SPECIFICS OF THE CRISIS OF ADOLESCENCE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article outlines the psychological features of the age period, which is determined by the scientific category as an “adolescent crisis”. The problem of the adolescent crisis has been revealed in people with intellectual disabilities.
The importance and relevance of the study is revealed first, due to the difficulties of adolescence: its dynamism, ambiguity, lack of emotional stability of the individual; secondly, due to the specifics of personality formation with intellectual disabilities; thirdly, the need to further develop effective psychological support for adolescents with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the article was to study and experimentally test the specifics of the emotional crisis of adolescence in people with intellectual disabilities. The purpose was provided by solving the following tasks: stating the peculiarities of the adolescent crisis in people with intellectual disabilities; determining the state of formation of “I-concept” and “self-image” of adolescents with intellectual disabilities; establishing the specifics of behavioral reactions and interaction of the adolescent with others (peers, the elderly) in conditions of experiencing an age crisis.
Moreover, the author conducted a psychological testing procedure to study the peculiarities of the formation of the personality of a teenager with intellectual disabilities during the age crisis (adolescent crisis). M. Kuhn’s psychological testing method “Who am I?”, T. Leary’s method of diagnostics of interpersonal relations were used; conversations, observations. The purpose of using these techniques was to determine the self-image, self-presentation, self-perception and self-esteem of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. According to the results of the study, it was found that adolescents with intellectual disabilities have a process of self-knowledge and understanding of their own “I”, internal mental acts and states are underdeveloped or absent. This complicates the process of experiencing an adolescent’s crisis. As evidenced by the low level of recognition and differentiation of emotions, emotional awareness, management of their own emotions. Also critical are difficulties with the adequate expression of emotions in accordance with the situation that determines them, in particular with the manifestation and control of anger, rage, aggression and other. The further directions of research of formation of the person with infringements of intellectual development in adolescent age are outlined.