1. Adolescence (Part 1)

2. Definitions

Adolescence

Developmental stage between childhood & adulthood

Puberty

The maturation period during which the sexual organs mature

Menarche

The onset of menstruation

Spermarche

The first spontaneous ejaculation of sperm-laden fluid, usually around age 13

Primary Sex Characteristics

Characteristics associated with the development of the sex & reproductive organs

Secondary Sex Characteristics

The visible signs of sexual maturity not involving the sex organs directly

3. Growth Spurt

Period of Rapid Growth

Boys grow 4.1 per year

Girls grow 3.5 per year

Girls begin about age 11

Boys begin about age 12

4. Puberty

Pituitary Gland

Puberty begins when the pituitary gland signals other glands to release hormones

Androgens (malehormones)

Estrogens (femalehormones)

5. Puberty in Girls

Environmental & Cultural Factors

Menarche signals the onset of puberty

Better nourished girls begin earlier

Stress is a factor

Primary & Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Changes occur in the vagina & uterus

Breasts develop & pubic hair grows

6. Puberty in Boys

Primary & Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Penis & scrotum growth, prostate gland & seminal vesicles enlarge along with the induction of spermarche

Pubic, underarm, & facial hair begin growing

The larynx enlarges & the voice deepens

7. Psychological Reactions

Body Image

Embarrassment about the growth & changes

Early/Late Maturation

Early maturation brings weight

Boys more popular esp. with adult males & tend to have more problems in school

Girls early maturation leads to uncomfortable feelings, less self-esteem

Late maturing girls have lower status for dates, etc. early on

By 10 thgrade, have better self-feelings & about bodies

8. Nutrition

Obesity

1 in 5 adolescents is overweight

1 in 20 is obese (more than 20% over the average weight)

The 2 reasons are lack of exercise and poor diet

9. Nutrition

Anorexia

Severe eating disorder in which an individual refuses to eat

15% - 20% starve to death

Boys (10%) are becoming anorexic

Bulimia

Bingeing & Purging

Although the weight remains fairly normal, vomiting & diarrhea produces physical problems

Psychological & social factors involved

10. Brain Development

Growth of Neurons

Growth brings more complexity to interconnections & more sophisticated thinking

Neuronal Pruning

1% - 2% per year with continued myelination

Areas of Development

Prefrontal cortex is fully developed in early 20s

Dopamine-producing & reacting areas become more developed

More sensitivity to stress, less susceptible to alcohol

11. Stress

Origins of Stress

Home, school, relationships, peers, intrapersonal, etc.

Number of stressful events can produce major illnesses

Can lead to psychosomatic disorders

Psychological, emotional,& physical interaction

Ulcers, asthma, arthritis,hypertension

Outcomes of Stress

Biological reaction

Release of hormones fromthe adrenal glands

Rise in heart rate, bloodpressure, respiration, &sweating

Long-term outcome

Reduction in the bodysability to deal with stressand fight off disease

12. Coping

Problem-focused Coping

Attempting to manage stress by directly changing the situation to make it less stressful

Emotion-focused Coping

Conscious regulation of emotion

Social Support

Assistance & comfort supplied by others

Defensive Coping

Unconscious use of strategies that distort or deny the true nature of a situation

13. Threats to Well-being

Illegal Drugs

50% of U.S. high school seniors & 20% of 8 thgraders used marijuana in the past year

Reasons for use

Pleasurable experiences

Everyday pressures

Peer pressures

Thrill of doing somethingillegal

Addictive Drugs

Drugs producing a biological or psychological dependence leading to cravings

Physiological dependence

Psychological dependence

14. Legal Drugs

Alcohol

Binge drinking a tradition on college campuses

Reasons adolescents start drinking

Release inhibitions

Reduce tensions & stress

Family patterns & genetics play a role

Tobacco

Nicotine is 4 X more addicting than heroin

Produces psychological & physiological addiction

Produces a quick dependency

Produces pleasant emotional state

Seeing parents & peers smoking increases chances of starting

15. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

AIDS

A leading cause of death among young people

Transmitted through body fluids

Other STDs

1 in 4 adolescents will contract an STD before graduating high school

Chlamydia

A bacterial disease

Genital herpes

Virus-like cold sores or blisters

Trichomoniasis

Caused by a parasite

Gonorrhea & syphilis

Oldest known

Genital Herpes Syphilis