1. Chapter 11 Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
Adam, Bethany, Tamika, Tameka & Tricia Murphy

2. Puberty Not the same as adolescence
Puberty is the beginning of adolescence
Puberty begins a cycle of physical maturation

3. Puberty Is not A single sudden event Noticeable physical changes
Difficult to pinpoint when it begins and ends

4. On average the peak growth spurt occurs
Two years earlier for girls around (11 ½)
Than for boys around (13 ½)

5. According to research male pubertal characteristics
Increase in penis and testicle size
Appearance of straight pubic hair
Minor voice change
First ejaculation (which normally occurs from masturbation or a wet dream.)
Kinky pubic hair, onset height and weight, hair in armpits, more detectable voice change and finally growth of facial hair.

6. Female characteristics
Breast enlarges or pubic hair appears Hair in the armpits Growth in height Hips wider than shoulders First menstrual No voice change by the end of puberty Girls tend to outweigh boys till age 14 boys surpass girls.

7. Behind the puberty of girls and boys
There are a flood of hormones, power chemicals substance secreted by the endocrine glands and carried through the body by the bloodstream.

8. The brain is also changing
Researchers discovered that twice as many synaptic connections, which are the pairing of homologous chromosomes one from each parent during early meiosis are made than will ever be used. The connections that are used are strengthened and survive while the unused are replaced by other pathways or they simply disappear. As a result from the disappearing by the end of adolescence years individual have fewer, more selective and more effective neuronal connections than they had as a child. The disappearing of the synaptic connections indicates that the activities the adolescent choose to engage in and not to engage in influence which neural connections will be strengthened and which ones will disappear.

9. The Brain
Recently discovered by scientists adolescents brains undergo major structural changes. The corpus callosum, is the location where fibers connect the brain’s left and right hemispheres, which is thickened in adolescence and this improves adolescents ability to process information more effective. Moreover, the amygdale is responsible for our emotions such as anger and matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex which is the region in intense emotions, but does not finish developing until emerging into adulthood. According to scientists they have yet to determine whether the brain changes come first or whether the brain changes are the result of experiences with peers, parents, and others. Once again we encounter the nature verse nurture issue that is so prominent in an examination of development through the life span.

10. Adolescent Sexuality Characterized by
Substantial changes in physical growth and the development of the brain
Bridge between the asexual child and the sexual adult
Time of sexual exploration and experimentation and incorporating his/her sexuality into one’s personality

11. Adolescents Are Concerned with:
If they are sexually attractive
How to perform sex
What the future holds for their sexual lives

12. Influenced and Educated on Sex Via
Videos
Magazines
Television
Lyrics of popular music
Website

13. Developing a Sexual Identity
Involve learning to manage sexual feelings
Intimacy
Sexual arousal
Attraction
Skills to manage sexual behavior to avoid undesirable consequences

14. Developing a Sexual Identity
Emerges in the context of
Physical factors
Social factors
Cultural factors
Is apparent through
Activities
Interests
Style of behavior
Identification of sexual orientation

15. Developing a Sexual Identity
Developing same sex sexual identity
Gays and lesbians tend to struggle through this developmental process
Usually do not remember early same sex attractions
Tend to recognize their sexual orientation in mid to late adolescence
Many gays and lesbians also acknowledge opposite sex attractions but are more sexually drawn to same sex

16. Timing of Adolescent Sexual Behavior
Varies by country, gender and socioeconomic level
Women who lost their virginity by the age of 17
72% in Mali
47% in United States
45% in Tanzania
Men who lost their virginity by the age of 17
76% in Jamaica
64% in United States
63% in Brail

17. Study of Sexually Active High School Students
39% of Males
29% of Females
63% of Males
62% of Females
9th Graders
12th Graders

18. Increasing Amount of Oral Sex Occurrences
National survey showed 55% of year old boys and 54% of girls in the same age group had engaged in oral sex
20 % of those who had taken part in the survey and responded as not having sexual intercourse hade engaged in oral sex

19. Risk Factors in Adolescent Sexual Behavior
Many adolescents are not emotionally ready to handle sexual experiences
Early sexual behavior is linked to risky behavior
Drug use
Delinquency
School related problems

20. Causes of Early Sexual Activity in Girls
Alcohol use
Early menarche
Poor parent child communication

21. Increased Risk of Early Sexual Behavior
Low socioeconomic status
Siblings that are teen moms or are sexually active
Reduced parental supervision

