Adolescence - Weebly

Adolescence

The transition period from childhood to adulthood.

Adolescence

Many  psychologists  once  believed  that  our  traits  

were  set  during  childhood.  Today  

psychologists  believe  that  development  is  a  

lifelong  process.  Adolescence  is  defined  

as  a  life  between  childhood  and  adulthood.

AP  Photo/  Jeff  C

hiu

Puberty

•  The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.

Click above to see all you ever need to know about puberty.

Is adolescence getting longer or shorter?

Physical  Development

Adolescence  begins  with  puberty  (sexual  

maturation).  Puberty  occurs  earlier  in  females  (11  years)  than  males      

(13  years).  Thus  height  in  females  increases  before  

males.

7  

8  

Brain  Development Un&l  puberty,  neurons  increase  their  connec&ons.  However,  at  adolescence,  selec&ve  pruning  of  the  neurons  begins.  Unused  neuronal  connec&ons  are  lost  to  make  other  pathways  more  efficient.  

9  

Frontal  Cortex During  adolescence,  neurons  in  the  frontal  cortex  grow  myelin,  which  speeds  up  nerve  conduc&on.  The  frontal  cortex  lags  behind  the  limbic  system’s  development.  Hormonal  surges  and  the  limbic  system  may  explain  occasional  teen  impulsiveness.  

10  

Cognitive  Development Adolescents’  ability  to  reason  gives  them  a  new  level  of  social  awareness.  In  par&cular,  they  may  think  about  the  following:  

1.  Their  own  thinking.  2.  What  others  are  thinking.  3.  What  others  are  thinking  about  them.  4.  How  ideals  can  be  reached.  They  cri&cize  society,  parents,  and  even  

themselves.  

11  

Developing  Reasoning  Power According  to  Piaget,  adolescents  can  handle  abstract  problems,  i.e.,  they  can  perform    formal  opera*ons.  Adolescents  can  judge  good  from  evil,  truth  and  jus&ce,  and  think  about  God  in  deeper  terms.  

William

 Thomas  C

ain/  GeMy  Im

ages

AP/W

ide  World  Photos

12  

Cognitive Development

•  Have the ability to reason but…….

• The reasoning is self-focused. Assume that their experiences are unique. • Experience formal operational thought

Maturation

•  Physical growth, regardless of the environment.

•  Although the timing of our growth may be different, the sequence is almost always the same.

Click  to  see  movie  of  Captain  Marvel  and  his  matura&on.      

Puberty Sequence is way more

predictable than the timing.

How might timing differences effect an adolescent socially?

When does puberty start? The Landmarks

•  First ejaculation for boys

• Menarche for girls

Do we remember these things?

Primary Sexual Characteristics • Body

structures that make reproduction possible.

Penis

Testes

Ovaries Vagina

Secondary Sexual Characteristics •  Non-

reproductive sexual characteristics.

Widening of the Hips

Deeper Voice Breast Development

Body Hair

Identity •  One’s sense of self. •  The idea that an

adolescent’s job is to find oneself by testing various roles.

•  Comes from Erik Erikson’s stages of Psychosocial development.

Forming  an  Identity

In  Western  cultures,  many  adolescents  try  out  different  selves  before  seMling  into  a  consistent  

and  comfortable  identity.  Having  such  an  identity  leads  to  forming  close  relationships.

Leland  Bobble/  GeMy  Im

ages

MaMhias  C

lamer/  G

eMy  Images

Parent  and  Peer  Influence

Although  teens  become  independent  of  their  parents  as  they  grow  

older,  they  nevertheless  relate  to  their  parents  on  

a  number  of  things,  including  religiosity  and  

career  choices.  Peer  approval  and  

relationships  are  also  very  important.

21  

Developing  Morality Kohlberg  (1981,  1984)  sought  to  describe  the  development  of  moral  reasoning  by  posing  moral  dilemmas  to  children  and  adolescents,  such  as  “Should  a  person  steal  medicine  to  save  a  loved  one’s  life?”  He  found  stages  of  moral  development.  

AP  Photo/  D

ave  Martin

Moral Development

Three Stage Theory by Lawrence Kohlberg!!!

24  

Lawrence Kohlberg and his stages of Morality

• Preconventional Morality • Conventional Morality • Postconventional Morality

25  

Moral  Thinking 1.  Preconven&onal  Morality:  Before  

age  9,  children  show  morality  to  avoid  punishment  or  gain  reward.  

2.  Conven&onal  Morality:  By  early  adolescence,  social  rules  and  laws  are  upheld  for  their  own  sake.  

3.  Postconven&onal  Morality:  Affirms  people’s  agreed-­‐upon  rights  or  follows  personally  perceived  ethical  principles.  

Pre-conventional Morality •  Morality based on

rewards and punishments.

•  If you are rewarded then it is OK.

•  If you are punished, the act must be wrong.

Conventional Morality •  Look at morality

based on how others see you.

•  If your peers , or society, thinks it is wrong, then so do you.

Post-Conventional Morality •  Based on self-

defined ethical principles.

•  Your own personal set of ethics.

Criticisms of Kohlberg •  Carol Gilligan pointed

out that Kohlberg only tested boys.

•  Boys tend to have more absolute value of morality.

•  Girls tend top look at situational factors.

Heinz  Example  of  Morality  

Erik Erikson •  Thought our personality

was influenced by our experiences with others.

•  Stages of Psychosocial Development.

•  Each stage centers on a social conflict.

Trust v. Mistrust •  Can a baby trust the

world to fulfill its needs?

•  The trust or mistrust they develop can carry on with the child for the rest of their lives.

Autonomy V. Shame & Doubt •  Toddlers begin to

control their bodies (toilet training).

•  Control Temper Tantrums

•  Big word is “NO” •  Can they learn

control or will they doubt themselves?

Initiative V. Guilt •  Word turns from “NO” to “WHY?”

•  Want to understand the world and ask questions.

•  Is there curiosity encouraged or scolded?

Industry v. Inferiority •  School begins •  We are for the first

time evaluated by a formal system and our peers.

•  Do we feel good or bad about our accomplishments?

•  Can lead to us feeling bad about ourselves for the rest of our lives…inferiority complex.  

Identity v. Role Confusion •  In our teenage years

we try out different roles.

•  Who am I? •  What group do I fit

in with? •  If I do not find

myself I may develop an identity crisis.

Intimacy v. Isolation •  Have to balance

work and relationships.

•  What are my priorities?

•  I’m looking to spend the rest of my life with a person.

Generativity v. Stagnation •  Is everything going

as planned? •  Am I happy with

what I created? •  Mid –life crisis!!!

Integrity v. Despair •  Look back on life. •  Was my life

meaningful or do I have regret?