Adolescence Flashcards
What is adrenarche?
The timing of the maturation of the adrenal gland (a small gland located just above the kidneys)
When does adrenarche occur?
Between the ages of 6 and 11
What happens between the ages of 6 & 11 during adrenarche?
The adrenal gland secretes low levels of DHEA, the metabolism of which leads to the circulation of both testosterone & estradiol (the primary sex steroids)
What is an example of the expression of the “underground” biological processes that occur during adrenarche?
A child developing their first crush
When does gonadarche occur?
Between the ages of 13 & 20.
What is menarche?
The occurrence of a girl’s first period.
What is spermarche?
The occurrence of a boy’s first ejaculation.
What is activated during gonadarche?
The pituitary gland (near the hypothalamus)
What happens during gonadarche, aside from the activation of the pituitary gland?
Growth hormones are released, the sex organs mature (mature ova which are present since before birth are released) & sperm are manufactured.
Which kind of sex characteristics change during gonadarche?
Secondary sex characteristics
At what rate has the age of puberty onset decreased by over the past 150 years?
At a rate of 2 years
What triggers the onset of puberty?
Fat stores
What may change during puberty?
Health successes & social behaviours
What may have an impact on the onset of puberty?
Childhood nutrition & health status (through reduced childhood infections)
What is a puberty accelerator?
Stress
What is 1 of the stressors most effective at accelerating puberty?
Familial disruption, including father absenteeism
Has menarche begun earlier or later over time in some countries?
Earlier
What does the evolutionary theory of socialisation posit?
That early stressors can lead to early puberty
Which theory is taken from the original “parental investment theory” (Trivers, 1974)?
The evolutionary theory of socialisation
What is the idea of the “parental investment theory”?
That you model your ideas of parental investment on your childhood environment & that can trigger differences in pubertal onset.
What gradually increases over time for both boys & girls?
Height
What rapidly increases, then rapidly decreases, for both boys & girls?
Height gain per year
What happens at about the age of 13 for girls, & 16 for boys?
A final maturational growth spurt
Who tend to be less satisfied with their sizes, weights, & figures?
Girls who mature earlier than their peers.
Who only have temporary negative perceptions of their body image?
Boys who mature later than their peers
What kinds of issues can boys who mature early run into?
Low self-control, low emotional stability, risky behaviour & legal troubles.
What kinds of issues can girls who mature early run into?
Low self-control, low emotional stability, early sexual activity, deteriorating school performance, truancy, risky behaviour, shoplifting, running away, & evoking the attention of older boys.
Which neuroanatomical change occurs during adolescence?
The brain regions associated with self-reflection (the dorsal mPFC) develop.
What activates the dmPFC?
Reflecting on one’s own thoughts/ personality traits that describe oneself
What shift occurs between adolescence & adulthood?
The shift of the brain’s ‘focus’ from the mPFC to the temporal regions
What changes occur during adolescence?
Different neurocognitive strategies are used when making self-referential judgements & neuroanatomical changes occur.
What are the cortical neural correlates of cognitive control?
Circuitry in the prefrontal cortex becomes more fine-tuned & less activation is needed to overcome interference.
What happens if someone has weak cognitive control?
They may engage in risky behaviours
What are the subcortical neural correlates of cognitive control?
The caudate nucleus connects with the PFC.
According to demographic evidence, what caused the onset of sexual relations to reduce between the 1950s & 60s?
The unravelling of the grouping of marriage status & entrance to the labour force
What suggests that social context influences the onset of sexual relations?
Demographic evidence showing a reduction in the onset of sexual relations between the 1950s & 60s due to the unravelling of the grouping of marriage status & entrance to the labour force.