22. Factors That May Reduce Likelihood of Early Sexual Behaviors
Understanding of the negative consequences of sexual activity
Academic achievements
Knowing the added responsibilities that will arise if he/she gets pregnant

23. Contraceptive Use Used to prevent:
Unwanted Pregnancy
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The Center for Disease Control found that 61% of high school students are now using birth control methods
But many sexually active teens are still not using birth control

24. Condom Use in the U.S. vs. Europe
Girls = 72%
Boys= 81%
Girls = 62%
Boys = 75%
Europe: 15 year olds
US: 15 year olds

25. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Transmitted primarily through sexual contact, including oral-genital and anal genital contact
3 million Americans adolescents are infected with and STI a year
One fourth of those who are sexually active
In a single act of unprotected sex a teenage girl has a:
50% chance of getting Gonorrhea
30% chance of genital warts
1% of HIV

26. Adolescent Pregnancy
U.S. has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing rates of all industrialized countries
declined 34%
Believed to have due to fear of disease and the increased use of contraceptive

27. Latina Adolescent Pregnancy
Have a greater rate of adolescent pregnancy than non-Latina whites and African Americans
Smallest decline in teen pregnancy and birthrates
Greater likelihood to have a second adolescent birth than all other ethnic groups

28. Daughter of Teen Mothers
Have a 66% greater chance to have a teen pregnancy themselves

29. Outcome of Adolescent Pregnancy
Creates health problems for both mother and child
Low birth weights
Prominent factor in infant mortality
Creates neurological problems
Childhood illness
Greater likelihood of mother dropping out of school
Children tend to have greater tendency of behavioral issues and learning problems in school

30. Exceptions to the Majority
Not all teen pregnancies lead to health or behavioral problems
Not all adolescent pregnancies lead to the cycle repeating itself
There is a percentage to teens that achieve well in their academics and have positive outcomes in both their own and their child’s lives!

31. Personal Note
Dear Class, I believe the text did not fully explain how positive and beautiful a teen pregnancy can be! But it was my job to present the material in the text. That is what I did. Please do not hold the material against me or any of my group members. Thank You and we continue….

32. Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy (Page 362)
Teen Outreach Program
Engages teens in community outreach and volunteering
A study on the program showed:
participants had greater academic success
lower pregnancy rates
Girls Inc.
Four programs designed to motivate girls to avoid pregnancy until they are mature enough to handing the role of motherhood
Studies have shown a direct link between sexual education and pregnancy
Controversy stems from this topic

33. Issues in Adolescent Health
“Many of the behaviors that are linked to poor health habits and early death begin during adolescence”

34. Nutrition/Exercise 12-19 yo overweight increased
Adolescents-decreased intake of fruits and veggies
Regular family meals in adolescencehealthy eating habits 5 yrs. Later
Exercise: Positive effect on weight
Low Levelsadolescents more depressed
Increase computer/TV use, decrease in exercise
From 11%-17% (overweight increased)
Exercise: reduced Triglycerides, decreased BP/incidence type 2 DM/drug use
Low level: depressive symptoms in young adolescents 34

35. Sleep Patterns
31% US adolescents had <8 hrs. sleep/night and decreases with age
<8hrs. Sleep leads to many problems
Older adolescents have change in biological clocks due to change in melatonin
Mary Carskadon Experiment
Later start times
Feel more tired, sleepy, cranky/irritable, fall asleep in school, depressed mood, drink caffeinated beverages than those who had more than 8hrs sleep
Later Start times: No difference in middle schoolers, but increased test scores for high school students 35

36. Leading Causes of Death
Accidents 2. Homicide 3. Suicides
15-24 yo Deaths 50% unintentional Injuries
 75% MVA (Risky driving habits, not lack of experience)
50% MVA with teenagers, driver had BAC .1
Homicides: AA males more likely
Suicide Rates have tripled since the 1950’s
MVA: Risky Driving habits like Speeding, tailgating, DUI alcohol/drugs
Suicide Rates: 6% in yr. olds
12% in yr. olds 36

37. Substance Abuse Males engaged in Binge Drinking more than females
Cigarettes: Peak in 1997, has been declining
Pain Killers: Main Source parents medicine cabinet
Roles of Development: Parents and Education
Lloyd Johnston: Decline in use, US still highest in rates of adolescent abuse
8th grade: %; %
10th grade: %; %
12th grade: %; %
30% seniors had been in car with while driver under the influence
Cigarettes: Starts in 7-9th grades
PK: % used Vicodin, 10% Oxycontin, 9% cough medicines
Parents: Monitoringlower incidences, family dinners fewer problems and substance abuse problems
Education: Achievement reduced likelihood adolescents developing drug problems (alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs) 37

