Q202 - Adolescence 1

Adolescence

Physical, Cognitive and Emotional

Development

Definition

A period beginning with the onset of puberty A period beginning with the onset of puberty and ending when individuals are fully and ending when individuals are fully physically developed and assume adult roles physically developed and assume adult roles and responsibilitiesand responsibilities

Physical Development

Beginning of adolescence if signaled by a Beginning of adolescence if signaled by a growth spurtgrowth spurt..

Growth spurt just one aspect of puberty – the Growth spurt just one aspect of puberty – the period of rapid change during which period of rapid change during which individuals reach sexual maturity.individuals reach sexual maturity.

Puberty occurs earlier for girls (as early as 7) Puberty occurs earlier for girls (as early as 7) than boys (12 or 13).than boys (12 or 13).

Puberty

Gonada Gonada (primary sex glands) produce increased (primary sex glands) produce increased levels of sex hormones, and external sex organs levels of sex hormones, and external sex organs develops into their adult form.develops into their adult form.

Girls menstruate (most by 13), develop breasts, Girls menstruate (most by 13), develop breasts, hips widen.hips widen.

Boys produce sperm (most by 14 or 15), develop Boys produce sperm (most by 14 or 15), develop facial and chest hair, voices deepen.facial and chest hair, voices deepen.

Both sexes develop pubic hairBoth sexes develop pubic hair

Facial Differences

Childhood facial features (large eyes, high Childhood facial features (large eyes, high forehead, round cheeks, small chin) forehead, round cheeks, small chin) adult adult appearanceappearance

““baby-faced” appearances are sometimes retained baby-faced” appearances are sometimes retained by both sexes – plus for women, but not for menby both sexes – plus for women, but not for men

Zebrowitz et al. (1998) found that baby faced Zebrowitz et al. (1998) found that baby faced adolescent males may attempt to compensate by adolescent males may attempt to compensate by behaving in antisocial ways.behaving in antisocial ways.

Early maturation

Early-maturing boys seem to have a definite edge Early-maturing boys seem to have a definite edge over those who mature later. over those who mature later.

More stronger, athletic, excellence in competitive More stronger, athletic, excellence in competitive sports help them to be more self-assured, popular sports help them to be more self-assured, popular and chosen for leadership roles (Blyth, Bulcroft & and chosen for leadership roles (Blyth, Bulcroft & Simmons, 1981)Simmons, 1981)

Early-maturing girls are taller than classmates and Early-maturing girls are taller than classmates and their increased sexual attractiveness may invite their increased sexual attractiveness may invite sexual advances from older persons (Peterson, sexual advances from older persons (Peterson, 1987).1987).

Physical Summary

The timing of puberty can play an important The timing of puberty can play an important role in adolescents’ developing self-identities role in adolescents’ developing self-identities and so in their later social development.and so in their later social development.

Cognitive Development

Piaget’s theory suggests adolescents become Piaget’s theory suggests adolescents become capable of logical thought – but only about 40% capable of logical thought – but only about 40% of adolescents in Australia and North America of adolescents in Australia and North America can solve the kind of problems used by Piaget to can solve the kind of problems used by Piaget to test for formal operational thinking.test for formal operational thinking.

If they do show logical thought, it may be If they do show logical thought, it may be restricted to topics or types of problem with restricted to topics or types of problem with which they have had direct experience.which they have had direct experience.

Egocentric thoughts

Not yet free as it shows up in preoccupation Not yet free as it shows up in preoccupation with their own thoughts.with their own thoughts.

A lot of introspection A lot of introspection convinced that their convinced that their thoughts are as important to others as they thoughts are as important to others as they are to themselves.are to themselves.

Two ways: personal fable and the imaginary Two ways: personal fable and the imaginary audienceaudience

Personal Fable

Where adolescents have spent so much time Where adolescents have spent so much time thinking about their own thoughts and feelings that thinking about their own thoughts and feelings that they become convinced that they are special, one of they become convinced that they are special, one of a kind, and that no one else has ever had these a kind, and that no one else has ever had these thoughts and feelings before them.thoughts and feelings before them.

