1. Module 12
Adolescence

2. Module Overview What is Adolescence?
Physical Development in Adolescence
Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Social Development in Adolescence
Three Key Developmental Issues
Click on the any of the above hyperlinks to go to that section in the presentation.

3. What is Adolescence?
Module 12: Adolescence

4. Adolescence The transition period from childhood to adulthood,
extended from puberty to independence.
Starts with sexual maturation
Has changed over the past century

5. Adolescence

6. Physical Development in Adolescence
Module 12: Adolescence

7. Puberty
The period of sexual maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.
Starts at approximately age 11 in females and age 13 in males
Major growth spurt

8. Physical Development

9. Primary Sex Characteristics
The reproductive organs
ovaries in females
testes in males
external genitalia.
Menarche – beginning of menstruation

10. Secondary Sex Characteristics
Nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as
breasts and hip development in females
voice quality and facial hair in males.

11. Sexual Characteristics

12. Sexual Orientation Enduring sexual attraction toward
people of the other gender (heterosexuality),
or one’s own gender (homosexuality).
One’s attraction toward people of a particular gender
Usually heterosexual or homosexual; small minority bisexual

13. Heterosexual
A sexual orientation in which a person is attracted to members of the opposite sex
“straight”

14. Homosexual
A sexual orientation in which a person is attracted to members of the same sex
Approximately 3-4% of the male population and 1-2% of the female population

15. Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Module 12: Adolescence

16. Cognitive Development in Adolescence: Reasoning
Module 12: Adolescence

17. Jean Piaget (pee-ah-ZHAY)
Pioneer in the study of developmental psychology who introduced a stage theory of cognitive development that led to a better understanding of children’s thought processes.
Proposed a cognitive theory consisting of four stages

18. Formal Operational Stage
Piaget’s fourth and final stage of cognitive development
The person can think logically, hypothetically, and in the abstract
Qualitative change over the thinking of a child

19. Cognitive Development in Adolescence: Morality
Module 12: Adolescence

20. Lawrence Kohlberg (1927 – 1987)
Created a three-stage theory of moral development.

21. Heinz Dilemma
In Europe, a woman was near death from a very bad disease, a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging 10 times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could get together only about $1000, which was half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, “No, I discovered the drug and I’m going to make money from it.” Heinz got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife.

22. Preconventional Moral Reasoning
Characterized by the desire to avoid punishment or gain reward
Typically children under the age of 9
“Heinz was wrong to steal the drug because he night be put in jail.”
“Heinz was right to steal the drug because he would then have the companionship of his wife longer.”

23. Lawrence Kohlberg Moral Development

24. Conventional Moral Reasoning
Primary concern is to fit in and play the role of a good citizen and to follow the rules and laws.
Typical of most adults
“Heinz was wrong to steal the drug because stealing breaks the law.”
“Heinz was right to steal the drug because most people would do what they must to protect a family member.”

25. Lawrence Kohlberg Moral Development

26. Postconventional Moral Reasoning
Characterized by references to universal ethical principles that represent the rights or obligations of all people
Most adults do not reach this level.
“Heinz was wrong because everyone must respect the property of others, even the property of a selfish and greedy druggist.”
“Heinz was justified because everyone has a right to live, and he was simply trying to help his wife stay alive.”

27. Lawrence Kohlberg Moral Development

28. Evaluating Kohlberg Kohlberg’s participants were all white males
Individualism cultures
Communal cultures
Reasoning versus feelings

30. Social Development in Adolescence
Module 12: Adolescence

31. Erik Erikson (1902 – 1994)
Created an 8-stage theory of social development.
Each stage has its own psychosocial, developmental task.

42. Social Development in Adolescence: Developing Identity
Module 12: Adolescence

43. Identity One’s sense of self;
according to Erikson, an adolescence task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.
A strong, consistent sense of who and what a person is

44. Developing Identity
Identity search includes the following characteristics:
Experimentation
Rebellion
“Self”-ishness
Optimism and energy

45. Social Development in Adolescence: Developing Intimacy
Module 12: Adolescence

46. Intimacy
In Erikson’s theory, the ability to form close, loving, open relationships;
a primary task in early adulthood.
Not necessarily one’s spouse or a sexual relationship

47. Social Development in Adolescence: Independence From Family
Module 12: Adolescence

48. Independence In Western cultures begins in childhood
Primary attachment becomes one’s peers

49. Independence

51. Three Key Developmental Issues
Module 12: Adolescence

52. Continuity and Stages
How much of behavior is continuous and how much follows a more stage like development?

53. Stability and Change
Which developmental traits remain stable over time, and which change?

54. Nature and Nurture
How much of our behavior is due to nature and how much is due to nurture?
How do nature and nurture interact in development?

55. The End