Lecture 2 Flashcards
What is sex?
Something you are assigned at birth. Generally refers to biological and physiological characteristics
What is gender?
Roles and behaviours that are considered socially appropriate for the social categories of “men” and “women”.
What are some of the key features of puberty?
Development of primary and secondary sex characteristics, growth spurt
What is the negative feedback loop that starts during puberty?
The sex hormones (androgen and estrogen) let the hypothalamus know when to turn on the pituitary gland and when to turn it off (depending on how much hormone is in the system). The pituitary gland stimulates the gonads.
What hormone is the biological driver of puberty?
Kisspeptin
What is kisspeptin stimulated by and turned off by?
Leptin and melatonin.
What is the typical pathway of male development during puberty?
Growth of testes and scrotum (first appearance of pubic hair), Growth spurt in height (growth of penis, further pubic hair dev), emergence of facial and body hair (voice change)
What is the typical pathway of female development during puberty?
Breast growth, pubic hair growth, body growth, menarche, underarm hair growth (however, females development is not as straightforward as male).
When does puberty start and stop for males?
Typically aged 10-13 (earliest is 6.5 years, latest at 13.5) and stops at 16
When does puberty typically start for females?
Can start at 7 (earliest, 5.5) and end at 16.
Which sex appears developed before they are fertile?
Females
What factors other than time can affect puberty?
Tempo and sociohistorical context
What is early development a risk for?
Psychosocial well-being
What is tempo?
The rate of how things happen. Puberty usually lasts 1-4 years, but can go up to 7 years.
What is rapid tempo associated with?
More maladjustment
What is the maturation compression hypothesis?
The idea that if you’re developing faster, then you have to adapt faster which is stressful.
What is pubertal synchrony?
The variation between different pubertal indicators. High synchrony means that the development in one area of puberty is well-matched to another. MIGHT mean better adjustment.
What are some secular changes that have happened over the past century?
Average age of puberty has declined, whereas time spent in puberty has increased. Coincides with delayed social transitions (independence happens later).
What is the accident hump?
An increase in mortality for males at the end of puberty. If puberty starts earlier, then the accident hump is earlier
What age did the accident hump happen in 1750 versus 2000?
22.5 years versus 18 years
Why is self-report measures important in puberty?
Because we need to understand the lived experiences of adolescents rather than just the physiological changes
What can play a role in pubertal differences in timing?
Genetics (chromosome 6), but also the environment such as nutrition and health (macrosystem)
What kinds of things play a role at the microsystem of pubertal timing?
Infant-caregiver attachment (mesosystem), family structure and conflict, sexual abuse
What kinds of things play a role at the exosystem in pubertal timing?
Neighbourhood, community factors etc
What kinds of things play a role at the macrosystem in pubertal timing?
Poverty, racism, policies of adequate nutrition, universal healthcare, safe housing etc.
What aspects of psychosocial well-being are affected during puberty?
Self-esteem, moodiness, sleep, family and peer relations
Why does moodiness happen?
Might be due to hormones, but more likely due to social aspects
What is the delay phase preference?
Teenagers go to sleep late and wake up late. Driven by an increase in melatonin later at night, and also the fact that teens have more to do at night.