38. Anorexia Nervosa
“Eating disorder that involves relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation”
Three Characteristics:
Weight <85% considered normal
Intense fear of gaining weight
Distorted image of body shape
Most white, middle/upper class/income families
10x more likely in females than males
Most effective treatment is Family Counseling
Even when thin, still fat.
Weigh themselves frequently, body measurements, gaze at self in mirror
Usually starts after diet or family/life stress. Starts Early adolescence
Set high standards for themselves, but have a feeling of failure. Turn to food as something they can control. 38

39. Bulimia Nervosa
“Individual consistently follows binge-and- purge pattern”
Happens 2x/week for 3 months
Fall within normal weight range which makes it difficult to detect
Affects 1-2% US Women/90% Female
Binge usually started by dieting and somewhat overweight before onset
Preoccupied with food, strong fear becoming overweight, depressed/anxious, distorted body image
May not see it on the outside, but is messing insides up. Who is the first person to usually detect when someone is bulimic? Dentist.
Starts late adolescence, early adulthood
ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA
70% recover from disorder 39

40. Adolescent Cognition

41. Piaget’s Theory
Piaget created the cognitive developmental theory which focused on different developmental milestones in an individual’s life.
At the third stage of his theory is the concrete operational stage: when children can reason logically about concrete events and objects, makes gains in the classification and relationship between classes and objects.

42. The Formal Operational Stage
This is the fourth and final stage of Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory. This stage occurs around the age of 11.
In this stage thought is more abstract: Things like love become important, personal ideals, enhanced imagination, hypothetical thinking comes in to play, and logical reasoning .
At this stage in development children began to think more of them and are occupied with their own thoughts.
Problem solving skills move away from trial and error to a more scientific approach. Such as devising plans to solve problems, systematically testing solutions. Hypothetical-deductive reasoning- involves creating a hypothesis and understanding the possible outcomes of an event.

43. Evaluating Piaget’s Theory
Criticism
More individual variation then he thought: About 1 and 3 adolescents are formal operational thinkers, many American adults never become this type of thinker
Culture and education have stronger influence then Piaget maintained
Cognitive development is not as stage like, children can be trained to reason at a higher level.
Some abilities emerge later then thought others earlier.

44. Evaluating Piaget’s Theory
Contributions
He is the founder of present field of cognitive development
Concepts such as: assimilation, accommodation, object permanence, egocentrism, and conservation and be attributed to Piaget
The idea of children being active and constructive thinkers

45. Adolescent Egocentrism
Which is the heightened self-consciousness of adolescents. Two key components of adolescent egocentrism • Imaginary Audience- the belief that others are as interested in them as they themselves are, and attention getting behavior. Ex. If a 9th grader walks in the classroom they think all eyes are on them. • Personal Fable- is a sense of uniqueness and invincibility. Ex. No one understands me especially my parents. Ex. Of invincibility that won’t happen to me or I won’t get hurt.

46. Information Processing
According to Kuhn it is important that adolescents improve Executive Functioning- which is higher order cognitive activity such as reasoning, making decisions, monitoring thinking critically, and monitoring one’s cognitive progress. Improves:
Effective learning
Allocation of attention
Make decisions and use critical thinking
Decision Making
Adolescent thinking has a dual-process model- One is analytical and the other experiential.

47. The Transition To Middle Or Junior High School
At this stage adolescent experience the top- dog phenomenon – moving from being the oldest, biggest, and most powerful student to being the youngest, smallest, and least powerful. Some positive aspects:
Feeling grown up
More subjects to select from
Spend time with peers, find compatible friends
Increased independence, challenge by academic work

48. High School
In the late 20th and first several years of the 21st century U.S. high school dropout rates declines. In the 1940 more than half of years olds dropped out of school by the figure decreased to 9.3 percent. The dropout rate for Latinos remains highs, but is highest among Native Americans. Ways to decrease dropout rates:
Early reading programs
Tutoring
Counseling and mentoring

49. Extracurricular Activities and Service Learning
Benefits of Extracurricular Activity •Higher grades, school engagement, lower dropout rates •More likely to go to college, lower delinquency and substance abuse. Service Learning- is a form of education that promotes social responsibility and service to the community. An important goal of service learning is that adolescents become less self- centered and motivated to help others. •Adolescents engage in tutoring, helping older adults, working in a hospital, assisting in child-care, and cleaning up.