Adolescence Flashcards
developmental tasks of adolescence
construction of an emancipated identity
construction of realistic ambitions and reasonable ideals
further development of a sexual identity
further development of a social identity
adolescence age
11-20 years
early - 11-14
middle - 15-17
late - 18-20
Harry Potter themes:
disenchantment and increasing attunement to reality
repudiation or endorsement of narcissistic soln to life’s difficulties
aggression and castration fantasies while growing into adult power
puberty
early adolescence
secondary sex characteristics
menarche/first ejaculation
sex drives, which are expressed through physical activity and masturbation
cognitive maturation and formation of personality
menarche
11-14
breast bud development occurs first
first ejaculation in boys
12-15 years
Tanner stages of sexual development
physical changes are usually marked by distinct stage of development
(SEE TABLE 2-1)
early adolescence - social
same-sex friends and group activities show-off qualities greater interests in privacy worries about being normal close friendships gain importance generally obedient to parents strong sensitivity to opinions of peers unlikely to seriously challenge parental authority
early adolescence - emotional
shyness, blushing, and modesty
moodiness
more likely to express feelings by action than by words
early adolescence - development
girls develop ahead of boys
experimentation with body
alterations in expected development may lead to psychological difficulties (ex: acne, weight, late breast development, large nipples)
middle adolescence
15-17 years
great interest in gender roles, body image, and popularity
heterosexual/homosexual crushes on unattainable person common
efforts to develop an identity by adopting current teen fashion
preference of spending time with peers can lead to family conflicts
risk taking behavior
risk taking behavior
readiness to challenge parental rules and feelings of omnipotence may result in risk-taking behavior
education about obvious short-term benefits rather than references to long-term consequences of behavior is more likely to decrease unwanted behavior
middle adolescence - sexuality
first sexual intercourse occurs on average at 16 years of age (by 19 most men and women have had sexual intercourse)
fewer than half of all sexually active teenagers do not use contraceptives (they think they will not get pregnant, lack of access, lack of education)
physicians counsel minors and provide them with contraceptives without parental knowledge or consent (sensitive subjects like sexuality and drug abuse, and physical appearance usually discussed without parents present)
late adolescence
18-20
older adolescents develops MORALS, ETHICS, and SELF-CONTROL, and a realistic appraisal of their own abilities
older adolescents become concerned with humanitarian issues and world problems
some adolescents develop the ability for abstract reasoning (FORMAL OPERATIONS)
formal operations
ability to think abstractly, delay gratification, and be future oriented
ability to use creativity to express their inner world
ability to think about thinking
late adolescence identity
IDENTITY CRISIS common
if not handled effectively, adolescents may experience ROLE CONFUSION
if role confusion develops, adolescent may display behavioral problems such as CRIMINALITY or an INTEREST IN CULTS
Erickson’s stage
Identity versus Role Diffusion
preoccupation w appearance
struggle to develop ego identity (sense of inner sameness and continuity)
group identity
danger of role confusion, doubts about sexual and vocational identity
must learn who they are and separate from their family and peer group
understanding one’s interests and abilities allows for the planning of the future
difficulty in this stage can result in adolescent becoming either a rebel or robot
identity crisis
normative process that occurs towards the end of adolescence
failure to negotiate this stage leads to role confusion or identity diffusion
failure to consolidate identity may manifest in:
- running away, criminal behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual identity disorder and psychosis
late adolescence - sexuality
clear sexual identity
capacities for tender and sensual love
by 19, most men and women have had sexual intercourse
teenage pregnancy
in 2000, teenagers gave birth to approximately 470,000 infants (8,500 of those born to mothers under 15) and had 500,000 abortions
but, rate of teenagers becoming mothers is decreasing rapidly (by 9%, reaching a low of 34.3 births per 1,000 15-19 yo’s)
44% total drop from 1991 to 2010 (now fewest teenage mothers since 1946)
