Chapter 9 Flashcards

1
Q

Menarche

A

A girl’s first menstrual period, signaling that she has begun ovulation. Pregnancy is biologically possible, but ovulation and menstruation are often irregular for years after menarche.

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2
Q

Spermarche

A

A boy’s first ejaculation of sperm. Erections can occur as early as infancy, but ejaculation signals sperm production. Spermarche may occur during sleep (in a “wet dream”) or via direct stimulation.

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3
Q

Pituitary

A

A gland in the brain that responds to a signal from the hypothalamus by producing many hormones, including those that regulate growth and that control other glands, among them the adrenal and sex glands.

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4
Q

Adrenal glands

A

Two glands, located above the kidneys, that respond to the pituitary, producing hormones.

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5
Q

HPA (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal) axis

A

A sequence of hormone production originating in the hypothalamus and moving to the pituitary and then to the adrenal glands.

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6
Q

Gonads

A

The paired sex glands (ovaries in females, testicles in males). The gonads produce hormones and mature gametes.

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7
Q

HPG (hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad) axis

A

A sequence of hormone production originating in the hypothalamus and moving to the pituitary and then to the gonads.

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8
Q

circadian rhythm

A

A day–night cycle of biological activity that occurs approximately every 24 hours

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9
Q

What body parts of a teenage boy or girl are the last to reach full growth?

A

For girls, breasts; for boys, final public hair growth

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10
Q

How do hormones affect the physical and psychological aspects of puberty?

A

All the biological changes of puberty are the result of massive increases in androgens (especially testosterone) in boys and estrogens in girls. Hormones also affect sleep patterns and emotions, although some of that is sociocultural more than biological.

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11
Q

Why do adolescents experience sudden, intense emotions?

A

Both hormonal fluctuations and the new experiences of body changes affect emotions. The levels of hormones fluctuate dramatically, especially in girls, and that trigger sudden emotional rushes.

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12
Q

How does the circadian rhythm affect adolescents?

A

The circadian rhythm shifts toward eveningness, which makes morning alertness particularly hard. That affects school achievement, especially when high schools start early in the morning.

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13
Q

What are the consequences of sleep deprivation?

A

Less alertness and more depression. The most troubling may be dozing off while in class or while driving.

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14
Q

What are the ethnic and cultural differences in the timing of puberty?

A

When children are well nourished, those with ancestors from Africa tend to be start puberty earlier, and those with ancestors from Asia later, than those with ancestors from Europe. However, ethnic differences are less significant than differences in body fat.

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15
Q

How does diet affect age of puberty?

A

A certain weight (about 100 pounds) seems to be a prerequisite for puberty to begin.

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16
Q

How does stress affect when a girl is able to become pregnant?

A

Stress correlates with earlier puberty and ovulation.

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17
Q

Growth spurt

A

The relatively sudden and rapid physical growth that occurs during puberty. Each body part increases in size on a schedule: Weight usually precedes height, and growth of the limbs precedes growth of the torso.

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18
Q

Body image

A

A person’s idea of how their body looks.

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19
Q

Anorexia nervosa

A

An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation. Affected individuals voluntarily undereat and often overexercise, depriving their vital organs of nutrition. Anorexia can be fatal.

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20
Q

Bulimia nervosa

A

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating and subsequent purging, usually by induced vomiting and/or use of laxatives.

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21
Q

Binge eating disorder

A

Frequent episodes of uncontrollable overeating to the point that the stomach hurts. Usually the person feels shame and guilt but is unable to stop.

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22
Q

Primary sex characteristics

A

The parts of the body that are directly involved in reproduction, including the vagina, uterus, ovaries, testicles, and penis.

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23
Q

Secondary sex characteristics

A

Physical traits that are not directly involved in reproduction but that indicate sexual maturity, such as a man’s beard and a woman’s breasts.

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24
Q

Child sexual abuse

A

Any erotic activity that arouses an adult and excites, shames, or confuses a child, whether or not the victim protests and whether or not genital contact is involved.

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25
Q

Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

A

A disease spread by sexual contact; includes syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia, and HIV.

26
Q

What is the pattern of growth in adolescent bodies?

A

The opposite of earlier, from distal-proximal. Thus, feet are the first to grow, inner organs the last.

27
Q

What complications result from the sequence of growth (weight/height/muscles)?

A

Adolescents may try to control their weight, not realizing it is a precursor to height and muscles. Further, adolescents may undertake activities that strain their hearts, because the heat is a muscle, which reaches full strength after the height spurt.

28
Q

Why are many teenagers deficient in iron and calcium?

A

Growing bones and muscles need more iron and calcium, but teenage diets are notoriously poor in essential vitamins. Drinking soda instead of milk (whether dairy- or plant-based) is particularly common, and results in low calcium and weaker bones.

29
Q

Why are many adolescents unhappy with their appearance?

A

The media ideal of face and body shape is not what most adolescents are destined, genetically to develop.

30
Q

What are the differences among the three eating disorders explained here?

A

Anorexia is extreme underweight, or sudden, drastic weight loss, with not eating much at all; the other two may occur with typical weight. Bulimia is uncontrolled overeating and then purging (usually throwing up), and binge eating disorder is overeating without purging. All three correlate with depression and increase the risk of death later on.

31
Q

What are the effects of child sexual abuse?

A

Children who are sexually abused are particularly likely to have low self-esteem and troubled sexual partnerships in adulthood.

