Psy 205 human development

What is puberty?

The time between the first rush of hormones and full adult physical development.

What does the term 'puberty' derive from?

It comes from the Latin word 'pubescere,' meaning 'to grow hairy.'

What are sex hormones, and which types are present in both males and females?

Sex hormones include estrogens and androgens, which are present in both genders.

What is a hormone?

An organic chemical substance produced by one body tissue and conveyed via the bloodstream to affect physiological functions.

What role does the hypothalamus play in puberty?

It impacts physiological and psychological motivation and functioning, releasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

What is the function of the pituitary gland during puberty?

It responds to signals from the hypothalamus by producing hormones that regulate growth and control other glands.

What are the two main hormonal pathways involved in puberty?

The HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) and the HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad).

What are gonads, and what do they produce?

Gonads are sex glands (ovaries in females and testes in males) that produce sex hormones when triggered by gonadotrophins.

What are primary sex characteristics?

Physical changes necessary for reproduction, such as spermarche and menarche.

What are secondary sex characteristics?

Changes not directly related to reproduction, such as hair growth and breast development.

What is asynchronicity in growth during puberty?

It refers to the uneven growth rates of body parts during puberty, affecting extremities, limbs, and the trunk.

At what age does puberty typically begin for most individuals?

Around age 11 or 12, with girls often starting earlier than boys.

What factors can influence the timing of puberty?

Rearing environment, mother's depression, father's absence, presence of a step-father, exposure to chemicals, and sexual contexts.

What is the secular trend in puberty?

A statistical trend showing long-term increases or decreases in the age of onset of puberty.

What are some physical effects of early maturation in girls?

Growth spurts, breast development, and increased risk of lower self-esteem and depression.

What advantages do early-maturing boys typically experience?

They may excel in sports and are perceived as more responsible.

What are some socio-emotional effects of early maturation in boys?

They may exhibit more aggression, rule-breaking, and substance abuse compared to later-maturing boys.

How do most adolescents react to the changes of puberty?

Most adolescents react positively to pubertal changes.

What is menarche?

The first menstrual period in females.

What is spermarche?

The first production of sperm in males.

What changes occur in facial features during puberty?

Forehead becomes higher and wider, mouth widens, and lips become fuller.

What are some common changes in body composition during puberty?

Changes include increased muscle mass in boys and changes in fat distribution in girls.

What is the Formal Operational Stage in Piaget's theory?

It is characterized by systematic logic and the ability to think about abstract ideas, typically emerging around 12 years of age.

What is hypothetico-deductive reasoning?

The ability to think by generating and testing hypotheses.

What is reflective abstraction?

The ability to reflect upon knowledge and arrive at new knowledge without the need for external input.

How does the limbic system change during adolescence?

The limbic system is activated by puberty, influencing emotional processing.

How does the prefrontal cortex develop during adolescence?

The prefrontal cortex matures more gradually compared to the limbic system.

What is dual processing in the context of cognitive development?

The notion that two neural networks exist in the brain: one for emotional processing and one for analytical reasoning.

What is hypothetical thought?

Cognition that involves considering possibilities or situations that do not reflect reality.

What is propositional thought?

The ability to evaluate the logic of propositions without referring to real-world circumstances.

What is the difference between intuitive thought and analytic thought?

Intuitive thought arises from emotion or hunch, while analytic thought results from systematic analysis of pros, cons, and facts.

What is deductive reasoning?

Starting from a general principle and using logic to deduce specific examples or predictions.

What is inductive reasoning?

Reasoning that begins with specific experiences or facts to build a general conclusion.

What is adolescent egocentrism?

The belief that one's thoughts and feelings are unique, leading to feelings of invincibility and an imaginary audience.

What is the imaginary audience phenomenon?

The feeling that everyone around is constantly watching, thinking about, and judging the adolescent.

What is the personal fable in adolescent egocentrism?

The belief that one's experiences are more unique or intense than anyone else's, leading to feelings of being misunderstood.

What is the invincibility fable?

The belief that one cannot be harmed by things that might defeat or harm others.

What is the sunk-cost fallacy?

The belief that one should continue investing in a project if they have already invested time, money, or effort, regardless of the outcome.

What is base rate neglect?

Ignoring the overall frequency of a behavior or characteristic when making a decision.

What is scientific reasoning?

Involves generating hypotheses and systematically testing them, which can improve with practice.

How does cognitive processing change with age?

As people age, their thinking tends to shift from intuitive processing to more analytical processing.

What are the potential benefits of adolescent egocentrism?

It may foster risk-taking behaviors, which can be protective in certain contexts.

What is the common view of adolescence according to most teens?

Most teens view this stage of life with optimism.

What emotional trend is observed in adolescents compared to children?

Evidence indicates that adolescents experience more negative emotions than children.

What is emotional autonomy in adolescence?

Emotional autonomy refers to an increase in the subjective sense of independence, particularly in relation to parents.

What is the goal of bickering between adolescents and their parents?

The goal is to establish an independent identity.

What are internalizing emotional problems?

Internalizing problems are emotional issues that affect the individual, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

What are externalizing emotional problems?

Externalizing problems are behaviors that adversely affect others, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.

What is identity according to Erikson?

Identity is a consistent definition of oneself as a unique individual, encompassing roles, attitudes, beliefs, and aspirations.

What is the fifth stage of development in Erikson's theory?

Identity vs. Role Confusion, where individuals explore their identity but may feel confused about which roles to adopt.

What does Marcia's theory of identity status include?

It includes the degree of commitment and the degree of exploration or crisis.

