WSU PSYCH361 Exam 3

Early Adolescence (Age Range)

Approximately ages 10–13; puberty begins, rapid physical changes, increased self-consciousness, limited abstract thinking

Middle Adolescence (Age Range)

Approximately ages 14–17; greater independence from parents, strong peer influence, improved reasoning skills

Late Adolescence (Age Range)

Approximately ages 18–21; emotional stability improves, identity becomes clearer, planning for the future increases

Puberty

The biological process in which sexual organs mature and individuals become capable of reproduction

System that initiates puberty

The endocrine system beginning with the hypothalamus releasing GnRH

Hormonal sequence of puberty

Hypothalamus releases GnRH → pituitary gland releases LH and FSH → gonads produce sex hormones

Typical puberty onset (girls)

Usually begins between ages 8–13

Typical puberty onset (boys)

Usually begins between ages 9–14

Primary sex characteristics

Body structures directly involved in reproduction such as ovaries, testes, uterus, and penis

Secondary sex characteristics

Physical traits that appear during puberty but are not directly involved in reproduction such as breast development, facial hair, and voice changes

General puberty trend in girls

Breast development begins first, growth spurt occurs earlier than boys, menarche occurs later in puberty

General puberty trend in boys

Testes enlarge first, voice deepens, facial hair appears, muscle mass increases, growth spurt occurs later than girls

Early maturation effects for girls

Early maturing girls often experience more depression, poorer body image, and earlier peer pressure

Early maturation effects for boys

Early maturing boys often experience greater popularity, athletic success, and leadership but higher risk of aggression and substance use

Body image during adolescence

Puberty strongly influences body image which affects self-esteem, mental health, and risk for eating disorders

Trend in adolescent sexual activity (last decade)

Teen sexual activity rates have declined significantly over the past 10 years

Why teens are sleep deprived

Busy schedules, social media, phone use, FoMO, and biological changes in sleep cycles

Effects of teen sleep deprivation

Poor judgment, slower reaction time, depression, anxiety, and increased accident risk

Brain system linked to emotions in teens

Limbic system which develops earlier than the prefrontal cortex

Brain area responsible for decision making

Prefrontal cortex which fully develops in the mid-20s

Mesolimbic system

Brain reward system highly active during adolescence contributing to risk-taking

Other brain developments in adolescence

Synaptic pruning and increased myelination improve brain efficiency

Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage

Begins around age 11 and allows abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and systematic problem solving

Imaginary audience

The belief that everyone is constantly watching or judging the adolescent

Personal fable

The belief that one is unique, special, and invulnerable to harm

Kohlberg Preconventional Morality

Moral reasoning based on punishment and reward

Kohlberg Conventional Morality

Moral reasoning based on following rules and gaining social approval

Kohlberg Postconventional Morality

Moral reasoning based on personal ethical principles and justice

Importance of middle school transition

Larger peer groups, new academic expectations, and increasing independence

Importance of high school transition

Greater responsibility, identity exploration, and planning for adulthood

Parent relationships during adolescence

Teens seek autonomy and relationships become more negotiation-based

Peer relationships during adolescence

Friendships become deeper and based on trust, loyalty, and emotional support

Romantic relationships during adolescence

Begin in early adolescence and become more serious in later adolescence

Marcia Identity Diffusion

No exploration and no commitment to identity

Marcia Identity Foreclosure

Commitment to identity without exploration

Marcia Identity Moratorium

Exploration of identity without commitment

Marcia Identity Achievement

Commitment to identity after exploration

Primary influence on religious beliefs

Parents and family socialization

Religious identity and achievement

Strong commitment after exploration

Religious identity and foreclosure

Acceptance of parents’ beliefs without exploration

Mutually exclusive (eating disorders)

A person can only be diagnosed with one eating disorder at a time

Anorexia Nervosa

Extreme food restriction leading to very low body weight and intense fear of gaining weight

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge eating followed by purging behaviors

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating without purging behaviors

Trend in teen pregnancy

Teen pregnancy and birth rates have significantly declined over recent decades

Reasons teens drop out of school

Academic struggles, pregnancy, family responsibilities, financial pressure, and disengagement

Stereotype threat

Fear of confirming a negative stereotype about one's group which harms performance

How stereotypes are learned

Through culture, media, family, peers, and social learning

Adolescent understanding of death

Teens understand death as permanent, universal, and irreversible

Adolescent grief processing

Teens may experience strong emotions, existential questioning, and identity reflection

Distracted driving and teen mortality

Phone use while driving greatly increases fatal accident risk for teens

School violence and adolescent perception of death

Exposure increases awareness of mortality and fear of death