Chapter I: Biological Transitions (Adolescent Psychology)

puberty

marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, encompassing
the physical changes leading to sexual reproduction

rapid growth

Dramatic increases in height and weight driven by the
adolescent growth spurt

primary sex characteristic development

Further development of the
gonads (testes in males, ovaries in females) and associated hormonal
changes

secondary sex characteristic development

Changes in genitals
and breasts, pubic/facial/body hair growth

brain development

Changes in anatomy and activity due to hormonal
influences

endocrine

The _____ system produces, circulates, and regulates hormone levels

hormones

specialized substances secreted by endocrine glands that
stimulate specific responses

glands

organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific
ways

pituitary gland

controls general hormone levels

hypothalamus

part of the brain that ontrols the pituitary gland, also has GnRH
neurons

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons

specialized neurons that are
activated by certain pubertal hormones

HPG Axis

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonad Axis

*****desc HPG Axis step-by-step (it’s like a cycle)

birth; childhood

HPG axis is in place before ____, but quiet during _____

• Genetics: the age of puberty is mostly genetic
• Environment:
• Presence of mature mating partners
• Nutritional resources to support pregnancy
• Whether individual is physically mature and healthy enough
for pregnancy

HPG axis can be awakened by??? (2)

kisspeptin

A brain chemical triggering puberty, stimulated by leptin
(protein from fat cells) and suppressed by melatonin (sleep-regulating
hormone)

earlier puberty

• Higher body fat and more light exposure (e.g., living close to
equater -> ????

prenatal hormones

Organize the brain before birth and manifest in behaviors
during adolescence

(example: Male "humping" behavior in neutered dogs due to prenatal
testosterone exposure

pubertal hormones

Activate the patterns of behavior organized prenatally

(ex: sexual motivation emerging at puberty)

girls than boys

Growth spurt occurs approximately 2 years earlier in ____ than ____

boys

Muscle tissue grows faster in ____

girls

Body fat grows faster in _____

Tanner Stages

Five stages describing pubertal development

Males

(Sexual Maturation)

Testes/scrotum growth, pubic hair, penis growth, voice
deepening, facial/body hair

Females

(Sexual Maturation)

Breast development, pubic hair, growth spurt, menarche
(first menstruation), uterus/vagina development

fertility

Boys become fertile before achieving adult appearance,
while girls appear mature before achieving ____

genetic factors

timing of puberty mostly due to genetics

nutrition, health, social factors

environmental factors - what are they?

secular trend

(changes over a long period of time): Individuals
have come to be larger in stature and reach puberty earlier over
the last 200 years, due to improved nutrition and health

family conflict

may induce stress and stress
hormone secretion

father absence

ealier puberty in girls

stepfather presence

Exposure to non-genetically-
related male may stimulate pubertal maturation

sexual abuse

may lead to early puberty

risen

As age of puberty has fallen, rates of adolescent mortality have ____

behavior, self-image, and appearance

Biological changes in puberty can directly impact??? (3)

T

(T/F) Stress is more likely to be a cause, rather than consequence, of puberty

hormoral effects on the brain

Puberty increases vulnerability to stress due to????

neural plasticity

capacity for the brain to change in response to experiences (inc during puberty)

Risk: Inc chances that exposures to stressful eexperience → harm

Benefit: inc opportunity for growth, health, wellness

What’s the risk and benefit og neural plasticity?

adolescents are very moody

what’s one stereotype of adolescents

rapid increases in testosterone, estrogen, and adrenal androgens associated with:

• Irritability, impulsivity, aggression in boys

• depression in girls

What hormones increases when it comes to puberty and mood? (and give examples for both genders)

• initially associated with positive self-image and popularity

• long-term risks of delinquency and substance abuse

• may struggle with impulsivity and aggression during puberty due to developmental unreadiness

What happens during early maturation in boys? (3)

• negative self-image and social difficulties during puberty

• may develop stronger coping skills and self-reliance long-term

What happens in late maturation in boys? (2)

delayed phase preference

A pattern of sleep characterized by later sleep and wake times, usually emerges durign puberty

• driven by biological changes of puberty and occurs in other mammals too

reverse

Around 20, delayed phase preference begins to _____

1am; 10am

When allowed to regulate their own sleep schedules, most teens will stay up until ____ and sleep until ___ (very tired in the morning)

menarche

the onset of menstruation (first period)

maturation deviance hypothesis

teens who are different from their peers eperience more distress than those who blend in

• girls mature earlier than boys

• they stand out when they prefer to fit in

• more vulnerable to emotional distress

• also accounts for lower self-esteem of late maturing boys, who deviate toward the other extreme

• tax psychological resources

• early maturing girls experience this at a time when most of their peers have childlike bodies

Why is Early Maturation harder for girls? (6)

developmental readiness

younger adolescents less ready to cope with the challenge of puberty; less psychologically mature when it happens

cultural desirability of body types

early maturation in girls means leaving culturally admired state of thinness

“anorexia nervosa”

“lack of appetite induced by nervousness”

anorexia

a relentless pursuit of thinness that results in significantly low body weight

• restricting type

• binge-eating/purging type

what are the 2 types of anorexia

restricting type

(which type of anorexia is this)

• caloric intake lightly controlled - relentless restriction

• eating in front of others often avoided

• observable behaviors: eating excessively slowly, cutting food into very small pieces, secretly disposing of food

• sometimes admired by others with eating disorders

Binge-eating/purging type

(which type of anorexia)

• restrctive eating, binge, eating, purging

binge-eating

out of control consumption of an amount of food that is far greater than what most people would eat in the same amount of time and under the same circumstances

purging

removing the eaten food from the body (vomitting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas)

bulima Nervosa

Uncontrollable binge eating and efforts to prevent resulting weight gain by using inappropriate behaviors such as self-induced vomiting and excessive excercise

Binge Eating Disorder