druge okarakterizirane su promjenama. Mijenja se odnos prema sebi, prema obitelji, prema drugima, prema institucijama, prema religiji. Adolescent postaje svjestan sebe i svoga života o kojem počinje razmišljati, pitati se i tražiti se. Mladi ljudi stječu novi doživljaj sebe i svojih fi zičkih, mentalnih i emocionalnih sposobnosti, uključujući doživljaj vlastite individualnosti i osobne vrijednosti. Adolescent se danas nalazi usred velikog mnoštva i različitosti informacija, ali sa siromašnom formacijom boji se svoje budućnosti i zbog toga je tjeskoban. Zbog toga se nalazi pred najvećim izazovom: izgradnjom identiteta. Dvojbeno je koliko mu pritom pomaže današnje pluralno društvo. Autor sugerira roditeljima i drugim odgojiteljima, kao jednu od mogućnosti, da pomognu adolescentima u zahtjevnoj zadaći izgradnje identiteta preko usvajanja vrijednosti i stvaranja životnog plana u evanđeoskoj perspektivi. Adolescentu koji je danas u „džungli svijeta“ evanđeoska perspektiva nudi novi „zemljovid“ na kojem može pronaći svoje mjesto i put ostvarenja svrhe svog života.Adolescence is marked by positive and negative characteristics, often described as «stormy and turbulent» periods, both typically containing changes. The changes pertain to relationship towards oneself, family, others, institutions and religion. The adolescent becomes conscious of himself and his life, and begins to contemplate it, asking questions and searching for oneself. Young people derive a new experience of themselves and their physical, mental and emotional abilities, comprising the experience of their specific individuality and personal esteem. The adolescent today finds himslef in the midst of a multitude and diversity of information, but while lacking maturity, he is affraid for his future and thus very agitated. Because of this he fi nds himself facing the greatest challenge: the formation of identity. It is doubtfull how todays pluralistic society helps him in this sense. The author suggests to parents, teachers and all others involved in influencing the young mind, that through the personalisation of values and the formation of a lifes plan and with the perspective of the Gospel, this complex task of forming ones identiy can best be achieved. To the adolescnet who fi nds himself nowadays in the «jungle of the world» the Gospel perspective offers a new «map» where he can find his proper place and the path to realise his sense of being