1. Adolescent Psych: Chapter 3
Biological Foundations, Puberty, and Health

2. Evolution and Adolescent Development
Natural Selection: the evolutionary process that favors individuals of a species that are best adapted to survive and reproduce.
Survivors are better adapted to the world than non-survivors.
Complete title of Darwin’s book

3. Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, and “survival of the fittest” in explaining behavior
What behavior assists in gene propagation and what behavior interferes in gene propagation?

4. The nature of genes: Questions?
What is a genotype?
What is a phenotypes?
What is a “reaction range”?
What is canalization?
What is behavior genetics?
How can effects of genetics be sorted out from effects of environment?

5. Genotype
A genotype is your genetic code as determined by strands of nucleotides in contained in phosphate-sugar ladders in the nucleus of your cells
What are nucleotides?
What is adenine? Guanine? Cytosine? Thymine?
Karyotype

6. Genotype/Karyotype

7. Genotype Chromosome

8. Genotype DNA
Adenine
Thymine
Cytosine
Guanine
Uracil in RNA

9. Genotype: Purines
Adenine Guanine

10. Genotype: Pyramidines
Thymine Cytosine

11. Genotype

12. Making tissue from genes

13. Twin studies Monozygotic twins Dizygotic twins Concordance studies
Adoption studies help to separate genetics from environmental influences

14. Temperament Easy Child: positive mood, and adapts well
Difficult Child: react negatively and fusses; low adaptability
Slow-to-warm child: low activity, somewhat slow adaptability, low intensity of mood

15. Heredity and Environment
Passive genotype-environment
Evocative genotype-environment
Active niche-picking genotype-environment
There is an heredity-environment correlation

16. Physical Changes Hormonal Changes Psychological Dimensions
Puberty
Physical Changes
Hormonal Changes
Psychological Dimensions

17. Puberty
Puberty is a period of rapid physical maturation involving hormonal and bodily changes that occur primarily during adolescence.
Menarche
106 pounds +- 3lbs
Issues of maturation

18. Hormone changes
Hormones: powerful chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands and carried through the body by the bloodstream
Hypothalamus and pituitary gland
Estrogen, progesterone, estradiol and female development
Testosterone, androgens

19. Estrogens
Estrogens are female reproductive hormones which are secreted by the ovaries.
They stimulate the proliferation of the lining of the uterus during the estrous cycle of non-primates, and the menstrual cycle of primates (including humans).

20. Hypothalamus and pituitary glands

21. Estrogens Play a part in the estrous/menstrual cycle
Estrogens function in maintaining female secondary sexual characteristics.
The most active form of endogenous (or made in the body) estrogen is estradiol.

22. Estrogens
Estrogen has beneficial effects in preventing heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
However, there is also evidence that estrogen may promote cancers of the breast, uterus, and other organs.

23. Estrogens
The way that estrogen works is to enter the cells of its target organ, bind with a receptor protein within the cell, which then enters the cell nucleus and interacts with nucleic acids to promote the synthesis of specific proteins.
All hormones work in this same general manner regardless of sex or type

24. Estrogen
Estrogens are important chemical signals that influence the growth and regulation of the liver, the cardiovascular system, and of sexual development and function.
These molecules are steroid hormones synthesized by cholesterol within the female ovaries and the male testes.

25. Estrogen: Estradiol molecule

26. Estrogen
Estrogen plays a significant role in breast and uterine development by encouraging DNA synthesis and cell division.
Estrogen also aids in the development of the male sperm production. (little known fact)

27. Estrogen
The binding of estrogen to the receptor inside the cell or on the cell surface is often referred to as a "lock and key fit," in which estrogen is the key and the receptor is the lock.

28. Testosterone
Stimulates the body's development of muscle, bone, skin, and sex organs, along with masculine physical features, such as hair growth.
Recently, scientists have discovered that testosterone also improves mental power, by enhancing visual and perceptual skills.

29. Testosterone
In men, testosterone is produced in the testes, by a group of cells known as Leydig cells. These cells begin secreting high doses of testosterone during puberty to trigger increased lean muscle mass, sex organ growth, bone formation, deeper voice, and higher energy levels.

30. Testosterone
Peak testosterone levels are reached in a man's early to mid- 20s.
Vital role testosterone plays in health
Testosterone deficiency symptoms: depression, fatigue, low sex drive, irritability, loss of facial/body hair, thinning and wrinkling of skin, weight gain, and weakening of bone and muscle tissue

31. Factors affecting puberty?
Factors affecting hormones?
Foods; estrogen in cattle
Lighting; electric lighting
Stress; busy schedules
Athletic activities

32. Variations in sexual development
Early male maturers
Late male matuerers
Early female maturers
Late female maturers

33. Male sexual development
Development of pubic hair
Voice changes
Increase in muscle mass
Begins as early as 10 years to as late as 13.5 years in most boys
Ends as early as 13 years to as late as 17 years in most boys

34. Female sexual development
Menarche may begin normally any time between the ages of 9 and 15 years.
Recorded earliest onset is age 5; a girl in Peru had a child at age 6
breast buds, emergence of pubic hair
growth in height, widening of hips
added adipose (fat) tissue

35. Glands involved in pubertal changes
Ovaries/testes
Adrenal gland
Pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
Thyroid gland

36. Psychological effects of pubertal physiological changes
How boys and girls view themselves through the changes

37. Body image Adolescents are preoccupied with their bodies
There are gender differences in adolescents’ perceptions of their bodies
girls are less happy with their bodies and have more negative body images
boys are more happy with their bodies and have more positive body images
Fat vs muscle changes

38. Menarche and menstrual cycles
Psychological experience of menarche an menstruation is dependant on how it has been introduced to girls
“The Curse” vs “You’re a woman now!”
Generally it is mildly exciting and at worst it is considered a hassle
Girls are somewhat embarrassed about menarche; tell mom but nobody else

39. Adolescent health issues

40. Leading cause of death in adolescents
Accident
Suicide
Homicide

41. Teenage suicide: Danger signs
Talking about suicide, or killing oneself, even in a joking manner.
Statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness.
Preoccupation with death.
Suddenly happier, calmer.
Loss of interest in things one cares about.

42. Teenage suicide: Danger signs
Visiting or calling people one cares about.
Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order.
Giving things away.
Any threats should be listened to and taken seriously; do not ignore these signs

43. Further indicators of possible teen suicide risk
Persistent sad or "empty" mood.
Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, pessimistic and or guilty.
Substance abuse.
Fatigued or loss of interest in ordinary activities.
Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns. Irritability.

44. Columbine suicide note
``By now, it's over. If you are reading this, my mission is complete. Your children who have ridiculed me, who have chosen not to accept me, who have treated me like I am not worth their time are dead. THEY ARE FUCKING DEAD!, I may have taken their lives and my own _ but it was your doing. Teachers, parents, LET THIS MASSACRE BE ON YOUR SHOULDERS UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE.''

45. End of Chapter 3
Questions about chapter 3 lecture, book, etc.?