Invitation to the Life Span by Kathleen Stassen Berger Chapter 9- Adolescence Body and Mind

Puberty Puberty: time between the first onrush of hormones and full adult physical development (about 3-5 yrs). Puberty Begins: when a biochemical signal from Hypothalamus stimulates hormone production in the pituitary Pituitary triggers hormone production by the adrenal glands Adrenal glands produce hormones This route is called the HPA axis. Hypothalamus sends signal Pituitary produces hormones Adrenal Glands produce hormones HPA Axis

Puberty Gonads: paired sex glands that produce hormones and gamates Ovaries in females Testicles in males Leptin: A hormone that affects appetite and involved in puberty May cause early onset of puberty, especially among girls Chronic malnutrition delays puberty in both sexes Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH): The major hormone of puberty Causes the gonads to enlarge and to dramatically Increases of testosterone (in boys) and estradiol (in girls)

Puberty Testosterone: sex hormone, the best known of the male hormones; males produce more than females Estradiol: sex hormone, considered the chief estrogen; females produce more than males Menarche: girl’s first menstrual period, signaling that she has begun ovulation Around age 12 years 8 months Pregnancy is biologically possible Ovulation and menstruation are often irregular for years Spermarche: boy’s first ejaculation of sperm which signals sperm production Around age 13 Erections can occur as early as infancy

Puberty Physical growth: occurs during puberty between ages 8-14. Girls: Growth in height starts 2 years BEFORE boys Boys: Growth in height starts 2 years AFTER girls Hormonal and Sexual growth: Girls: ahead of boys by only a few months Early maturation may be problematic Boys: behind girls by only a few months BOTH early and late maturation may be problematic Body image: A person’s idea of how his or her body looks Excessive concern with weight can become pathological (IE: EATING DISORDERS!)

Eating Disorders Obesity: children with a BMI above the 95th percentile Anorexia Nervosa: refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight above the 85th percentile; can be fatal. Starvation to control body weight Intense fear of gaining weight Disturbed body perception Bulimia Nervosa: recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food called Binging, followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors to eliminate food; can be fatal Purging (use of laxaitives, diuretics, ememas or vomiting) Nonpurging (fasting, excessive exercise) Occurs at least twice a week for 3 months Uncontrollable urges to eat Distorted perception of body size Denial of the seriousness of the low body weight Lack of menstruation (3x’s)

Risks of Puberty Pregnancy: major developmental risk for sexually active adolescents Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): disease spread by sexual contact, including syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia, and HIV Child Sexual Abuse: any sexual activity between a juvenile and an older person Any erotic activity that can arouse, excite, shame, or confuse a child, regardless if genital contact is involved. Child is not legally able to “consent” May result in adolescent problems like drug abuse, eating disorders, and suicide.

Cognitive Development The Limbic System: matures before the prefrontal cortex Associated with fear, instincts and emotional impulsiveness When stress, arousal, passion, sensory bombardment, drug intoxication, or deprivation is extreme and/or intense, the logical part of the brain shuts down ESPECIALLY true when an adolescent is with peers Prefrontal Cortex (frontal lobe): last part of the brain to mature; (maturation around age 25) Associated with planning ahead, emotional regulation

Cognitive Development Adolescent Egocentrism: adolescent thinking that leads young people to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others which includes the following: Personal Fable: aspect of egocentrism characterized by beliefs that their thoughts, feelings, or experiences are unique, more wonderful or awful than anyone else’s. Invincibility Fable: An egocentric conviction that they are somehow immune to common dangers, such as unprotected sex, drug abuse, or high-speed driving. Imaginary Audience: The other people who “are watching” and taking note of their appearance, ideas, and behavior; making them self-conscious.

Cognitive Development Formal Operational Thought: Piaget’s 4th (and final) stage of cognitive development, characterized by more systematic logic and the ability to think about abstract ideas. Hypothetical Thought: the capacity to think in terms of possibility rather than only in terms of reality Deductive reasoning: Reasoning from a general statement, premise, or principle, through logical steps, to figure out (deduce) specifics. (also called top-down reasoning.) Inductive reasoning: Reasoning from one or more specific experiences or facts to a general conclusion (also called bottom-up reasoning.)

Cognitive Development Dual-process Model: The notion that two networks exist within the human brain, one for analytical and one for intuitive (or emotional) processing of stimuli. Analytic Thought: analysis, such as a systematic ranking of pros and cons, risks and consequences, possibilities and facts; depends on logic and rationality. Intuitive Thought: motivated by emotions or a hunch beyond rational explanation; possibly influenced by past experiences and cultural assumptions Much easier and quicker to forget about logic and rationality and follow emotions/impulses

Electronic Technology & Cognition Digital divide: gap between students who have access to computers and those who do not that once separated boys from girls and rich from poor has been bridged Benefits And Dangers of the Use of Computers in Education: Collaboration with others academically and socially Sharing personal information online without thinking about the possible consequences inviting sexual predators Cyberbullying: Bullying that occurs via Internet Similar to other bullying in intent and desire to harm Perceived anonymity may provide sense of power