To be addled is to be confused; that about sums it up for adolescence. Actually, the word “addled,” from the Middle English period, translates as “mud, filth.” Adolescence is a dirty, filthy, confusing time. Adolescence, as a word comes from Latin and translates into English as “to grow.” The word “adult” comes from the same root .
Periods of rapid growth and change can be confusing; there a lots of conflicts, pulls and pressures from the previous patterns of living, as well as pulls and pressures from the developmental themes (i.e., classroom lessons) emerging, which naturally require different patterns of living.
Whereas a major psyche-socio theme in adolescence is exploring options and developing a sense of individuality and self esteem, in early adulthood building a sense of connection and belonging to/with others, and to a larger whole, is more dominant.
As a person, you may be in late adulthood, enmeshed in the emerging late adulthood themes of accepting, synthesizing and finding meaning in the many relationships that have made your life what it has been, even while the nation, of which you are a part, as a twenty year old, in it’s 21st century, is enmeshed in the emerging early adulthood themes of building meaningful relationships.
Of course, one of the hallmark traits of adolescence is not listening to the wisdom of the elders….So, whether its on the personal level or the national level, adolescence is often filled with addled lessons.
