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.