The adolescent feels a great deal of insecurity in his relations with others and particularly with adults. The society hopes and expects that he should behave like an adult but not too much like an adult.
The adolescent is also eager to play adult behavior but he does not know whether he has gone too far or not far enough. This state of affairs causes a sense of insecurity and anxiety. The problem could have been solved, had the society placed before him definite standards of teenage behavior.
The anxiety is also caused by the fact that the adolescent is living in two kinds of societies-teenage society and adult society. The behavior that satisfies one irritates the other. Therefore, the adolescent is living constantly in a state of tension. Anxiety is caused also by a number of thwarting.
The adolescent is subject to pressures. Many of his difficulties are caused by culture in which he lives. The conditions that culture imposes upon him are responsible for stress and strain. He feels that he does not belong, that he is different, and that others view him with suspicion and hostility.
"In this world of human affairs" says Tagore there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither ornamental nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him. If he talks with childish lips he is called a baby; and if he answers in a grownup way he is called impertinent. In fact, any talk from him is resented.
Then he is at the unattractive growing age. He voice grows hoarse and breaks and quivers; his face grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. The lad himself becomes painfully self-conscious.
Yet at this age the lad most craves for recognition and love. But none dare openly love him for that would be regarded as undue indulgence. So with scolding and chiding he becomes very much like a stray dog that has lost his master.
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