Adolescence Flashcards
Puberty
the biological stage development characterized by physiological and cognitive changes that are associated with reproduction
Feedback Loop
a system in which glands regulate each other’s functioning through a series of hormonal messages
Primary Sex Characteristics
the structures that make reproduction possible
Secondary Sex Characteristics
physical indicators of sexual maturation, such as changes to the voice and growth of body hair, that do not directly involve reproductive structures
Asynchronous Growth
imbalanced growth, such as the growth that occurs during the early part of adolescence and causes many adolescents to appear gawky
Secular Trend
a historical trend toward increasing adult height and earlier puberty
Semen
the fluid that contains sperms and substances that nourish and help transport sperm
Nocturnal Emission
emission of seminal fluid while asleep
Gynecomastia
enlargement of breast tissue in males
Epiphyseal Closure
the process by which the cartilage that separates the long end of a bone from the main part of the bone turns to bone
Menarche
the onset of menstruation
Anorexia Nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by irrational fear of weight gain, distorted body image, and severe weight loss
Osteoporosis
a condition involving progressive loss of bone tissue
Bulimia Nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and vomiting as a means of controlling weight gain
Formal Operations
the fourth stage in Piaget’s cognitive-developmental theory, characterized by the capacity of for flexible, reversible operations concerning abstract ideas and concepts, such as symbols, statements and theories
Imaginary Audience
the belief that others around us are as concerned with our thoughts, appearance and behaviors as we are, one aspect of adolescent egocentrism
Personal Fable
the belief that our feelings and ideas are special and unique and that we are invulnerable, one aspect of adolescent egocentrism
Postconventional Level
according to Kohlberg, a period of during which moral judgements are derived from moral principles and people look to themselves to set moral standards
Ego Identity
according to Erikson, individual’s sense of who they are and what they stand for
Psychological Moratorium
a time-out period when adolescents experiment with different roles, values, beliefs and relationships
Identity Crisis
a turning point in development during which people examine their values and makes decisions about life roles
Identity Diffusion
an identity status that characterizes those who are non-committal to specific beliefs and who are not in the process of exploring alternatives
Foreclosure
an identity status that characterizes those who have made commitments without considering alternatives
Moratorium
an identity status that characterizes those who are actively exploring alternatives in an attempt to form an identity