Tutorial Slides Week 2

Question 1

Physcal Changes in Puberty

Answer 1

• Rapid acceleration in growth
• Development of primary sex characteristics
• Reproductive organs
• Development of secondary sex characteristics
  
  • Additional signs of sexual maturity
• Changes in body composition - e.g. muscle to fat ratio.

Question 2

Sequence and Timing of Pubertal Changes

Answer 2

• Although the sequence of pubertal changes is invariant across cultures, the timing of pubertal changes differs for:
  
  • Each sex (females mature on average two years earlier than males).
  • Every individual (with some individuals maturing earlier or later than others).

Question 3

Psychological Impact of Puberty

Answer 3

• Physical changes in puberty has profound effects on psychological development
• Depends on how teens feel about Pubertal Timing
• Early Pubertal Development tends to have most negative impact

Question 4

Pubertal Timing

Answer 4

• Timing of puberty relative to peer group seen as important as physical changes themselves
• Perceptions of pubertal timing vary across those who mature earlier/later as well as across the sexes
• Effects of perceptions of pubertal timing can persist throughout the adult lifespan.

Question 5

Physical Build Associated with Pubertal Status

Answer 5

• Early female → hourglass/pear.
• Early male → triangle
  
  • Current standard of male beauty in Western society - Consider: Male body image video.
• Late female → tubular with long legs
  
  • Current standard of female beauty in Western society (exception → large breasts)
  • Consider: Beauty pressure video. – Late male → tubular.

Question 6

Early Maturing Boys

Answer 6

• –Historically viewed as more positive;
  
  • Positive body image
  • Relaxed
  • Independent
  • Self-confident
  • Popular with peers
  • Prone to leadership positions
• More recent research show negative outcomes:
  
  • Higher levels of depression and anxiety (findings mixed)
  • Greater externalising problems (ADHD, hostility, aggression, risk-taking behaviours)
  • Substance use
  • Victimisation

Question 7

Late Maturing Boys

Answer 7

• More anxious
• Poorer body image
• Attention-seeking
• Problem behaviours (substance use, aggression, delinquency)
• But still well-adjusted

Question 8

Early Maturing Girls

Answer 8

• Unpopular with peers
• Withdrawn
• Lacking self-confidence, poorer body image leading to dieting, disordered eating
• Prone to symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Less likely to take leadership roles
• Perform less well in school work
• Increased risk-taking behaviours (substance use)
• Early sexual activity leading to pregnancy
• Delinquency

Question 9

Late Maturing Girls

Answer 9

• Higher grades
• Prone to leadership
• More sociable
• More positive body image

Question 10

Summary of Effects of Pubertal Timing

Answer 10

• Early maturation:
  
  • Historically seen more positive
  • Recent research show negative outcomes for boys; a number of negative outcomes for girls
• Late maturation:
  
  • More positive for girls than boys.

Question 11

Pubertal Timing Theories

Answer 11

• Deviance Hypothesis
• Stage Termination Hypothesis

Question 12

Deviance Hypothesis

Answer 12

• Pubertal timing has an impact by changing the adolescent’s status relative to his/her peers
• PREDICTION:
  
  • Adolescents who mature early or late become deviants.
  • THEREFORE early maturing females, followed by early and late maturing males have the most difficult experiences.
• PARTIAL SUPPORT from Research:
  
  • Accounts for negative effects of girls’ early development
  • Boys’ early and late development
  • But not the positive effects of girls’ late development

Question 13

Stage Termination Hypothesis

Answer 13

• Early maturers do not have as much time to complete developmental tasks of middle childhood
• PREDICTION:
  
  • Those experiencing puberty first, i.e., early maturing females, will have the most difficult experiences.
• PARTIAL SUPPORT from Research:
  
  • Model cannot account for the negative experiences of late maturing males