Psychology 203 Human Development Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence (Chapter 11)

ADOLESCENCE: A DEVELOPMENTAL TRANSITION Adolescence: Developmental transition between childhood and adulthood entailing major physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. Puberty: Process by which a person attains sexual maturity and the ability to reproduce. Pubescence: Term meaning puberty.

PUBERTY: THE END OF CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Secular trend Trend that can be seen only by observing several generations, such as the trend toward earlier attainment of adult height and sexual maturity, which began a century ago. Adolescent growth spurt Sharp increase in height and weight that precedes sexual maturity

Adolescent growth spurt Height in centimeters 190 170 150 130 110 90 70 50 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Age in years Boys Girls Throughout childhood, boys and girls are similar in height. At puberty, girls surge ahead briefly, but then boys overtake them at about age 14.

Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics Primary sex characteristics Organs directly related to reproduction, which enlarge and mature during adolescence. Secondary sex characteristics Physiological signs of sexual maturation (such as breast development and growth of body hair) that do not involve the sex organs. Areolae The pigmented areas surrounding the nipples, which enlarge during puberty.

Signs of Sexual Maturity Sperm Production and Menstruation Nocturnal emission An involuntary ejaculation of semen (commonly referred to as a wet dream) that happens at night in males. Spermarche Boy's first ejaculation Menstruation The monthly shedding of tissue from the lining of the womb. Menarche Girl's first menstruation Pheromones Odorous chemicals that attract mates in animals and possibly in humans.

Signs of Sexual Maturity Sperm Production and Menstruation

Signs of Sexual Maturity Time Table

PHYSICAL HEALTH Physical Fitness Sleep Needs Most are and stay in good health High School boys tend to get more exercise the girls Sleep Needs Circadian timing system: The natural sleep‑wake cycle of the brain, lasting 24 hours (School timing different then cycle) Melatonin: A hormone secreted by the pineal gland which promotes sleep.

Nutrition and Eating Disorders Obesity Body Image and Eating Disorders Descriptive and evaluative beliefs about one's appearance. Anorexia Nervosa: Eating disorder characterized by self‑starvation. Bulimia nervosa: Eating disorder in which a person regularly eats huge quantities of food and then purges the body by laxatives, induced vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise. Binge eating disorder: Frequent bingeing without subsequent fasting, exercise, or vomiting.

Use and Abuse of Drugs Risk Factors for Drug Abuse Poor impulse control and sensation‑seeking Family influences Difficult temperament Early and persistent behavior problems Academic failure and lack of commitment to education Peer rejection Associating with drug users Alienation and rebelliousness Favorable attitudes toward drug use Early initiation into drug use

Use and Abuse of Drugs

Death in Adolescence Deaths from Vehicle Accidents and Firearms Suicide

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Formal operations: Piaget's final stage of cognitive development, characterized by the ability to think abstractly. Hypothetical‑deductive reasoning: Ability, believed by Piaget to accompany the state of formal operations, to develop, consider, and test hypotheses Metacognition: Awareness and monitoring of one's own mental processes and strategies. Social perspective‑taking: The ability to understand another person's point of view and level of knowledge and to speak accordingly.

Immature Characteristics of Adolescent Thought (Elkind) Six Characteristics of Immature Adolescent Thought: Idealism and Criticalness – Adult systems are not perfect Argumentativeness – Ability to reason Indecisiveness – Ability to see different sides in decision Apparent Hypocrisy – Realize adults are less than perfect Self‑consciousness – Assume everyone is thinking and watching them Specialness and Invulnerability – no concept of death Imaginary audience: an observer who exists only in an adolescent's mind and is as concerned with the adolescent's thoughts and actions as the adolescent is. Personal fable: the conviction that one is special, unique, and not subject to the rules that govern the rest of the world.

Moral Reasoning: (Kohlberg's Theory) Morality of abstract principles: to affirm agreed-upon rights and personal ethical principles Morality of law and social rules: to gain approval or avoid disapproval Morality of self-interest: to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards Postconventional level Conventional Preconventional As moral development progresses, the focus of concern moves from the self to the wider social world

Evaluating Kohlberg's Theory Family Influences – Parents influence on moral issues Validity for Women and Girls – May not apply to girls Cross‑cultural Validity Female genital mutilation: Female circumcision.

Social Development The changing parent-child relationship 100% 80 60 40 20 2 to 4 5 to 8 9 to 11 Ages of child in years Percent with positive, warm interaction with parents

Influences on School Achievement Self‑Efficacy Beliefs and Academic Motivation Self‑efficacy: Belief in one's own mastery of situations, such as mastery of academic material. Use of Time Socioeconomic Status and the Family Environment

Influences on School Achievement Parental Involvement and Parenting Styles Authoritative parents Those who are warm, involved, and encourage their adolescents to be independent while maintaining reasonable control and discipline. Authoritarian parents Those who are controlling without warmth, rigid, overly punitive, and discourage inquiry. Permissive parents Those who seem not to care about adolescent grades and make no rules, and who are relatively uninvolved with their adolescents.

Influences on School Achievement School Factors Dropping Out of High School Active engagement: Involvement in schooling and Vocational Preparation Influences on Students' Aspiration Guiding Students Not Bound for College Should High School Students Work Part Time?