Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Adolescence

the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood

Puberty

sexual organs mature

Menarche

the onset of menstruation (occurs between 8 and 13)

Males

Spermarche: the first ejaculation (occurs around age 13).

Early maturation in boys

- more successful at athletics, more popular, higher self-esteem.

• May have difficulties in school

• Risk for delinquency

Late maturing boys

– may be seen as less attractive, may be at a disadvantage for sports

Early maturation in girls

may lead to feeling uncomfortable and different, may endure ridicule

Late-maturing girls

may be overlooked in dating, may have relatively low social status.

• Late maturation associated with greater bodily satisfaction and fewer emotional

problems.

Obesity

• One in five adolescents is overweight.

• Obesity can have psychological and

health consequences.

• Causes may include:

• A lack of exercise, especially for

girls

• Fast foods and processed foods

• Sedentary activities

Eating Disorders

• 1 in 5 teens may struggle with disordered eating behaviors (vomiting, caloric

restriction)

• Boys and men make up 1/3 of those diagnosed with an eating disorder

prefrontal cortex (PFC)

becomes

increasingly efficient in communicating

with other parts of the brain.

• PFC develops into the mid twenties

• PFC facilitates impulse control,

self-regulation, long term planning

• Reasoning and judgment areas grow

more slowly.

Socioeconomic Status and School Performance

-relates to school performance

-lack advantages, and their nutrition and health may be less adequate

-children with early problems may fall increasingly behind

Adolescent egocentrism:

a state of self-absorption in which the world is view as focused on oneself

Imaginary audience:

he belief that their own behavior is a primary focus of others’ attention and concerns

Personal Fables

the view that what happens to adolescents is unique,

exceptional, and shared by no one else

• Positively correlated with risk taking

False consensus effect

cognitive bias leads to overestimating how much others share their beliefs or behaviors

Why do adolescents use drugs?

• Pleasurable experience or thrill

• Coping, Escape from pressure

• Enhanced academic performance

• Role models’ use and/or peer pressure

Why do adolescents drink?

To feel like an adult

• To release inhibitions and tension or reduce

stress.

False consensus effect:

the assumption that everyone else is doing it

Tobacco

• About 2% of adolescents smoke, overallproportion has decreased.

• Adolescents may smoke as a rite of passage or to imitate influential models.