Adolescence—Physical and Cognitive Development Flashcards
What changes are expected during puberty for males, and at what age does this occur?
increase in penis and testicle size, appearance of straight pubic hair, minor voice change, first ejaculation (which usually occurs through masturbation or a wet dream), appearance of kinky pubic hair, onset of maximum growth in height and weight, growth of hair in armpits, more detectable voice changes, and, finally, growth of facial hair.
age:10-14
What changes are expected during puberty for females, and at what age does this occur?
either the breasts enlarge or pubic hair appears. Later, hair appears in the armpits. As these changes occur, the female grows in height and her hips become wider than her shoulders. Menarche—a girl’s first menstruation—comes rather late in the pubertal cycle. Initially, her menstrual cycles may be highly irregular. For the first several years, she may not ovulate every menstrual cycle; some girls do not ovulate at all until a year or two after menstruation begins. No voice changes comparable to those in pubertal males occur in pubertal females. By the end of puberty, the female’s breasts have become more fully rounded.
age:10-14
What are the main hormones associated with puberty for girls and for boys?
Testosterone is a hormone associated in boys with genital development, increased height, and deepening of the voice.
Estradiol is a type of estrogen that in girls is associated with breast, uterine, and skeletal development
What are some health-risk behavioral issues that show an increase in adolescence?
drug abuse, violence, unprotected sexual intercourse, and dangerous driving.
What factors contribute to these behaviors or disorders i.e. (drug abuse, violence, unprotected sexual intercourse, and dangerous driving)?
poor parent and familial relationships, early age exposure to risky behaviors,
What are the major characteristics of formal operational thought?
They can conjure up make-believe situations, abstract propositions, and events that are purely hypothetical, and can try to reason logically about them.
What are some criticisms of Piaget’s concept of formal operations?
there is much more individual variation than Piaget envisioned: Only about one in three young adolescents is a formal operational thinker, and many American adults (and adults in other cultures) never become formal operational thinkers.
Define the personal fable, and give an example:
a sense of uniqueness and invincibility (or invulnerability). For example, 13-year-old Adrienne says this about herself: “No one understands me, particularly my parents. They have no idea of what I am feeling.” Adolescents’ sense of personal uniqueness makes them believe that no one can understand how they really feel. As part of their effort to retain a sense of personal uniqueness, adolescents might craft a story about the self that is filled with fantasy, immersing themselves in a world that is far removed from reality. Personal fables frequently show up in adolescent diaries.
Define Imaginary Audience, and give and example:
belief that others are as interested in them as they themselves are, as well as attention-getting behavior— attempts to be noticed, visible, and “on stage.” For example, an eighth-grade boy might walk into a classroom and think that all eyes are riveted on his spotty complexion. Adolescents sense that they are “on stage” in early adolescence, believing they are the main actors and all others are the audience.
