Adolescent Development and Changes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes regarding the social, moral, physical, and cognitive development and changes that occur during adolescence.

Identity crisis

A key concept in Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development involving the struggle in forming one's identity and the confusion of roles occurring during adolescence.

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

A theory espousing that the period of adolescence is the most challenging and turbulent stage in the framing of the identity of an individual.

Peer pressure

Conforming to the standards or expectations of peers without considering consequences, often motivated by the fear of being 'unfriended' or labeled a 'kill joy'.

Morality

Defined as a set of guiding principles that direct a person in the pursuit of what is right or wrong and what is good or bad.

Postconventional reasoning

A level of moral reasoning suggested by Kohlberg where adolescents make decisions based on universal human rights and what their person conscience dictates.

Sound conscience

Described by Hurlock ($1982$) as the inner force that makes external controls unnecessary.

Self-condemnation

A state adolescents are likely to suffer from when they deviate from their general principles to act upon the wrong wishes of others according to Hurlock ($1982$).

Adolescence

The life stage referred to as the teenage years, which starts at the age of $12$ and ends at the age of $21$.

Puberty

The physical transformation that a child experiences as sexual maturity is reached, which can start as early as the age of $9$.

Spermarche

The production and release of sperm, indicating that male reproductive organs have become mature in function.

Nocturnal emissions

Commonly known as wet dreams, these are indications that male reproductive organs are mature and capable of reproduction.

Menarche

A girl's first menstrual period, marking sexual maturity and indicating her capacity to be pregnant.

Androgens and Estrogens

Chemical substances or hormones produced by endocrine glands that actively affect physical growth and development during adolescence.

Testosterone

An androgen strongly associated with male physical maturation, including changes in height, deepening of voice, development of genitals, and sexual desires.

Estradiol

An estrogen strongly associated with physical development in girls, such as the widening of hips and breast and uterine development.

Body-cathexis

According to Stice and Shaw ($2002$), this refers to satisfaction with one's body, which only few adolescents experience.

Cognitive development

The progression of the ability to think and reason, where adolescents develop the ability to interconnect things and solve problems.

Corpus callosum

The area of the brain where neurons thicken to connect the left and right hemispheres, enabling faster and more effective information processing.

Prefrontal cortex

The part of the brain involved in decision-making, reasoning, and controlling one's emotions.

Amygdala

Known as the seat of emotions such as anger, sadness, and happiness, which matures much earlier than the prefrontal cortex.

Pickle-minded

A tendency of being undecisive that prompts teenagers to explore, experiment, and potentially engage in risky behaviors.