Physical Development during Puberty

Physical Development

• Puberty: a period of rapid physical growth and development, typically between 10-14 years old for girls and 12-16 years old for boys
• Hormonal changes: increase in estrogen and testosterone levels, leading to physical changes such as:
  • Growth spurts
  • Development of secondary sex characteristics (e.g. breast development, facial hair)
  • Changes in body shape and composition
• Brain development: pruning and myelination of neurons, leading to increased efficiency and specialization of brain function

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Formal Operational Stage: characterized by:
  • Ability to think abstractly and reason logically
  • Development of hypothetical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Increased ability to consider multiple perspectives and abstract concepts
• Information processing: improvements in:
  • Attention and focus
  • Memory capacity and retrieval
  • Processing speed and efficiency
• Executive function: development of skills such as:
  • Planning and organization
  • Decision-making and problem-solving
  • Self-regulation and impulse control

Psychosocial Development

• Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion Stage: characterized by:
  • Exploration of identity and self-concept
  • Development of a sense of autonomy and independence
  • Potential for role confusion and identity crisis
• Social relationships: changes in:
  • Peers: increased importance of peer relationships and social status
  • Family: increased independence and conflict
  • Romantic relationships: emergence of romantic interest and exploration
• Self-concept: development of:
  • Body image and self-esteem
  • Self-efficacy and confidence
  • Emotional regulation and management

Physical Development

• Puberty occurs between 10-14 years old for girls and 12-16 years old for boys, characterized by rapid physical growth and development.
• Hormonal changes during puberty lead to an increase in estrogen and testosterone levels, resulting in:
  • Growth spurts
  • Development of secondary sex characteristics (e.g. breast development, facial hair)
  • Changes in body shape and composition
• Brain development during puberty involves pruning and myelination of neurons, leading to increased efficiency and specialization of brain function.

Cognitive Development

• Piaget's Formal Operational Stage is characterized by:
  • Ability to think abstractly and reason logically
  • Development of hypothetical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Increased ability to consider multiple perspectives and abstract concepts
• Improvements in information processing include:
  • Enhanced attention and focus
  • Increased memory capacity and retrieval
  • Faster processing speed and efficiency
• Executive function skills developed during this stage include:
  • Planning and organization
  • Decision-making and problem-solving
  • Self-regulation and impulse control

Psychosocial Development

• Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion Stage is characterized by:
  • Exploration of identity and self-concept
  • Development of a sense of autonomy and independence
  • Potential for role confusion and identity crisis
• Changes in social relationships during this stage include:
  • Peers: increased importance of peer relationships and social status
  • Family: increased independence and conflict
  • Romantic relationships: emergence of romantic interest and exploration
• Self-concept development during this stage involves:
  • Body image and self-esteem
  • Self-efficacy and confidence
  • Emotional regulation and management

Physical changes and developments during puberty, including hormonal changes, brain development, and growth spurts.