substance use
a teen who uses tobacco for more than a year has more than an 80% chance of becoming dependent on it
75% high school students have tried alcohol
- alcohol appears to damage teenage brain
40% teens have tried marijuana one or more times
binge drinking
up to 50% students met criteria for alcohol abuse disorder
surgeon general identified binge drinking in college age adolescents as a major health problem
UW Madison found 66% students were binge drinkers
teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems
family Hx of substance abuse
who are depressed
who have low self-esteem
who feel like they don’t fit in or are out of the mainstream
(peer substance use can also be a huge influence)
brain remodeling
axons become more myelinated dendrites extend synaptic pruning from rear to front corpus callosum thickens hippocampus strengthens links to frontal areas
myelination
improves speed of processing and shortens reaction time
- judgement
- insight
- planning
- motor function
speed comes at the price of flexibility (axon branching would be inhibited)
brain remodeling effects
better at balancing impulses, dsire, goals, self-interest, rules, ethics, and even altruism
process is not always smooth
neural gawkiness - Baird
“adaptive adolescent brain”
risk taking
peaks during adolescence
teens take more risks
they understand the dangers as well as adults
they value the reward more than adults
evolution - willingness to take risks grants an adaptive edge in life
dopamine
adolescence brings a peak in brain sensitivity to DA
teens respond strongly to social rewards
DA appears to prime and fire reward circuits and aids in learning patterns and making decisions
explains the quickness of learning and extraordinary receptivity ro reward - and keen, melodramatic reaction to success as well as defeat
oxytocin
teen brain is similarly attuned to oxytocin
makes social connections in particular more rewarding
neural networks and dynamics associated with general reward and social interactions overlap heavily - engage one and you often engage the other, engage them during adolescence and you light a fire
explains why teens prefer the company of those their own age more than ever before or after
passion for same-age-peers reflects attraction to novelty
building relationships w peers bears critically on success
peer relations = the main show
some scans show brains respond to peer exclusion as much as threats to physical health or food supply (social rejection = threat to existence)
talking to a teen
acknowledge their feelings
engage their cooperation
think about alternatives to punishment
hear their point of view and brainstorm with teen
state feelings and expectations (no accusing/name-calling)
avoid one big lecture - use small opportunities to start the convo
ill adolescents
may challenge the authority of doctors and nurses and resist being different from peers
may lack adherence to medical advice
major tasks for teens
IDENTITY FORMATION - need to explore and answer several questions about self
SEPARATION - create a distance between teens and their caregivers, and moving on to be responsible for themselves
Tanner Stage #1
genitalia and associated structures same as in childhood, nipple slightly elevated in girls
Tanner Stage #2
scant, straight pubic hair, testes enlarge, scrotum develops texture, slight elevation of breast tissue in girls
Tanner Stage #3
Pubic hair increases over the pubis and becomes curly, penis increases in length and testes enlarge
Tanner Stage #4
Penis increases in width, glans develops, ,scrotal skin darkens, areola rises above the rest of the breast in girls
Tanner Stage #5
Male and female genitalia are like adult, pubic hair now is also on thights, areola is no longer elevated above the breast in girls
Ill toddlers
fear separation from parent more than they fear bodily harm, pain, or death
ill preschoolers
greatest fear is of bodily harm
ill school-age children
cope relatively well with hospitalization
best age to perform elective surgery
Adoption
children may have inc risk of behavioral problems, esp after infancy
they should be told by parents that they are adopted at the earliest age possible to avoid the chance of others telling them first
Mental retardation
most common genetic causes - Downs and fragile X syndrome
maternal infection, substance abuse, metabolic factors, etc
mild (50-69 IQ) and medium (35-49) usually know they are handicapped
can lead to frustration and social withdrawal
Vineland Social Maturity Scale - evaluates social skills and daily living skills in challenged individuals
long-acting, reversible contraceptive methods can be useful
