1. Adolescence and Puberty
I. Section One:
Adolescent Issues
Physical Issues
Social Issues
Psychological Issues
II. Section Two:
Puberty
Kohlberg and Gilligan

2. Puberty: Adolescence
Puberty: Period during which the sexual organs mature
Children’s bodies begin producing hormones at an adult level
Androgens: Male hormones
Estrogens: Female hormones

3. Puberty: Onset of Puberty
Menarche: Onset of menstruation in girls.
Most obvious indication that she is in puberty.
This is not an indication that any other part of her is growing.
Spermarche: (Age 13) Boy’s first ejaculation.
Nocturnal Emission: Spontaneous ejaculation following excitation during sleep.
Dream does not have to be erotic
May also happen while the boy is stimulating himself during exploration.
Does not contain many, if any, sperm.

4. Median age (years) at menarche Finland
Median Ages at Menarche in Selected Northern European Countries and the United States from 1845 to 1969
1980
1840
1860
1880
1900
1920
1940
1960 18 17 16 12 15 14 13
Year
Median age (years) at menarche
Finland
Sweden
U.S.A.
Norway
U.K.

5. Puberty: Onset of Puberty
Primary Sex Characteristics: Associated with the development of the organs and structures of the body that directly relate to reproduction.
Gonad growth
Secondary Sex Characteristics: Visible signs of sexual maturity that do not directly involve the sex organs.
Males:
Deep voice, body hair, facial hair
Girls:
Breast growth, body hair
Higher hormone levels are associated with anger and depression and anxiety.
Which is why we have so much trouble with them.
They are not use to these uncontrollable emotions.

6. Puberty: Onset of Puberty
Most noticeable physical changes include
Pubic hair growth
Facial and chest hair growth in males
Breast growth in females
Increased height and weight
Sexual maturity
Adolescent sexuality is initiated by
First ejaculation, voice change, penis elongation, and testes development in males
Highly irregular menstrual cycles, rounding of breasts, and widening of hips in females

7. Hormone Levels by Sex and Pubertal Stage for Testosterone and Estradiol
Testosterone (pg/ml)
Estradiol (pg/ml) 90
400 70 50 30 10
110
300
200
500 1 2 3 4 5
100
Pubertal stage
Girls
Boys

8. Puberty: Onset of Puberty
Early onset of puberty can create risks for females:
Depression
Eating disorders
Use of alcohol, drugs, and/or tobacco
Earlier dating and sexual involvement with males
Possible lower educational attainment
Pubertal changes have a strong effect on the adolescent’s body image, dating interest, and sexual behavior

9. Puberty: Onset of Puberty
Early onset of puberty:
Not so good for females.
Pretty good for males.

10. Males Females Onset (average) Completion (average)
Normal Range and Average Development of Sexual Characteristics in Males and Females
Females
Onset (average)
Completion (average) 15 8 9 18 14 16 11 13 10 12 17
Height spurt
Menarche
Penile growth
Breast growth
Testicular growth
Growth of pubic hair
Age (years)

11. Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Adolescent Pregnancy Rates20 40 60 80
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
England and Wales
Canada
France
Sweden
U.S.
Year

12. Puberty Sensory Deficits Hearing loss affects 1-2 % of adolescents.
Speech impairment affects 3-5% of adolescents.

13. Kohlberg and Gilligan Sequence of Moral Reasoning
Founder: Lawrence Kohlberg

14. Kohlberg and Gilligan
Level 1: Preconventional Morality (Birth-9 years)
Stage 1-Obedience and Punishment Orientation
Avoid Punishment
Stage 2-Individualism and Exchange
Gain Reward
Level II: Conventional Morality (9 to 20 years)
Stage 3. Good Interpersonal Relationships
Gain approval and avoid disapproval
Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order
Duty and Guilt
Level III: Postconventional Morality (20+-maybe never)
Stage 5-Social Contract and Individual Rights
Agreed upon rights
Stage 6-Universal Principles
Personal moral standards

15. Kohlberg and Gilligan Founder: Carol Gilligan
“It is not good psychology if it leaves out half of the human race”

16. Adolescence Emotional development is characterized by
Increased interest in self-portrayal
Search for an identity
Emotional swings
Girls’ self-esteem declines due to puberty
Boys’ self-esteem increases
Identity confusion is gap between the security of childhood and autonomy of adulthood

17. Adolescence Identity is a self-portrait of many parts:
Desired career path
Religious beliefs
Social and intimate relationships
Sexual and gender identity
Cultural or ethnic identity
Personality traits
Physical body image
Identity formation occurs gradually over time, occurring before and continuing after adolescence

18. Adolescence Adolescent romantic relationships
Many adolescents seek attachment or sex after acquiring basic competencies to interact romantically
Cyberdating is very popular among middle school children as young as 10 years of age
High school dating is more traditional
Most gay and lesbian youth do little same-sex dating due to social disapproval and other factors
Romantic relationships are usually described in terms of interpersonal qualities by girls and physical attraction by boys

19. Adolescence Adolescents and suicide:
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 13- to 19-year-olds in U.S.
Females are more likely to attempt suicide
Males are more likely to commit suicide
Males use more lethal means than females
Homosexual youths may be 3 to 7 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youths
Suicide is affected by genetic and emotional factors