DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE

LIFESPAN

Adolescence

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Puberty – time period when individuals reach full sexual

maturity• Certain physical changes occur to make this possible

Primary sex characteristics – characteristics that are

directly involved with reproduction

Secondary sex characteristics – characteristics not

directly involved with reproduction• Deeping of voice, development of breasts (changes linked

to hormones)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Production of estrogen becomes cyclical during

puberty. • This increase of estrogen from the ovaries triggers

menarche.• Also stops growth in height

Menarche – major life event, usually occurs

between 11 to 14.

EARLY MATURATION: EMOTIONAL IMPACT

Boys who mature early tend to be more popular and are

more likely to be leaders, then those who mature later.• More self assured and relaxed at that time• Boys who mature later, then to be more better adjusted as

adults

Girls who mature earlier: tend to feel awkward about

their height and secondary sexual characteristics.• Often teased• Once everyone else catches up, differences seem to vanish

PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Parent-child relationships are often redefined during adolescence• Society’s image of constant rebellion is exaggerated

As teens strive for independence, they do often argue with their

parents • Want to make own choices on friends, cloths, dating etc.• Usually leads to less time with family and more time with friends

Most adolescents continue to have a good relationship with their

parents.• Children often have greater self-reliance• Usually have similar social, political, & religious views• Tend to interact more with mothers than fathers

PEER RELATIONSHIPSDuring adolescence peers have more influence

Cliques – peer groups of 5 -10 people who spend a lot of time together• Dress similar, adopt each other’s mannerisms• Become intolerant of “outsiders” interfering • Initiation rights – rare in early adolescence, usually occurs later around

17

Parental and peer attitudes are often similar

Peer pressure – weak in early adolescence, peaks around the age of

15. It’s power decreases after 17.• Want peer approval• Provide support

IDENTITY CRISIS/CONFORMITY

Erik Erikson (famous psychologist) believed that the main goal of adolescence was

forming an identity.• Identity – sense of who you are/what you stand for• Believed identity is established by developing a commitment to a role or occupation in life

To help find the right one, people often experiment with different values, roles, &

relationships• Act one way with friends and a different way with parents

If fail to form an identity, teens become confused about who they are and what they

want to do with their life

Identity crisis – turning point in person’s development. Forces you to examine values

and make changes to decisions about life

Anorexia Nervosa – characterized by starvation and distorted body image

Bulimia Nervosa – characterized by a cycle of binge eating and then forced vomiting

GENDER & ETHNICITY IN GENDER FORMATION

Erikson & Freud’s views on development focus on men. They

believed a woman’s identity was basically wife & mother.

In modern times, studies show that women approach identity

formation like men. • Added concern of how will they balance it all with family life.

• Women still have most of the responsibility of raising children & maintaining a home

Identity formation is often more complicated for minorities. • Faced with 2 sets of values: their ethnic group, larger society• Prejudice/discrimination• Parents are from two different ethnical backgrounds

SEXUALITY

Struggle of hormones vs. adult influence

Society at large is sexualized, which adds to the confusion• Movies, TV, commercials, & music all contain sexual images

Teenage pregnancy (7.2% girls between 15-17 will get pregnant

this year)

Teenage mothers are more likely to live in poverty.

50% of teen mothers will quit school and go on welfare

Few receive financial or emotional support from father

Teenage motherhood makes emotional problems worse, not better.