PSYC 2240 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Pubic Hair, Secondary Sex Characteristic, Delayed Puberty

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2240
• Professor: Daniel Beliciu

Document Summary

Stage of physical development whereby individuals become capable of sexual development. Primary sex characteristics (hormonal changes enabling reproduction) Secondary sex characteristics (genital and chest changes, body hair) Hormones= chemicals secreted by endocrine glands (glands= organs that stimulate different parts of body to respond in specific ways) Bodily tissues selectively perceive instructions from hormones. Hpg axis in infancy: hypothalamus (thermostat) regulates levels of hormones in blood. Part of brain that controls pituitary gland function. Most important signal may be protein called leptin found in fat cells. Certain level of body fat may initiate onset of puberty. They order the programming of the brain. Individuals all develop physically at different ages and grades. Girls in the united states reach puberty around 12 years, whereas new guinean girls reach puberty around 18 years. Geography, socioeconomic status, historical era, ethnicity all affect puberty. Adolescent growth spurt: increase in height, weight (become 12 inches taller). Boys get growth spurt around age 11, lasts until 13.