Physical Development and Puberty

Physical Development and Puberty

• Adrenarche is the first phase of puberty
• Adrenarche involves the release of adrenal androgens
• Skeletal growth begins around age 6-8 during Adrenarche
• Gonadarche is the second phase, involving sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone
• Menarche is the first menstrual period, occurring around ages 12-13
• Spermarche is the first ejaculation, occurring around ages 13-14
• Primary sex characteristics relate directly to reproductive capabilities
• Secondary sex characteristics do not directly relate to reproductive capabilities

The Growth Spurt

• Growth spurts in girls occur around ages 8-13, and in boys around ages 10-16
• Growth spurts result in increased height and weight, reaching adult proportions
• Early-developing girls may receive unwanted attention and teasing
• Early developing girls may experience an increased risk for depression, eating disorders, early sexual activity, and substance abuse
• Early-developing boys may be more athletic and taller
• Early-developing boys may experience an increased risk for substance abuse and early sexual activity
• Late-developing boys may experience bullying, depression, and parental conflict
• Late-developing girls risk teasing and bullying

Brain Development During Adolescence

• The prefrontal cortex facilitates decision-making and higher-level cognition
• Myelination increases information processing speed
• Synaptic pruning strengthens the most important neural connections
• The limbic system develops before the prefrontal cortex
• The limbic system handles emotional processing, rewards, and punishments
• Pubertal hormones target the amygdala
• Dopamine, the "feel good" chemical, is produced more, and is involved in pleasure-seeking and risk-taking
• Serotonin balances dopamine, and extreme behaviors
• Melatonin levels increase later in the night, creating "night owls" rather than "early risers" in teens
• Teenagers require 9-10 hours of sleep
• A deficit of sleep increases impulsivity and negative emotions

Health Concerns During Adolescence

• Negative body image and body dissatisfaction is associated with poor nutrition and atypical eating patterns
• Muscle dysmorphia involves an obsession with muscle development
• Bulimia nervosa involves binge/purge cycles and often normal weight
• Anorexia nervosa involves a distorted body image, underweight, and low caloric intake
• Binge-eating disorder involves overeating sprees, often associated with anxiety, depression, and obesity
• Anorexia is the most fatal mental disorder, and suicide is more common with it
• Binge eating can result in Type II diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure
• Eating disorders can be treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication, counseling, and parental involvement/monitoring

Sexual Development

• Sexual interactions include body image ideals, media portrayals, masturbation, and sexual fascination
• Text messaging, email, and phone calls can evoke sexual feelings
• There is a risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for sexually active teens
• Sex education is about more than just preventing teen pregnancy
• The genital stage of psychosexual development, involving the ego and superego, is part of Freud's theory
• Secondary-process thinking and desires develop during this stage
• Friendships, intimate relationships, and adult/family responsibilities become prominent during this time

Adolescent Cognition: Piaget and Elkind

• Piaget stated that constructivism is formal operational thought
• Formal operational thought is quantitative and a stage approach
• Hypothetical thinking asks "What if?" and uses deductive reasoning
• Abstract thinking recognizes that reality is not black and white
• Metacognition is thinking about thinking
• Elkind proposed adolescent egocentrism, based on Piaget's work
• Imaginary audience is the belief that others are watching and judging
• Personal fable is the belief in one's unique qualities
• Invincibility fable is the belief that probabilistic consequences do not apply to oneself

Adolescent Cognition: Information Processing, Risk-Taking, and Relativistic Thinking

• The dual-process model suggests that intuitive and analytical thought follow different pathways
• Intuitive thoughts are automatic, unconscious, fast, and experiential/emotional
• Analytical thoughts are deliberate, conscious, and rational
• Behavioral decision-making involves weighing rewards and consequences of actions
• Attitudes are attuned to social rewards vs. long-term consequences
• Relativistic thinking involves questioning absolute truth
• This includes religious doubt and rules based on one's own principles and common sense
• There is also cultural relativism

School in Adolescence

• Declining ages of puberty necessitates transitional education, and transition to early adolescence during middle school
• Changes in schedules, social dynamics, and egocentrism happen at this age
• Academic schedules, extracurricular involvement, and social expectations are factors
• Peer acceptance is very important
• Bullying including cyberbullying is an issue
• Bullying and cyberbullying involves technology and can causes psychological distance
• During high school, there is practice analytical thinking for adult life
• More time is spent with peers than with family
• Degree attainment predicts later success
• Academic achievement is an indicator of adjustment

Moral Reasoning

• Independence increases during adolescence
• Kohlberg's theory emphasizes postconventional morality, making morals based on self-chosen ethics and principles
• Influences on this are home, media, school, peers, and close friends

Psychosocial Development

• Identity is developing, rather than forming
• Self-concept is self-awareness based on beliefs, values, opinions, and thoughts
• Self-concept also involves possible and ideal selves
• There is no evidence of a severe adolescent drop in self-esteem
• "Barometric" self-esteem fluctuates which is based on self-concept and relationships
• Erikson's theory is Identity vs. Role Confusion, "Who am I?" & "Who do I want to be?"
• Identity can be achieved resolving a "crisis"

Identity Development

• Marcia’s Identity Statuses can vary in commitments
• Religious identity family influence questioning
• Political identity and social issues and youths tend liberal views than parents
• Vocational identities like Part-time teen jobs don't prepare you for full time careers
• Ethnic identity: like Phinney Stages such as Unexplored research and achievement
• Gender identity with self perception on a spectrum

Dimensions of Identity

• Gender identity is different from sex
• Sex is biological
• Gender is a social construct
• Cisgender identifies with gender assigned at birth
• Transgender are genders that differ from birth
• Genderqueer is gender that does not conform to construct
• Gender expression is largely based on expectation
• Masculine or Feminine or dimensions
• Sexual orientation sperate contracts like gender identity
• Emotional and sexual attraction

Understanding Social Development

• Social changes shifts from Parent to peers
• Less control or more autonomy
• Peer relationships is a flock of feather flock
• Peer pressure can be very positive
• Deviant Negative peer pressure
• Romantic Relationships are becoming more important and emotional
• LGBTQ have support coming more to families

Agression

• Early starts are very long term
• May be more personal factors
• Parental becomes less alternatives
• life- limited vs adolescence-limited,maturity comes earlier
• Typical life courses, maturity gaps

Anxiety and Depression

• Specific phobias are most commonly linked to anxiety
• Major depression is linked to genetic an early childhood
• Increase risk for gender differences
• Interactions with biological,cultural and suicide
• Distressing, suicidal or parasurcidal ideation
• Please talk about it