3 phases of adolescence
- early: (11-14) rapid pubertal changes
- middle: (14-16) puberty nearly complete
- late: (16-18) achieves adult appearance, assumes adult roles
What is the biological sequence of puberty?
- first sign: RAPID growth spurt
- hands + legs grow first, then torso
Girls: 10-16, hips broaden, gain more fat
Boys: 12-17, shoulders broaden, longer legs, more muscle
Primary vs secondary sex characteristics
P: reproductive organs (ovaries, testies)
S: body odor, hair, breast growth, voice deepening
What are influences on the timing of puberty?
- heredity
- nutrition
- exercise
Early and late maturation for girls and boys
Early (girls): teasing, sexual activity, eating disorders, substance use
Last (girls): may create anxiety, social comparison
Early (boys): popular, positive body image, confidence, stress from too mature relationships
Late (boys): difficult especially with athletics
Secular trend in menarche in industrialized countries
- happening earlier and earlier
- due to increase in modern medicine, industrialization, access to food
Changes that occur in the brain during adolescence? Cognitive and social/emotional consequences of these changes?
- prefrontal cortex is going through RAPID growth + development (pruning, myelination of pathways)
- social emotional network outpaces cognitive network
- abstract thinking, more intense emotions, peer influence, identity formation, struggle w/ emotional regulation
Describe teenager’s health
- at risk for injuries due to risk taking behaviors (underdeveloped prefrontal cortex)
- common for experimentation with alcohol and drugs
- high risk of fatal accidents, suicides, homicides
- sleep deprivation due to biological changes, irregular schedules
- healthy nutrition behaviors decrease with age
T/F: most teenagers are obese
TRUE - 12%
Adolescent contraceptive use
- adolescents at high risk for STDs
- limited knowledge, inconsistent access to healthcare
- don’t discuss with parents due to fear/embarrassment
Anorexia nervosa vs bulimia nervosa
AN: refusal to eat, excessive exercise, fear of gaining weight, low weight, fatigue, thin hair, amenorrhea
BN: binge eating & purging, damage to GI system, guilt/shame
Formal operational thought stage
- abstract thinking
- forming theories about everything
- question values you grew up with
What Piagetian tasks are used to test for formal operational thought?
- hypothetical-deductive reasoning: start w/ hypothesis & deduce logical inferences
1. Pendulum problem: what will impact how long it takes the string to go back + forth
2. Balance scale problem: will the scale balance or not - Propositional thought: ability to evaluate logic of statements without referring to real world circumstances (ex: mice are bigger than elephants)
Does everyone reach formal operational thought?
- schools is a major contributor if you’re able to contribute or not (calculus, physics)
- even adults may fail some of the tests sometimes
- rural/tribal societies aren’t as used to that type of abstract thinking
What are some consequences of adolescent cognitive changes?
- idealism/criticism of the world (generational conflict)
- poor planning & decision making
- choose short term goals over long term
- risky behavior (peer pressure)
Adolescent egocentrism
- self focusing & hyper ware of oneself
- sensitive to public criticism
- think everyone is paying attention to them
Personal fable
“I’m so special and unique”
Invincibility fable
“Nothing bad will happen”
- why they take risks
Imaginary audience
“Everyone is watching”
Are there gender differences in mental abilities &
achievement? Why?
- don’t differ in general intelligence
- girls have higher scores in literacy
- boys have early advantage in math/science
