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Adolescent Psychology
PSYC 2307Dr. Sara Villanueva
What Is Adolescence?
The second decade of life (~10 to ~22)
Used to be considered the teen years (13-19) but now…
Period of adolescence has lengthened…why?
Young people maturing earlierSo many people delaying entering working world and marriage til their mid-20’s
Tough to DefineIs a biologically mature 5th grader an adolescent or a child?
Is a 20-year old college student who still lives at home an adolescent or an adult?
All depends on the boundaries one uses to define the period
Makes more sense to think of adolescent development as a series of transitions from immaturity into maturity
Adolescence: A broad range
Because this period spans over a decade, covering so much growth and change, Adolescence divided into 3 phases:
Early adolescence: 10-13Middle adolescence: 14-17Late adolescence: 18-22
Correspond to anything?
Part I: The Fundamental Changes
of Adolescence
Chapter 1: Biological TransitionsChapter 2: Cognitive TransitionsChapter 3: Social Transitions
Chapter One:Biological Transitions
What is Puberty?From Latin word pubertas (adult)
Period of lifespan in which an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction
Hormones regulated by the endocrine system lead to physical changes
No new hormones are produced and no new bodily systems develop at puberty
The Endocrine System: HPG Feedback Loop
HPG Axis:Hypothalamus Pituitary gland (master gland)Gonads (testes and ovaries)
Gonads release sex hormones into bloodstream
Androgens and estrogens
Somatic Development: Changes in
Stature/Dimensions of the Body
Adolescent growth spurt Simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and androgens
Peak Height VelocityTime that adolescent is growing most quickly
Average female growth spurt is 2 years before the average male growth spurt
Somatic Development: Changes in Stature/Dimensions of the Body
Skeletal changesBones become harder, denser, more brittle
Conclusion of pubertyClosing of ends of long bones
Growth in height is terminated
Relative proportions of body fat/muscle change for boys and for girls
Changes in the circulatory & respiratory systems
What triggers Puberty?
What Are The 3 MajorPhysical Changes of Puberty?
Adolescent growth spurt
Development of primary sex characteristics (gonads)
Development of secondary sex characteristics (breasts, pubic hair)
How Do We Know?How do Scientists Investigate Pubertal Maturation?
Somatic Development: Sexual Maturation
Development of secondary sex characteristics (Tanner Stages)
Five Stages
Changes include growth of pubic hair changes in appearance of sex organsbreast development
Sexual Maturation: Boys
Spermarche typically occurs 1 year after accelerated penis growth
Boys capable of fathering a child before they look like adults; opposite true for girls
15
Sexual Maturation: GirlsSequence less regular than in boys
Menarche typically occurs after other secondary sex characteristics; regular ovulation follows 2 years later
Thus, girls appear physically mature before they are actually capable of reproduction
16
Variations in the Timing and Tempo of Puberty
Onset can begin as early as 7 in girls and 9 ½ in boys; as late as 13 in girls and 13 ½ in boys
Interval b/w first sign and complete physical maturation can be as short as 1.5 yrs or as long as 6 yrs
Ethnic Differences
Within the U.S., there are Ethnic differences in timing and rate of pubertal maturation
AA females mature significantly earlier than MA girls, who in turn, mature earlier than White girls
Why the difference?Exposure to toxins in environment
General SES
Family dynamics
Puberty is Affected by Context
Timing of physical changes in adolescence varies by
Regions of the worldSocioeconomic classEthnic groupHistorical era
Example: Menarche (first menstruation)U.S. average 12 to 13 yearsLumi (New Guinea) average > 18 years
Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation
Pubertal maturation an interaction between genes and environment
Differences in timing/rate among individuals in the same general environment result chiefly from genetic factors
Two key environmental influences: nutrition and health
Exposure to pheromes
Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation:
What can effect the Timing of Pubertal Onset?
EARLY
Higher affluence; economic advantages
But what about Culture/Ethnicity?
Better nourishment throughout prenatal, infant, & childhood yrs
Better health conditions
Growing up in less cohesive families w/ more conflict
Growing up in households w/ no natural father; instead having stepfather present (pheromones)
Small amts of stress = speed up; great deals = slow down
LATE
Poorer economic conditions
History of protein and/or caloric deficiencies
Chronic illness in childhood
EXCESSIVE EXERCISE!Ballet dancers, GymnastsEating disorders
Psychological/Social: The Impact of Specific Pubertal Events
Most adolescents react positively to pubertal changes
especially secondary sex characteristics
Reactions to menarche are variedbut less negative than in the past
Less known about boys’ reactions to first ejaculations …why?
Psychological/Social: Early or Late Maturation
Perception of being an early or late maturer is more important in affecting one’s feelings than the reality
Early maturation does bring social advantages
But early maturation is associated withMore drug and alcohol use
Precocious sexual activity
Context is important to consider
Eating Disorders in Adolescence
Eating Disorders
Deviation from the “ideal” physique can lead to loss of self-esteem and other problems in the adolescent’s self-image
Studies of magazines, 1970 to 1990Ideal body shape became slimmer
Ideal body shape became less curvaceous
Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa and BulimiaAdolescents with these eating disorders have an extremely disturbed body image.
BulimiaEating binges; force themselves to vomit
3% of adolescents are genuine bulimics
AnorexiaStarve themselves to keep weight down
Fewer than ½ of 1% of adolescents
Anorexia NervosaINTENSTE fear of becoming obese which does not subside even with extreme weight loss
Refusal to maintain body weight above minimum normal weight for one’s age and height (ie, she is more than 15% below expected body weight)
Body image distortion – looks in mirror and sees FAT when in reality…
Can cause liver, kidney, and heart failure
Deadliest of all psychiatric illnesses
Anorexia NervosaOnset usually occurs after puberty or late adolescence
In order to meet criteria, females must have absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles
Primarily occurs in adolescent girls/women and rare in males
Prevalence - .5 to 1% of female population
Increase in early onset anorexia in girls b/w ages of 8 and 13!
Obsessed with weighing themselves and the way others may “see” them
Prevalent among dancers, gymnasts, models
Anorexia Nervosa
How can they not realize that they are starving themselves TO DEATH?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJPrhJty7TM
Bulimia NervosaRecurrent episodes of binge eating – eat abnormally large amounts of food in a small space of time
Loses control when bingeing
Uses vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or dieting to control weight
Two or more eating binges a week, occurring for 3 or more months
Overconcern with body weight and shape
Onset usually during late adolescence or early adulthood
Prevalence rate: 1-3% of population
Bulimia Nervosa
Two sub-types:Purging type: individual regularly vomits or uses laxatives, diuretics, or enemasNonpurging type: excessive exercise or fasting used in an attempt to compensate for binges
Important to know…
Differences b/w Anorexia & BulimiaPeople w/ Bulimia realize their eating patterns (binging/purging) are not normal – frustrated and ashamed by that knowledgeBulimia much more prevalent than anorexiaA person’s weight has little to do with Bulimia whereas anorexic criteria is <15% normal body weight
Videos
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/program.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7M8yNKQ7M