Adolescence and Adulthood Flashcards
adolescense
the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.
puberty
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.
primary sex charateristics
the body structures (ovaries, testes, genitals) that makes sexual reproduction possible.
secondary sex charateristics
non reproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts, hips, male voice quality, and body hair,
menarche
the first menstrual period.
identity
one’s sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescence’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.
intimacy
in Erikson’s theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood.
menopause
the time of natural cessation of menstruation; biological changes in women that decline ability to reproduce.
Alzheimer’s disease
a progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and finally, physical functioning.
cross-sectional study
a study in which people of different ages are compared with one another.
longitudinal study
research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period of time.
crystallized intelligence
one’s accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.
fluid intelligence
one’s ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.
social clock
the culturally preferred time of social events like marriage, parenthood, and retirement.
