What signifies the start of adolescence in terms of developmental stages?

The onset of adolescence is marked by the genital stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development. This stage emerges approximately during the onset of puberty, which typically occurs between ages 11 and 13, signaling the transition from childhood to adolescence. During the genital stage, individuals begin to focus on mature sexual intimacy rather than earlier stages that focused on gratification through other means.

This stage is characterized by the reawakening of sexual interests and pursuits, where individuals develop a greater capacity for love, forming romantic relationships, and connecting with others on a deeper level. It is a time when the individual is becoming more aware of their own sexual identity and is more able to form relationships based on mutual attraction and emotional investment.

In contrast, other phases such as concrete operations refer to cognitive development in middle childhood, the latency stage describes a period of relative social and sexual calm from approximately age 6 to puberty, and the preoperational phase pertains to earlier cognitive development characterized by symbolic thinking and egocentrism. None of these stages capture the essence of the transition into adolescence in the same way that the genital stage does.