Adolescent Development Flashcards

Flashcards for Adolescent Development Review

Puberty

Time between the first onrush of hormones and full adult physical development, typically between ages 8 and 14.

Hypothalamus

Signals pituitary to send hormones to the adrenals, which enlarge the gonads and produce sex hormones.

Gonads

Paired sex glands.

Menarche

First menstrual period in girls.

Spermarche

First ejaculation of seminal fluid in boys.

Limbic System

Brain area associated with fear and emotional impulses; matures before the prefrontal cortex during adolescence.

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain area associated with planning ahead and emotional regulation; matures later than the limbic system.

Circadian Rhythm

Day-night cycle of biological activity that occurs approximately every 24 hours.

Growth Pattern in Adolescence

Growth proceeds from extremities to the core.

Common Diet Deficiencies in Adolescence

Deficiencies common among adolescents include iron, calcium, and zinc.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by fear of eating and gaining weight, coupled with a skewed body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging, potentially linked to body image issues.

Binge Eating Disorder

An eating disorder characterized by reoccurring, excessive eating splurges.

Orthorexia

Obsessive focus on healthy or pure eating; not in the DSM criteria.

Adolescent Egocentrism

Thinking that leads young people to focus on self to the exclusion of others; rumination.

Imaginary Audience

Belief that others are watching and taking note of appearance, ideas, and behaviors; creates self-consciousness.

Personal Fable

Belief that one's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences are more unique or intense than others'.

Invincibility Fable

Conviction that one cannot be overcome or harmed by anything that might defeat a normal mortal.

Formal Operational Thought

More systematic logic and the ability to think about abstract ideas.

Hypothetical Thought

Reasoning that includes propositions and possibilities that may not reflect reality.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from a general statement to specifics; top-down reasoning.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific experiences to a general conclusion; bottom-up reasoning.