Adolescent Development: Key Concepts in Psychology and Sociology

Adolescence

The transitional stage between childhood and adulthood marked by major physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes.

Initiation Rites

Ceremonies or rituals that mark admission into adulthood (ex: bar/bat mitzvah, quinceañera, graduation).

Brain Structure and Operation

Adolescents have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex (decision-making, planning) and a highly active limbic system (emotion), leading to risk-taking.

Puberty

The biological process of sexual maturation that enables reproduction.

Menarche

A female's first menstrual cycle; key marker of puberty.

Spermarche

A male's first ejaculation; key marker of puberty.

Asynchrony

Uneven growth of body parts during adolescence (ex: hands/feet grow before torso).

G. Stanley Hall's Theory

Adolescence is a time of 'storm and stress'—conflict, mood swings, and trouble.

Margaret Mead's Theory

Adolescence is not necessarily stressful; depends on cultural expectations and support.

Robert Havighurst - Developmental Tasks/Challenges

Teens must complete major tasks such as building relationships, developing moral values, achieving independence, and preparing for a career.

Gender Reactions to Growth

Girls often experience earlier growth and may feel awkward; boys often gain confidence with later but more noticeable growth spurts.

Sexual Development

Includes maturation of primary and secondary sex characteristics and increased sexual interest.

Sexual Attitudes

Influenced by culture, family, media, and peer groups.

Abstinence

Choosing not to engage in sexual activity; often encouraged to prevent STDs and teen pregnancy.

Rationalization

Making excuses to justify behavior rather than admitting the real reason.

Idealized Thinking

Adolescents imagine perfect solutions and ideal worlds; can lead to frustration when real life doesn't match.

Identity Crisis (Erik Erikson)

A period of inner conflict where teens must decide who they are and what they believe.

Formal Operations Thinking (Jean Piaget)

The ability to think abstractly, logically, and hypothetical; develops around age 12+.

David Elkind - Problems in Adolescent Thinking

Includes finding fault with authority, argumentativeness, indecisiveness, apparent hypocrisy, self-consciousness (imaginary audience), and invulnerability (personal fable).

Moral Development

How people develop a sense of right and wrong (Kohlberg).

James Marcia - Four Identity Categories

Identity Moratorium - consideres issues but doesnt commit to a solution

Identity Foreclosure - makes a commitment to an issue but only b/c of parents

Identity Diffusion - nno serious effort to comit to an issue and not clear sense of identity

Identity Achievement - considering many possible identities, and freely committed to decisions about important life matters

Peterson's Theory

Crisis is not universal; depends on external circumstances, teens having a crisis is not the normal, only 20% of teen boys have a crisis, which is caused by and external factor

Mead's Theory

Identity formation is culturally dependent.

Bandura's Social Learning

Social learning theory of development, Teens model behavior they observe - continuous process

Role of Family

Provides emotional support, values, and boundaries; conflict increases as teens seek independence.

Role of Peers

Offer belonging, identity formation, and social comparison.

Hierarchy

Ranking system within peer groups (popular vs. less popular members).

Clique

Small, exclusive peer group with strong loyalty and identity.

Conformity

Acting in accordance with group norms to fit in.

Boys - Have More Trouble?

Research suggests boys often struggle more with early emotional expression and may act out more externally.

Difficulties Teens Face

Stress, bullying, school pressure, identity confusion, family conflict.

Depression & Suicide

Increasingly common; warning signs include withdrawal, mood changes, and giving away possessions.

Eating Disorders

Includes anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating — often tied to control issues and stress.

Culture & Body Image

Media and cultural standards heavily influence self-esteem and perception of attractiveness.

Gender Identity

One's sense of being male, female, both, neither, etc.

Gender Role

The behaviors and attitudes society expects from males and females.

Gender Stereotype

Oversimplified and exaggerated beliefs about gender characteristics.

Androgynous

Exhibiting both traditionally male and traditionally female traits.

Gender Schema

A mental framework for understanding gender norms and behaviors.

Gender Differences - Personality

Women: more nurturing, emotionally expressive (general trend). Men: more assertive and aggressive (general trend).

Gender Differences - Cognition

Small differences; females often better in verbal tasks, males in spatial tasks.

Perspectives on Gender Differences/Theories

Biological - hormones, genetics; Psychoanalytic - identification with same-gender parent; Social Learning - modeling and reinforcement; Cognitive-Developmental - forming gender schemas.

Changing Gender Roles

Increasing equality; more overlap in work and family roles.

Autonomy

Ability to make choices independently and take responsibility for oneself.

Developmental Friendship

Friendships that challenge you to grow; friends with different backgrounds or viewpoints.

Resynthesis

The process of integrating work, beliefs, and identity to form a stable adult self.

Comparable Worth

The idea that jobs requiring similar skills and effort should receive similar pay.

Job Satisfaction & Performance

Influenced by work environment, pay, recognition, skill use, and relationships with coworkers.

Social learning and alternate theories

Peterson - crisis is not universal; depends on external circumstances.

Mead - identity formation is culturally dependent.

Bandura - social learning; teens model behavior they observe.