adolescent development Flashcards
early adolescence ages
8-13 girls
9-14 boys
middle adolescence ages
15-17 years old
late adolescence ages
18-20+ years old
puberty
development of secondary sex characteristics and increase in body size; usually 4 years
precocious (early) puberty
condition that occurs when sexual maturity begins earlier than normal; prevalence has increased worldwide and is especially common in girls
early puberty results for boys
Improved academic & social functioning
early puberty results for girls
Poor body image, increased risk for eating disorders, behavioral problems
advancing puberty status results for boys
improved moods
advancing puberty status results for girls
decreased feelings of attractiveness
self concept
increasing multidimensionality aka judging adequacy in multiple domains; begin to define self in increasingly abstract terms
what is the average age for onset of sexual behaviors?
16 years old
dual method use
condom + another effective contraceptive
best way for teens to prevent pregnancy & STDs
why do we think abortion and pregnancy rates have been declining in US teens?
more abstinence & higher use of contraceptives
socioemotional network
in the limbic & paralimbic areas of the brain; highly sensitive to social and emotional stimuli, important for reward processing
cognitive-control network
primarily prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex; exercises regulatory control over impulsive and risky behavior
are adolescents more prone to high risk behaviors because they lack understanding?
no – same understanding of risks and consequences as adults
why are adolescents more prone to high risk behaviors even though they understand the consequences? (2 part answer)
(1) Cognitive control network (especially frontal & prefrontal cortex) are not fully matured
(2) In presence of peers and/ or emotional arousal, socioemotional network becomes highly active & diminishes the effectiveness of the still developing cognitive network
when is initial exposure to marijuana use?
middle school
when is initial exposure to illicit drug use?
high school
when is initial exposure to alcohol use?
7th through 11th grade
why has there been a large increase in overdose deaths in teens?
fentanyl in drug supply
at what age is there understanding of death & its permanence?
school age
