Psychology: Adolescence Development

 The Adolescent Brain 

Video playlist on adolescent brain development

Adolescent development 

Information on adolescent development from the world health organization

Adolescent development 

information on adolescent development

Adolescent Development 

Merck manuals guide to adolescents development

Adolescence Development

Adolescence is often defined as the period that begins with puberty and ends with the transition to adulthood. The commonly accepted beginning age for this period of development is age 12.

Physical Development 

growth spurt of adolescence: The spurt lasts for 2 to 3 years, during which time adolescents may shoot up 8 inches to 1 foot or more. Girls typically experience their growth spurt earlier than boys. Boys also develop greater upper-body musculature. 

puberty: The stage of development at which individuals become physiologically capable of reproducing.

•  Puberty lasts about 3 to 4 years

secondary sex characteristics: Physical characteristics that differentiate males and females but are not directly involved in reproduction.

primary sex characteristics: Physical characteristics, such as the gonads, that differentiate males and females and play a direct role in reproduction.

menarche: The first menstruation.

•  the beginning of menstruation, between ages 10 and 18, or at an average age of 12.5 years 

Cognitive Development

imaginary audience: The common belief among adolescents that they are the center of other people’s attention.

•  Adolescents may feel as though they are always on stage, as though all eyes are continually scrutinizing how they look, what they wear, and how they act 

personal fable: The common belief among adolescents that their feelings and experiences cannot possibly be understood by others and that they are personally invulnerable to harm.

• Adolescents may believe their life experiences or personal feelings are so unique that no one could possibly understand them, let alone have experienced them. 
•  belief that “bad things can’t happen to me.
  •  the adolescent brain is still maturing, including that part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for judgment, reasoning, and putting the brakes on risky or impulsive behavior 

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning 

Postconventional Level. Individuals generally reach the postconventional level of moral reasoning during adolescence, if they reach it at all.

• Kohlberg identified two stages of postconventional moral reasoning. Stage 5, the social contract orientation, involves the belief that laws are based on mutual agreement among members of a society, but they are not infallible. They should be open to question rather than followed blindly out of respect for authority. Stage 6 thinking involves adoption of universal ethical principles, an underlying set of self-chosen, abstract ethical principles that serve as a guiding framework for moral judgments.  People at this stage are guided by their own internal moral compass, regardless of the dictates of society’s laws or the opinions of others. 

Psychosocial Development

Adolescent yearnings for independence often lead to some withdrawal from family members and to arguments with parents over issues of autonomy and decision making.

Identity Versus Role Diffusion:  Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development 

• Issues of identity assume prominence during adolescence
•  The development of ethnic identity, of a connectedness with one’s ethnic and cultural heritage, is an important part of the process of identity formation during adolescence, especially for adolescents of color 

• ego identity: In Erickson’s theory, the attainment of a psychological sense of knowing oneself and one’s direction in life.
• identity crisis: In Erikson’s theory, a stressful period of serious soul-searching and self-examination of issues relating to personal values and one’s direction in life.
• role diffusion: In Erikson’s model, a lack of direction or aimlessness with respect to one’s role in life or public identity.

Peer Relationships: 

• As adolescents experiment with greater independence, peer relationships become increasingly important influences in their psychosocial development.
  •  “Fitting in” or belonging comes to play an even greater role in determining their self-esteem and emotional adjustment. 

Sexuality:  

• sexual thoughts and interests often do take center stage during this period.