1. Myers PSYCHOLOGY Seventh Edition in Modules
Adolescence
James A. McCubbin, Ph.D.
Clemson University
Worth Publishers

2. Adolescence Adolescence Puberty
the transition period from childhood to adulthood
extending from puberty to independence
Puberty
the period of sexual maturation
when a person becomes capable of reproduction
The time period of adolescence is changing. Physical maturity is happening at an earlier age and marriage, financial independence, and the end of formal education are happening later in life. The most dramatic changes in life occur during this time.
The biological or physical changes of adolescence are triggered by sex hormones.The sex hormones lead to physical and emotional changes.

3. Adolescence Primary Sex Characteristics Secondary Sex Characteristics
body structures that make sexual reproduction possible
ovaries--female
testes--male
external genitalia
Secondary Sex Characteristics
nonreproductive sexual characteristics
female--breast and hips
male--voice quality and body hair
Menarche (meh-NAR-key)
first menstrual period
The male counterpart is the beginning of the first ejaculation in males.

4. Adolescence
In the 1890’s the average interval between a woman’s menarche and marriage was about 7 years; now it is over 12 years 10 20
7.2 Year Interval
12.5 Year Interval
Age
1890, Women
1995, Women

5. Adolescence
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.

6. Body Changes at Puberty

7. Kohlberg’s Moral Ladder
Morality of abstract
principles: to affirm
agreed-upon rights and
personal ethical principles
As moral development progresses, the focus of concern moves from the self to the wider social world.
Postconventional
level
Conventional
level
Morality of law and
social rules: to gain
approval or avoid
disapproval
By the time adolescence begins you are approaching Piaget’s formal operational stge. This is when you develop adult thinking and reasoning. Things like formal logic, abstract thinking, and hypothetical reasoning are now possible.
Moral development is part of cognitive development. This is your sense of right and wrong. Our way of thinking about moral situations changes with our level of development. Kohlberg did this by posing moral dilemma questions . The most famous dillemma involved a man named Heinz who stole money to pay for a medication for his dying wife. From the answers that he received he organized moral development into three levels.
Preconventional
level
Morality of self-interest:
to avoid punishment
or gain concrete rewards

8. Postconventional stage
Children under the age of 9, however some adults never get past this stage.
Example: Heinz was wrong to steal the drug because he might get caught and put in jail or Heinz was right to steal the drug because he would have his wife around longer.
Will I be punished?
Will I get what I want? Does the victim deserve it?

9. Conventional stage This type of reasoning is typical of most adults.
Appears during Piaget’s formal operational stage.
Example: Heinz was wrong to steal because he was breaking the law, or Heinz was right because he had to protect a family member.
Will my family or friends get mad at me?
Is it right according to law?

10. Postconventional stage
Most people don’t even reach this final level.
Example: Heinz was right because everyone has a right to live and he was simpky helping his wife or Heinz was wrong because everyone must respect the property of others.
Is there a higher good that can come from the action I do?
Two of the major criticisms of Kohlberg’s work ae: his theory is about moral jodgment and not moral behavour, and his research was conducted on males, not females.
Carol Gilligan argues that there is a fundamental difderence in the way men and women view moral behaviour. Men view it in terms of justice and fairness, and women view it in terms of responsibility to individuals and sacrifice.

11. Examples
1. Katie has five tests in one day. She is a good student but didn’t have time to study for her Psychology test. The girl that she sits next to is also a good student. That girl has copied from Katie numerous times before. Katie thinks that should never have had five tests in one day.
2. Josh thought about leaving school early and going to a hockey game. He stayed in school because he was afraid of getting caught.
3. Ashley’s friends were at the mall and someone suggested that they do a little shoplifting. Ashley doesn’t participate abd said that stealing is wrong.
4. Hope lives in a war-torm region of the world. She secretly distributes food to orphans living in the streets because this activity is against the law in the part of the world.
Preconventional – using the rule of reciprocity
Preconventional – acts based on the fear of punishment
Conventional – acting in accordance with law or religion – friends are in preconventional because they are concerned with external consequences.
Postconventional – risks her life and defies the law because of her concern for human life.

12. Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Approximate
age Stage Description of Task
Infancy Trust vs. mistrust If needs are dependably met, infants
(1st year) develop a sense of basic trust.
Toddler Autonomy vs. shame Toddlers learn to exercise will and
(2nd year) and doubt do things for themselves, or they doubt their abilities.
Preschooler Initiative vs. guilt Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks
(3-5 years) and carry out plans, or they feel
guilty about efforts to be independent.
Elementary Competence vs Children learn the pleasure of applying
(6 years- inferiority themselves to tasks, or they feel
puberty) inferior.

13. Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Approximate
age Stage Description of Task
Adolescence Identity vs. role Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by
(teens into confusion testing roles and then integrating them to
20’s) form a single identity, or they become
confused about who they are.
Young Adult Intimacy vs. Young adults struggle to form close relation-
(20’s to early isolation ships and to gain the capacity for intimate
40’s) love, or they feel socially isolated.
Middle Adult Generativity vs. The middle-aged discover a sense of contri-
(40’s to 60’s) stagnation buting to the world, usually through family
and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.
Late Adult Integrity vs. When reflecting on his or her life, the older
(late 60’s and despair adult may feel a sense of satisfaction or
up) failure.

14. Adolescence: Social Development
Identity
one’s sense of self
the adolescent’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles
Intimacy
the ability to form close, loving relationships
a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood
The search for identity has many characteristics. Experimentation – This is when adolescents explore healthy and less healthy options. They look at career opportunities, observe role models, sort out what is appealing and what isn’t and some get involved in drug use or promiscuous behaviour. Rebellion – The search many involve testing the limits that are set by the adults in our life. Healthy adolescents gain independence in ways that don\t harm themselves or others. Selfishness – Adolescents move in and out of a variety of friendships. While they are genuine and important, they tend to be temporary.

15. Adolescence: Social Development
The changing parent-child relationship
100% 80 60 40 20
2 to to to 11
Ages of child in years
Percent with
positive, warm
interaction
with parents