Lecture 4 - Adolescence (11-20) Flashcards
Define adolescence? What is the main task of this time period?
Ages 12-20 ish years, means to “grow up” or “grow to maturity”
Figuring out who you are and going to be as an adult.
What are the early, middle, and late stages of adolescent age?
Early - 11-13 “junior high”
Middle - 14-17 “high school”
Late - 18-20 “high school - more school/job”
What are the four major developmental tasks of adolescence?
- Constructing emancipated identity
- Constructing realistic ambitions and ideals
- Development of sexual identity
- Development of social identity
What physical development occurs during early adolescence (11-13 yrs) - particularly for girls?
Puberty:
- girls ages 8-13 with breast and bud development that continues through menarche
- first menstruation in girls around ages 11-14
What physical development occurs during the end of early adolescence (11-13 yrs) - particularly for boys?
Puberty - begins around age 14 and is marked by testicular enlargement followed by growth of the penis.
First ejaculation ~12-15
What is spermarche? When does it start?
The start of sperm development in boys at puberty.
Starts with the development of secondary sexual characteristics - facial hair, voice deepening, body growth
Other than puberty, what occurs for physical development during early adolescence?
Rapid gains in height and weight. (girls can experience growth spurt 2yrs before boys)
Acne due to increased sebaceous gland activity.
What are the Tanner stages of sexual development?
Physical changes that occur during puberty are marked by distinct stages.
Named after James Mourilyan Tanner.
At what Tanner stage does the growth spurt and menarche occur? Which usually occurs first?
Tanner stage 3.
Growth spurt usually occurs before menarche.
Menarche typically starts around Tanner stage 3-4.
What stages of cognitive development, according to Piaget, are children during early adolescence? Describe this?
Between concrete operations and formal operational.
They can verbalize what is the best action, but may not be able to make the decision in the heat of the moment.
What are characteristics of social and emotional development during the early stages of development?
Strong sensitivity to opinion of peers - conform to norms of group (group identity forms identity outside of home).
Unlikely to seriously challenge parental authority.
Moody.
Describe the moral development of children in early adolescence (11-13)?
Mirror the task of separating oneself from dependence on caregivers.
Moving towards autonomous moral code. Often “test” parents moral code.
Choose realistic role models.
Describe the sexual development of children in early adolescence (11-13)?
Girls ahead of boys.
Prefer same-sex friends.
Shyness, blushing, modesty (greater interest in privacy)
Experiment with body (masturbation)
Sexually curious
What type of cognitive abilities do children have during middle adolescence (14-17)?
Capacity for abstract thinking - formal operations.
Hallmark of this stage is the ability to consider an idea in a hypothetical, “what if” manner.
What does children in middle adolescence (14-17) have more interest in socially?
Gender roles, body image, popularity, fashion.
Dating may begin, romantic relationships lasting an avg of 4 months.
What do teens in middle development (14-17) have fully developed (morally)?
Formed conscience and well-developed sense of right and wrong.
What results in risk-taking behavior for teens in middle adolescence (14-17)?
Readiness to challenge parental rules and feelings of omnipotence.
What can help mitigate risk-taking behavior in teens during middle adolescence (14-17)?
Education about obvious short-term benefits rather than long-term consequences of behavior.
What can interfere with moral development during middle adolescence (14-17)?
Despite sound reasoning, they are influenced by peer pressure and have limited impulse control.
What do teens in middle adolescence (14-17) have to manage sexually?
Strong sexual drive with peer and cultural expectations.
Most engage in sexual activity.
Describe sexual orientation during middle adolescence (14-17) ?
Some are clear about sexual orientation, for others sexual attraction and identity may be fluid into adulthood.
Some experience sax-sex activity but may not necessarily mean they are gay.
What stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget, are children in during late adolescence (18-20)? What occurs in this stage?
Formal operations.
Ability to think abstractly, delay gratification, be future oriented, improved impulse control, and ability to think about thinking.
Maturation of pre-frontal cortex into 20s.
During late adolescence (18-20), what happens to the security found in groups?
It has evolved into finding security as an independent young person.
What problem can arise when teens in late adolescence (18-20) are learning to become independent young people?
Doubts about identity.
If not handled, this can result in role confusion in which they don’t know where they belong in the world.
