ADOLESCENCEThe Period Between Childhood and Adulthood

What is it?How do we define it?What are the changes that occur?Will you survive?Will your parents?When does it begin and end?

Is it getting longer or shorter over time?????

Biological MarkersPuberty: Spurt of Physical GrowthFemale: Menarche or menstruation at the average age of 12 1/2, with growth of approx. 3-5 inches in a year.Males: Production of sperm; usually occurs two years LATER than girls, grow 4-6 inches in a year

1950s and BeyondAbout 50 years ago, puberty was a scary event. No one was prepared, schools did not teach or talk about it.Now view in a positive manner, a signal that one has reached manhood and womanhood

Primary Sex CharacteristicsReproductive organs grow (uterus, ovaries and testicles and penis)

Secondary Sex CharacteristicsFemale: Enlarged breast and hipsMales: Deeper voice, facial hair, broadening shoulders

Timing of PubertyPuberty has psychological effects. Going through it with your peers or on the average is good because you reach it together and do not feel unusual or outside the norm

Early Maturing Boy and GirlsBOYSPositive athletic advantage, popular, look older, self confident, seen as a leader by peers and authorityNegative effect is that get into trouble more often, begin sexual relation earlierGIRLSDevelop mature body before others and this can lead to insecuritiesNot looked on favorably by adults because gets attention of older boys, can lead to early sexual activity

Late Maturing Boy and GirlsBOYSNegative effect: Parents and teachers tend to treat them like children longer, rejected by peersPositive effect: Time to be introspective and develop a strong sense of identity

GIRLSAt first they are less popular and can lack some social skillsOnce they develop they do tend to be tall and thin and become more popular.

Hypothesis on DevelopmentAdult Stage HypothesisStage Termination HypothesisDeviance Hypothesis

Time Line of Development

Early Girls-On Time GirlsLate Girls

-Early BoysOn Time BoysLate Boys

Identity & EgocentrismIdentity: Sense of yourself and independence. See yourself as an individualIt develops in adolescence because they can now think in abstract terms, the meaning of life, their role in society.Egocentrism: Peaks at 13Imaginary AudiencePersonal Fable

Structure of the Peer GroupA: Close friends: Usually 2-3 and same sex but can be gender mixedB: Cliques: small group of friends with common interestsPositive~ Social skills, intimate relationships, feeling of safety, share common idealsNegative~ Negative peer pressure, restriction of individual thought, limiting friendships

Cliques continuedPopular cliquesGender differences in cliquesOthers opinionsAcceptance

More GroupsCrowds: Larger groups of acquaintances that usually people date others from the crowd

Moral DevelopmentLevel 1: Pre Conventional (Childhood 4-10)Stage 1:Punishment OrientationStage 2: Nave Reward OrientationLevel 2: Conventional (early adolescence 10-13)Stage 3: Good boy/girlStage 4: Authority OrientationLevel 3: Post Conventional: adulthoodStage 5: Social Contract OrientationStage 6: Individual Ethical Principle

James MarciaTheory of Identity FormationFour Types:1. Identity Diffusion2. Identity Foreclosure3. Identity Moratorium4. Identity Achievement

*