Adolescent and Adult Development

Puberty and Adolescent Development

  • Definition of Puberty: The stage of development when individuals become sexually mature and capable of reproduction.

  • Common Stereotypes: Adolescents are often stereotyped as highly emotional and hormonal. However, recent research suggests that:

    • Most adolescents do not report the extreme emotional upheaval described by early theories (e.g., G. Stanley Hall's "storm and stress").
    • Only some adolescents experience such extremes.

  • Brain Development Impact: Research shows that impulsivity and emotional reactivity are largely due to brain development, specifically:

    • The Prefrontal Cortex is still under construction during adolescence, which regulates emotions and decision-making.
    • The Limbic System, which processes emotions and rewards, is more developed in adolescents, leading to overriding of the prefrontal cortex in stress-filled situations.

  • Age of Maturity: The prefrontal cortex typically matures by age 25, meaning:

    • Adolescents may react more emotionally due to incomplete brain development.
    • There can be both positive (creativity) and negative (impulsiveness) effects of this stage.

Timing of Puberty

  • Impact of Timing: The age at which individuals hit puberty can significantly affect their emotional and social development!

    • Average Timing: Puberty is least impactful when it occurs at the normative age, leading to fewer emotional and social risks.
    • Early Maturing Girls: Higher risks include poor body image, embarrassment, and greater chances of teenage pregnancy due to visible secondary sexual characteristics.
    • Late Maturing Boys: May struggle with social comparison and peer acceptance due to delayed physical development, affecting their social interactions.

  • Historical Context: Historically, early maturity has had advantages for boys (e.g., physical prowess, social popularity).

    • However, contemporary studies highlight risks for early maturing boys, including substance use and mental health issues.

Adulthood Development

  • Characteristics of Adult Development:

    • Rather than chronological milestones, adult development often connects with life experiences and societal factors.
    • Senescence: The process of aging beginning in adulthood, influenced by genetic and lifestyle choices (e.g., smoking, alcohol).

  • Ongoing Development: Development continues throughout adulthood, influenced by:

    • Sociocultural factors: Macro-level systems impacting personal development.
    • Individual choices and lifestyle changes.

  • Marriage Trends: There is a trend of postponing marriage and partnership due to factors like finishing education or economic circumstances.

    • Cultural shifts have resulted in more diverse choices regarding lifelong partnerships.

Late Adulthood

  • Misconceptions: Common stereotypes regarding late adulthood (e.g. poor health, inactivity) have been debunked by recent studies:

    • Many individuals remain active with low rates of cognitive decline.
    • Maintaining an active lifestyle is linked to better health outcomes in late adulthood.

  • Subcategories of Late Adulthood: Differentiation exists between the young old (65-80) and the old old (80+), with cognitive decline becoming more evident in the older group but is not universal.

  • Cognitive Issues: Depression in late adulthood can often be misdiagnosed as dementia.

Gender and Sexuality

  • Definitions:

    • Sex: Refers to biological characteristics (physiology, hormones).
    • Gender: Refers to cultural, social, and psychological roles associated with masculinity and femininity.
    • Sexual Orientation: The direction of emotional/erotic attraction.
    • Gender Identity: A person’s psychological sense of being male, female, or something in between.

  • Gender Roles and Stereotypes:

    • Gender roles encompass societal expectations of behavior for men and women.
    • Gender role stereotypes can contribute to sexism.
    • Hostile vs. Benevolent Sexism:
    • Hostile sexism includes overt negative sentiments.
    • Benevolent sexism appears protective but reinforces inequality.

  • Gender Differences:

    • Aggression: Men tend to engage in more physical aggression. Variability exists as socialization impacts expressions of aggression.
    • Social Power: Men predominantly hold social and political power, though progress continues to be made.
    • Social Relationships: Women typically seek more affiliation and connection, while men may emphasize independence.

  • Emotional Expression: Both genders experience emotions similarly, but express them differently; women are generally more emotionally expressive.