Is Adolescence a Social Construct? A Clinician’s Perspective
Volume 4, Issue 3, Pages 51-54
Authors
Affiliation:
Professor & Senior Consultant, Department of Reproductive Medicine & Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Chief Consultant and Head of the Department of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine (Retired), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Chief Consultant in Andrology and Reproductive Sciences, Apollo 24/7.
Corresponding Author Email[✲]:
Corresponding Author
Puvithra Thanikachalam
Abstract
Adolescence, often framed as a universal stage bridging childhood and adulthood, is debated as either a physiological necessity or a cultural artifact. This perspective, derived from a dialogue between an AI researcher and me, a retired Professor of Andrology and Reproductive Sciences, posits adolescence as predominantly a social construct, shaped by post-industrial societal needs rather than biological imperatives. While puberty—marked by hormonal and physical changes—is an undeniable physiological state, the prolonged duration of adolescence and behavioral expectations reflect cultural inventions, such as extended education and delayed autonomy. Drawing on anthropological, historical, and neuroscientific evidence, we argue that the brain’s lifelong malleability and environmentally influenced emotions underscore adolescence’s constructed nature.
Keywords
Adolescence, Social Construct, Puberty, Neuroplasticity, Andrology, Cultural Variability, Brain Development.
