PSYC 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Erik Erikson, Puberty, Cultural Bias

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Benjamin Giguere

Document Summary

The next phase of that process is adolescence: the transition period from childhood to adulthood. Puberty is the time of sexual maturation (becoming physically able to reproduce) During puberty, increased sex hormones lead to: primary and secondary sex characteristics, some changes in mood and behaviour. Height changes are an early sign of puberty: because girls begin puberty sooner than boys, girls briefly overtake boys in height. The brain stops automatically adding new connections. Focus on efficiency by rewiring": pruning" away the connections not being used, coating the often-used connections in myelin. Crucial time for efficiently/ easily acquiring knowledge. Frontal lobes are the last to mature: the limbic system matures much before the frontal lobes. Creates an ambiguous situation: understand the risk conceptually, when faced with potential rewards they discount risk. Development of ability to delay gratification and risk appreciation. Focus is on social representation: ex. Think about the minds of others, including what do they think of me? .