Chapter 9

Question 1

Menarche

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Spermarche

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Pituitary

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Adrenal glands

Answer 4

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

Question 5

HPA (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal) axis

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Gonads

Answer 6

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

Question 7

HPG (hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad) axis

Answer 7

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

Question 8

circadian rhythm

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

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

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Why do adolescents experience sudden, intense emotions?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

How does the circadian rhythm affect adolescents?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What are the consequences of sleep deprivation?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

How does diet affect age of puberty?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Stress correlates with earlier puberty and ovulation.

Question 17

Growth spurt

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Body image

Answer 18

A person’s idea of how their body looks.

Question 19

Anorexia nervosa

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Bulimia nervosa

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Binge eating disorder

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Primary sex characteristics

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Secondary sex characteristics

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Child sexual abuse

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What is the pattern of growth in adolescent bodies?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Why are many teenagers deficient in iron and calcium?

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Why are many adolescents unhappy with their appearance?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

What are the effects of child sexual abuse?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

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

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Adolescent egocentrism

Answer 33

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

Question 34

rumination

Answer 34

thinking obsessively about self-focused concerns

Question 35

Imaginary audience

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Personal fable

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Invincibility fable

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Formal operational thought

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Hypothetical thought

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Deductive reasoning

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Inductive reasoning

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Dual processing

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Intuitive thought

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Analytic thought

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

How does adolescent egocentrism differ from early-childhood egocentrism?

Answer 45

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.

Question 46

What perceptions arise from belief in the imaginary audience?

Answer 46

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.

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Because they are not accurate.

Question 48

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

Answer 48

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

Question 49

When might intuition and analysis lead to contrasting conclusions?

Answer 49

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

Question 50

How might intuitive thinking increase risk-taking?

Answer 50

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

Question 51

When is intuitive thinking better than analytic thinking?

Answer 51

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.

Question 52

Secondary education

Answer 52

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.

Question 53

High-stakes tests

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Middle schools

Answer 54

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.

Question 55

stereotype threat

Answer 55

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

Question 56

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

Answer 56

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

Question 57

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

Answer 57

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.

Question 58

How does the PISA differ from other international tests?

Answer 58

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

Question 59

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

Answer 59

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

Question 60

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

Answer 60

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.

Question 61

How does stereotype threat affect learning in secondary school?

Answer 61

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

Question 62

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

Answer 62

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