32
Q

Among sexually active people, why do adolescents have more STIs than adults?

A

Adolescents tend to avoid medical treatment and be embarrassed to tell anyone about their STIs. That increases the rate of transmission. In addition, adolescents tend to have less stable partnerships.

33
Q

Adolescent egocentrism

A

A characteristic of adolescent thinking that leads young people (ages 10 to 13) to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others.

34
Q

rumination

A

thinking obsessively about self-focused concerns

35
Q

Imaginary audience

A

The other people who, in an adolescent’s egocentric belief, are watching and taking note of their appearance, ideas, and behavior. This belief makes many teenagers very self-conscious.

36
Q

Personal fable

A

The other people who, in an adolescent’s egocentric belief, are watching and taking note of their appearance, ideas, and behavior. This belief makes many teenagers very self-conscious.

37
Q

Invincibility fable

A

An adolescent’s egocentric conviction that they cannot be overcome or even harmed by anything that might defeat a normal mortal, such as unprotected sex, drug abuse, or high-speed driving.

38
Q

Formal operational thought

A

In Piaget’s theory, the fourth and final stage of cognitive development, characterized by more systematic logical thinking and by the ability to understand and systematically manipulate abstract concepts.

39
Q

Hypothetical thought

A

Reasoning that includes propositions and possibilities that may not reflect reality.

40
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

Reasoning from a general statement, premise, or principle, through logical steps, to figure out (deduce) specifics. (Also called top-down reasoning.)

41
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

Reasoning from one or more specific experiences or facts to reach (induce) a general conclusion. (Also called bottom-up reasoning.)

42
Q

Dual processing

A

The notion that two networks exist within the human brain, one for emotional processing of stimuli and one for analytical reasoning.

43
Q

Intuitive thought

A

Thought that arises from an emotion or a hunch, beyond rational explanation, and is influenced by past experiences and cultural assumptions.

44
Q

Analytic thought

A

Thought that results from analysis, such as a systematic ranking of pros and cons, risks and consequences, possibilities and facts. Analytic thought depends on logic and rationality.

45
Q

How does adolescent egocentrism differ from early-childhood egocentrism?

A

Egocentrism in early childhood is characterized by believing other people have the same perspectives and opinions that they do; egocentric adolescents believe that they are the center of attention and destined for great, or terrible things. Thus, children are unaware; adolescents are hyperaware but self-focused.

46
Q

What perceptions arise from belief in the imaginary audience?

A

The imaginary audience makes people think others are looking at them and talking about them, which can lead to an exaggerated sense of pride or shame.

47
Q

Why are the personal fable and the invincibility fable called “fables”?

A

Because they are not accurate.

48
Q

What are the advantages of using inductive rather than deductive reasoning?

A

Inductive reasoning allows more strategic and creative thinking-it does not depend on direct experience.

49
Q

When might intuition and analysis lead to contrasting conclusions?

A

Intuitive thinking is quick and impulsive; analysis requires more logic and reflection. Sometimes impulsive actions, on reflection, are foolish.

50
Q

How might intuitive thinking increase risk-taking?

A

Since intuition is quick, a person might take a risk before thinking of the possible outcome.

51
Q

When is intuitive thinking better than analytic thinking?

A

Sometimes actions need to occur immediately, so quick intuitions allow brave, spontaneous reactions. Analysis slows down the process, making it too late to act. For example, too much analysis might miss the deadline to apply to college, might prevent meeting new people, or might keep someone stuck in a rut.

52
Q

Secondary education

A

Literally, the period after primary education (elementary or grade school) and before tertiary education (college). It usually occurs from about ages 12 to 18, although there is some variation by school and by nation.

53
Q

High-stakes tests

A

An evaluation that is critical in determining success or failure. If a single test determines whether a student will graduate or be promoted, it is a high-stakes test

54
Q

Middle schools

A

A school for children in the grades between elementary school and high school. Middle school usually begins with grade 5 or 6 and ends with grade 8.

55
Q

stereotype threat

A

when someone holds a stereotype that someone else holds a stereotype about them.

56
Q

What are the differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary education?

A

Primary is first, usually ending in fifth or sixth grade, secondary is high school, and tertiary is college and university.

57
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of high-stakes testing?

A

The advantage is that it may help students and teachers focus on facts and skills, as well as make it easier to compare one person, or one school, with another. The disadvantage is that some people know more than they are able to demonstrate on a test, and some kinds of knowledge are difficult or impossible to measure on a test.

58
Q

How does the PISA differ from other international tests?

A

The PISA is intended to measure whether students can apply what they have learned in school to the problems of adult life.

59
Q

What characteristics of middle schools make them more difficult for students than primary schools?

A

Children typically change classes several times a day, which makes teacher-student relationships less likely. In addition, grading systems are more stringent.

60
Q

Why does puberty affect a person’s ability to learn?

A

The awkwardness and sexual interests that characterize puberty make it harder for students to concentrate on academics. In
addition, hormonal fluctuations might make emotions more erratic. Peer interactions (crushes, friendships, exclusions) may be overwhelming, squeezing out time and brain power for studying.

61
Q

How does stereotype threat affect learning in secondary school?

A

If students think that others devalue their intellectual ability, that causes stress which may undercut learning.

62
Q

Should high schools prepare everyone for college? Why or why not?

A

Many answers are possible. Ideal answers consider alternates to college. Students might advance more in some vocations if they learn on the job.