PSY2071 Lecture 4: PSY2071 – Lecture – Week 4 – Adolescent development
5 Jun 2018
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PSY2071 – Lecture – Week 4 – Adolescent development
• learning objectives
•
o To outline some of the major processes in puberty and brain
development across the adolescent years
o To describe key achievements and progress in cognitive, moral
and self-identify development across the adolescent years
o To outline some of the theoretical approaches and methods used
to explain individual differences in cognitive, moral and self-
identity development across the adolescent years
• transition phase between childhood and adulthood
•
o start - onset of pubertal maturation
o end - change in social role and responsibilities - just after teenage
years
• continued maturation of the prefrontal cortex
• puberty
•
o period when sexual organs mature
o begins when the pituitary gland signals other glands in the body
begin producing sex hormones at adult levels
o
▪ androgens - hormones such as testosterone
▪ oestrogen’s - hormones such as oestrogen
▪ males and females produce both types but males have
higher concentration of androgens and female oestrogen’s
o pituitary gland also signals to increase production of growth
hormones that interact with sex hormones
o this occurs earlier in females than males but there is a wide
variation
o menarch
o
▪ onset of menstruation
▪ timing varies across the world
▪
▪ earlier in more economically advantaged than
disadvantaged countries
▪ even within wealthier countries firms from more
affluent circumstance begin earlier
▪ related to nutrition
o secular trend of puberty - change over several generations
o spermarche
o
▪ first ejaculation
▪
▪ around age 13
▪ surge to production of sex hormones that trigger
adolescence might lead to changes in mood
▪
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
▪ males - anger and annoyance
▪ females - anger and depression
o measuring physical changes - tanner stages
o factors influencing timing of puberty
o
▪ environmental factors - e.g. stress such as family conflict
▪ health and nutrition factors - e.g. weight or proportion of
body fat to muscle
o timing of puberty - early onset
o
▪ timing can have implications for social functioning
▪ females
▪
▪ physical bodily changes may lead to feeling
uncomfortable and different from peers
▪ might experience ridicule from less mature peers
▪ tend to be sought after more as potential dates and
popularity may enhance their self concepts
▪ males
▪
▪ tend to be more successful at athletics
▪ tend to be more popular and have a more positive
self concept
▪ difficulties in school, more likely to be involved in
delinquency and substance abuse
o timing of puberty - late onset
o
▪ females
▪
▪ may be overlooked in dating - have relatively low
social status
▪ satisfaction with themselves and their bodies may be
greater than that of early maturers
▪ fewer emotional problems
▪ males
▪
▪ decline in self concept
o development of the prefrontal cortex during puberty
o
▪ oversupply of grey matter that is later pruned - second
wave - contribute to the growing cognitive abilities
▪ prefrontal cortex undergoes considerable development
▪
▪ efficient in communicating with other parts of the
brain
▪ prefrontal cortex is involved in
▪
▪ planning
▪ problem solving
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