What is identity achievement?

Identity achievement is the attainment of identity, where a person understands who they are based on past experiences and future plans.

What is foreclosure in Erikson's identity theory?

Foreclosure is premature identity formation where an adolescent adopts roles and values without questioning them.

What is the role of parental monitoring?

Parental monitoring involves parents' awareness of their children's activities, which can be positive or negative.

What is the Group Socialization Theory proposed by Harris?

It posits that children's personalities are shaped more by interactions with peers than with parents.

What is the difference between cliques and crowds in adolescent social groups?

Cliques are small, stable groups of friends, while crowds are larger, loosely organized groups made up of several cliques.

What are the two types of adolescent offenders identified in delinquency studies?

Adolescence-limited offenders, whose criminal activity stops by age 21, and life-course-persistent offenders, who continue criminal behavior throughout life.

What is generational forgetting in the context of drug use?

Generational forgetting is the phenomenon where each new generation forgets the lessons learned by the previous generation regarding drug use.

How do advertising campaigns affect teen smoking rates?

Effective anti-smoking campaigns have significantly reduced teen smoking rates by changing the social context and perceptions.

What is the impact of peer relationships on adolescents?

Most valuable social lessons are learned through peer interactions, which are horizontal rather than vertical.

What is the significance of emotional dependency in parent-adolescent relationships?

Emotional dependency can be influenced by sex and ethnicity, with cultural context determining its effects.

What are the common sources of sex education for adolescents?

Sources include media, parents, peers, and educators.

What are common pathways to adolescent crime?

Pathways include stubbornness leading to defiance, shoplifting leading to more serious crimes, and bullying escalating to violence.

What is the role of technology in adolescent social networking?

Technology can foster closeness among friends and provide support for struggling teens.

What is the effect of parental responses on adolescent independence?

Parental responses shape the development of independence during adolescence.

What is the relationship between emotional problems in childhood and later life?

Emotional problems in childhood predict emotional problems later in life.

What age range defines emerging adulthood?

Ages 18 to 25

What is the typical health status of emerging adults?

Emerging adults are usually in good health.

What physical growth occurs during emerging adulthood?

Most emerging adults have reached full height and muscle mass accumulates through the early 20s.

What happens to muscle strength during emerging adulthood?

Muscles reach peak strength and then begin to decline.

What is organ reserve?

The capacity of organs to cope with stress via extra, unused functioning ability.

How does exercise benefit emerging adults?

It reduces the risk of many diseases both now and in the future.

What is a set point in relation to body weight?

The body weight that a person's homeostatic processes strive to maintain.

What are some social issues related to sexual activity in emerging adulthood?

Sex drive is high, infertility is rare, and childbirth is easier with fewer complications.

What trend is observed globally regarding sexual activity and childbirth among emerging adults?

Emerging adults are having fewer babies but engaging in more sexual activity.

What is the Diathesis-stress model?

It views mental disorders as produced by the interaction of genetics and a stressful environment or life events.

What are common mood disorders experienced during emerging adulthood?

Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders, including PTSD and OCD.

What distinguishes drug abuse from drug addiction?

Drug abuse impairs well-being, while drug addiction creates a physiological or psychological drive to ingest more of the drug.

What percentage of young people in the U.S. are regular drug users?

Most young people are not regular drug users but have experimented with drug use.

What social factors influence drug-taking behavior more than laws?

Changing social context, highlighting higher prices, and targeted warnings.

What is the social norms approach in preventing drug use?

It aims to increase awareness of the actual prevalence of various behaviors within peer groups.

What are some risky behaviors associated with emerging adulthood?

Driving without seat belts, carrying guns, and drug use.

How do boys and girls differ in risk-taking behaviors during emerging adulthood?

Boys tend to take more risks than girls.

What is the Parental Investment Theory?

It states that the sex which invests less in offspring competes more vigorously for access to the more investing sex.

What is the significance of appearance in emerging adulthood?

Most emerging adults look vital and attractive, with concerns about appearance linked to reproductive drive or employment-seeking.

What are some complications related to sexual health in emerging adulthood?

The changes and complications around sex require thoughtful responses, especially from a Christian perspective.

What is the typical heart rate status during emerging adulthood?

The heart rate remains steady.

What happens to blood pressure during emerging adulthood?

Blood pressure typically remains normal.

What are the four main approaches to cognitive development?

Stage approach, social learning approach, psychometric approach, and information-processing approach.

What is cognitive flexibility?

A characteristic more common in emerging adults than younger people, allowing for adaptability in thinking.

What is dialectical thought?

An advanced cognitive process that involves understanding that every idea or truth contains its opposite, leading to synthesis.

What are the components of dialectical thought?

Thesis, anti-thesis, and synthesis.

What is critical thinking?

Thinking that involves analysis, judgments about meaning, relation to other information, and consideration of validity.

What is pragmatism in cognitive development?

Adapting logical thinking to the practical constraints of real-life situations.

What is reflective judgment?

The capacity to evaluate the accuracy and logical coherence of evidence and arguments.

What are the stages of reflective judgment?

Dualistic thinking, multiple thinking, relativism, and commitment.

What cognitive difficulty do emerging adults often struggle with?

Time management.

What is delay discounting?

The tendency to undervalue or ignore future consequences and rewards in favor of immediate gratification.

How does tertiary education impact cognitive growth?

It improves verbal and quantitative abilities, subject knowledge, professional skills, reasoning, and reflection.

What is 'massification' in the context of college education?

The increase in the number of students attending college.