They must reassess the facts that were accepted during childhood, and accept, reject, or modify these societal norms as their own. The here and now thinking of earlier childhood gives way to a new capacity for abstract thought. In our culture, we expect a gradual development of independence and self-identity by the age of nineteen. The physical manifestations of approaching adulthood require numerous psychological adjustments, in particular the development of how one views self in relation to others. The process of abstract thinking changes along with physical development, becoming more complex and refined.
Late adolescents are less bound by concrete thinking.
A sense of time emerges where the individual can recognize the difference between past, present and future. They can adopt a future orientation that leads to the capacity to delay gratification. The individual develops a sense of equality with adults. Self-certainty and an internal structure develop while teens experiment with different roles. These adolescents come from family backgrounds that are not stable.