Adolescent Communication: Understanding It's Dynamics and Fostering It's Development

Abstract

The manner in which people communicate influences the nature of the interpersonal relationships that they are able to establish. Although the processes involved in establishing interpersonal relationships and in developing communication skills are lifelong, these processes are particularly important in adolescence. During adolescence, teenagers are not only expected to expand the number and variety of their social contacts, but to negotiate a change in the nature of the contacts as well. Relationships with parents and peers, for example, must alter if the adolescent is to succeed in accomplishing the developmental tasks of this age group (Duvall, 1971).