Adolescence in India

Book excerpt: Adolescence in India: An Interdisciplinary Perspective highlights the need and importance of studying adolescence in the domain of education. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it discusses adolescence from the perspective of sociology, psychology, education and health studies. Against the backdrop of economic development and globalization, the book looks at adolescence in the changing social milieu. It offers an understanding of adolescence by exploring the socio-cultural influences on adolescents and their interactions in various spaces like the school, among peers, family and the media. The book reflects on classroom group processes and instructional practices for better psychosocial growth of adolescents as well as discusses the need for a greater emphasis on making resources available for adolescents to realise and strengthen their skills and agency. The book outlines various life-skills policies and programmes in India and uses vignettes, anecdotes, emerging classroom discussions, case studies, activities, and self-assessment tools and questionnaires to facilitate a deeper understanding of the concept. The book will be of interest to students, teachers, and educators in teaching programmes including educational psychology, adolescent psychology, and human development. It will also be useful for policymakers, NGOs, and public and private sector bodies who work in the field of adolescent psychology.