Psychology Exam 3 prep

What are the years for adolescence

11 to 18 years

Define puberty

Puberty is when there is a physical rapid growth and sexual maturation that ends childhood.

What is menarche and spermarche and what are the average ages that menarche and spermarche begin?

Mernarche is when a girls hits her first menstrual period. Spermarche is when a boy first ejaculates. The average age for menarche is 12 years old while the average age for spermarche is 13 years old.

Discuss the effects of elevated levels of hormones on the emergence of psychological disorders, sexual interest and emotions (“Hormones and Relationships”).

Elevated levels of hormones can cause emotional surges, nurturant impulses, and lustful urges. Sexual thoughts themselves can cause psychological and neurological processes.

What area of the brain matures very steadily during adolescence? What area of the brain is particularly targeted by pubertal hormones?

The area of the brain that matures very steadily during adolescence is the prefrontal cortex. The brain area most affected by pubertal hormones is the pituitary gland.

What is the relationship between body fat, chemicals, stress, and the onset of puberty?

The relationship between body fat and puberty shows an increase in weight. The relationship of chemicals is that certain hormones, foods, and substances can affect the stages of puberty. The relationship of stress can cause a child to go through puberty earlier.

Define primary and secondary sex characteristics.

A primary sex characteristic is part of the body that is directly involved in reproduction. Secondary sex characteristics physical traits not directly involved in reproduction.

What is one difference in secondary sex characteristics for boys and girls?

Boys develop broader shoulders while girls develop wider hips.

Briefly describe the overall trend in sexual activity in adolescents from ~1991 to 2017.

Every gender, ethnic, and age group are less sexually active.

What do you (or the book) think is causing this trend?

Sex education, fear of HIV/AIDs, awareness of hazards of pregnancy, more female education, less intimacy.

Changes in primary sex characteristics include _____.

growth of the uterus or the testes

Which of the following has NOT been associated with early maturation among girls?

poor body image

heightened depression

less alcohol use

low self-esteem

less alcohol use

For both girls and boys, puberty typically begins as young as _____ years of age or as late as _____ years of age.

5; 18

10; 13

8; 14

7; 16

8; 14

Stress, especially when prolonged, _____.

typically decreases after the onset of puberty

may contribute to an early onset of puberty

may contribute to a late onset of puberty

typically increases after the onset of puberty

may contribute to an early onset of puberty

Body chemicals that regulate sleep, moods, hunger, and stress are called "_____."

adrenal glands

the HPA axis

hormones

the brain stem

hormones

During adolescence, the _____ matures before the _____ in the brain.

prefrontal cortex; amygdala

limbic system; prefrontal cortex

prefrontal cortex; limbic system

cerebellum; amygdala

limbic system; prefrontal cortex

Secondary sex characteristics are traits that _____.

are not directly related to fertility

are not visible

occur later in development

occur for only some people

are not directly related to fertility

For boys, the first ejaculation of seminal fluid is _____.

first intercourse

penis growth

pubic hair

spermarche

spermarche

Evolutionary theory suggests that the relationship between childhood stress and onset of puberty exists to _____.

ease the transition to adulthood for individuals who need to grow up fast

ensure that reproduction occurs early in stress-filled environments

delay childbearing in strife-filled environments

encourage stressed youth to take more risks

ensure that reproduction occurs early in stress-filled environments

The period when children's bodies become adult in terms of size, shape, and sexuality is called "_____."

youth

puberty

the growth spurt

secondary sex development

puberty