Wize University Psychology Textbook > Development
Adolescent Development
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Adolescent Development
Adolescence - Socially constructed period of transition from childhood to adulthood, approximately age 12-18
Physical Development
Puberty - Period of physical maturation that involves an individual becoming capable of sexual reproduction. Biologically defined.
- Primary sex characteristics - development of sex organs involved in reproduction
- Secondary sex characteristics - physical features associated with, but not involved in, sexual maturity
- Menarche - first menstrual period. Landmark of puberty. Typically age 11-13
- Sperm production and first ejaculation - Landmark of puberty. Typically age 12-14
- Early maturation has a more positive effect for boys than for girls
In adolescence, brain continues to establish new neural connections and to prune away unused synaptic connections.
Cognitive Development
Adolescent egocentrism - self-absorbed, unrealistic view of your own uniqueness and importance. Associated with risky behaviours
- Personal fable - overestimation of the uniqueness of feelings, thoughts, and experience
- Imaginary audience - heightened sensitivity to social judgment and evaluation, feeling that you're always being watched
Abstract reasoning abilities increase throughout adolescence
Information processing speed increases throughout adolescence
By middle adolescence, information processing speed and working memory are near adult capacity. By late adolescence, ability to suppress task-irrelevant responses near adult levels.
Social, Emotional, and Personality Development
Identity status - classification of a person's identity formation. Most successfully resolve identity crisis by young adulthood
- Identity Diffusion - haven't gone through an identity crisis, unconcerned about identity, not committed to a set of values
- Foreclosure - haven't gone through an identity crisis because they committed to values and identity before a crisis
- Moratorium - want to establish a clear identity and are in an identity crisis
- Identity achievement - successfully resolved identity crisis
Despite popular depictions of teens, majority of teens think highly of and enjoy spending time with parents
Adolescent friendships are typically closer than those of younger ages, and involve more sharing of problems
Peer pressure has a strong influence. This influence is stronger when it's against misbehaviour
Practice: Adolescent Development
Sophie is having a fight with her mother because her mother says she doesn't need to spend as much time and money on her appearance. Sophie yells "you don't understand! If I look bad everyone will notice and make fun of me!"
This is an example of: