Human Development: A Cultural Approach - Chapter 8

Puberty

Changes in physiology, anatomy, and physical functioning that develop a person into a mature adult biologically and prepare the body for sexual reproduction.

Adolescence

Period of the life span between the time puberty begins and the time adult status is approached, when young people are preparing to take on the roles and responsibilities of adulthood in their culture.

Estrogens

Sex hormones that have especially high levels in females from puberty onward and are mostly responsible for female primary and secondary sex characteristics.

Androgens

Sex hormones that have especially high levels in males from puberty onward and are mostly responsible for male primary and secondary sex characteristics.

Estradiol

The estrogen most important in pubertal development among girls.

Testosterone

The androgen most important in pubertal development among boys.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Production of eggs (ova) and sperm and the development of the sex organs.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Bodily changes of puberty not directly related to reproduction.

Menarche

First menstrual period.

Spermarche

Beginning of development of sperm in boys' testicles at puberty.

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by intentional self-esteem.

Bulimia

Eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by purging (self-induced vomiting).

Formal Operations

In Piaget's theory, cognitive stage beginning at age 11 in which people learn to think systematically about possibilities and hypotheses.

Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning

Piaget's term for the process by which the formal operational thinker systematically tests possible solutions to a problem and arrives at an answer that can be defended and explained.

Selective Attention

Focus on relevant information.

Divided Attention

Ability to focus on more than one task at a time.

Adolescent Egocentrism

Type of egocentrism in which adolescents have difficulty distinguishing their thinking about their own thoughts from their thinking about the thoughts of others.

Imaginary Audience

Belief that others are acutely aware of and attentive to one's appearance and behaviour.

Personal Fable

Belief in one's personal uniqueness, often including a sense of invulnerability to the consequences of taking risks.

Experience Sampling Method (ESM)

Having people wear wristwatch beepers and then beeping them randomly during the day so that they can record their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.

Adolescence Self

Self-comceptions become more complex.

Actual Self

Person's perception of the self as it is, contrasted with the possible self.

Possible Self

Person's conceptions of the self as it potentially may be; may include both an ideal self and a feared self.

Ideal Self

Person one would like to be.

Feared Self

Person one imagines it is possible to become but dreads becoming.

False Self

Self a person may present to others while realizing that it does not represent what he or she is actually thinking and feeling.

Domains most important to adolescents include...

Physical and social appearance.

Gender Intensification Hypothesis

Hypothesis that psychological and behavioural differences between males and females become more pronounced at adolescence because of intensified socialization pressures to conform to culturally prescribed gender roles.

Preconventional Reasoning

First level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development, in which moral reasoning is based on perceptions of the likelihood of external rewards and punishments.

Conventional Reasoning

Second level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development, in which moral reasoning is based on the expectations of others.

Postconventional Reasoning

Third level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development, in which moral reasoning is based on the individual's own independent judgements rather than on what others view as wrong or right.

Worldview

Set of cultural beliefs that explain what it means to be human, how human relations should be conducted, and how human problems should be addressed.

Moral Reasoning

Explaining right or wrong.

Moral Evaluating

Outcome of moral reasoning.

Moral Behaviours

Actions that reinforce world view.

Autonomy

Quality of being independent and self-sufficient, capable of thinking for one's self.

Intimacy

Degree to which two people share personal knowledge, thoughts, and feelings.

Clique

Small group of friends who know each other well, do things together, and form a regular social group.

Crowd

Large, reputation-based group of adolescents.

Cyber Bullying

Bullying via electronic means, mainly through the internet.

Agression

Physical or verbal.

Repetition

Pattern over time.

Power Imbalance

Higher peer status.

Permissive Culture

Culture that encourages and expects sexual activity from their adolescents.

Restrictive Culture

Culture that places strong prohibitions on adolescent sexual activity before marriage.

Semirestrictive Culture

Culture that has prohibitions on premarital adolescent sex, but the prohibitions are not sternly enforced and are easily evaded.

Sexual Orientation

A person's tendencies of sexual attraction.

Coming Out

For homosexuals, the process of acknowledging their homosexuality and then disclosing the truth to their friends, family, and others.

Homophobia

Fear and hatred of homosexuals.

Vocational School

Skills for trades.

Professional School

Specific focus.

Life-Course-Presistent Delinquent (LCPD)

Delinquent who shows a pattern of problems from birth onward and whose problems continue into adulthood.

Adolescent-Limited-Delinquent (ALD)

Delinquent who shows no evidence of problems prior to adolescence and whose delinquent behaviour in adolescence is temporary.

Depressed Mood

Enduring period of sadness, without any other related symptoms of depression.

Major Depressive Disorder

Clinical diagnosis that includes a range of specific symptoms such as depressed mood, appetite disturbances, sleeping disturbances, and fatigue.

Resilience

Overcoming adverse environmental circumstances and achieving healthy development despite those circumstances.

Protective Factors

Characteristics of young people that are related to lower likelihood of problems despite experiencing high-risk circumstances.