““You just don’t understand me, I’m different to you”You just don’t understand me, I’m different to you”

““It can’t happen to me, I’m special”It can’t happen to me, I’m special”

Dangers: unwanted pregnancy, severe injury, drink Dangers: unwanted pregnancy, severe injury, drink driving, etc. driving, etc.

Imaginary Audience

Shows up as extreme self-consciousness Shows up as extreme self-consciousness

Convinced that Convinced that everyone is looking at themeveryone is looking at them and they are always the centre of everyone and they are always the centre of everyone else’s world as well as their own.else’s world as well as their own.

Explains intense self-consciousness that many Explains intense self-consciousness that many experience concerning what others think experience concerning what others think about how the adolescent looks or behaves.about how the adolescent looks or behaves.

Theory of mind

Their understanding of of how they and others thinkTheir understanding of of how they and others think

Continues to change and develop.Continues to change and develop.

Younger children – Younger children – realist approachrealist approach

Older children and preadolescents – Older children and preadolescents – relativist approachrelativist approach

Preadolescents – Preadolescents – defended realism approachdefended realism approach

Early adolescents – Early adolescents – dogmatism – skepticismdogmatism – skepticism

Later adolescents – Later adolescents – postskeptical rationalismpostskeptical rationalism

Realist approach

Belief that knowledge is a property of the real Belief that knowledge is a property of the real world and that there are definite facts or world and that there are definite facts or truths that can be acquired.truths that can be acquired.

Should Australian soldiers be in Afghanistan?Should Australian soldiers be in Afghanistan?

Relativist Approach

Awareness of how experts often disagree, Awareness of how experts often disagree, recognising that different people may recognising that different people may interpret the same information in contrasting interpret the same information in contrasting waysways

What? Some people say yes, some people say What? Some people say yes, some people say no?no?

Defended Realism Approach

Recognises the difference between facts and Recognises the difference between facts and opinions, but continue to believe that there is opinions, but continue to believe that there is a set of facts about the world that are a set of facts about the world that are completely true and differences in opinion completely true and differences in opinion stem from differences in available information.stem from differences in available information.

Ok… so they are the OPINIONS – not facts… so Ok… so they are the OPINIONS – not facts… so who is right?? who is right??

Dogmatism - skepticism

Realisation that there is no secure basis for Realisation that there is no secure basis for knowledge or making decisions, and alternate knowledge or making decisions, and alternate between blind faith in some authority and doubting between blind faith in some authority and doubting everythingeverything

The government says yes, but many groups say no… The government says yes, but many groups say no… maybe there’s more than one underlying reason for maybe there’s more than one underlying reason for each group… if so, maybe nobody has the answer…each group… if so, maybe nobody has the answer…

Post-skeptical Rationalism

Realisation that while there are no absolute Realisation that while there are no absolute truths, there are better or worse reasons for truths, there are better or worse reasons for holding certain views.holding certain views.

Well, maybe there is no right or wrong answer Well, maybe there is no right or wrong answer to the question, but I can work out who has to the question, but I can work out who has stronger or weaker arguments for believing stronger or weaker arguments for believing whether or not the soldiers should be there whether or not the soldiers should be there

Emotional Development

Are adolescents wildly emotional (major mood swings Are adolescents wildly emotional (major mood swings and outbursts of emotions)?and outbursts of emotions)?

To a degree: yes.To a degree: yes.

Csikzentmihalyi & Larson (1984) large numbers of Csikzentmihalyi & Larson (1984) large numbers of teenagers wore beepers and throughout the week, teenagers wore beepers and throughout the week, entered their thoughts and feelings in a diary entered their thoughts and feelings in a diary immediately after being signaled.immediately after being signaled.

Results indicated more frequent and larger swings in Results indicated more frequent and larger swings in mood than those shown by older persons, and these mood than those shown by older persons, and these swings occurred sometimes within minutes.swings occurred sometimes within minutes.