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.