Adolescent Psychology

PSYC 2307Dr. Sara Villanueva

What Is Adolescence?

The second decade of life (~10 to ~22)

Used to be considered the teen years (13-19) but now…

Period of adolescence has lengthened…why?

Young people maturing earlierSo many people delaying entering working world and marriage til their mid-20’s

Tough to DefineIs a biologically mature 5th grader an adolescent or a child?

Is a 20-year old college student who still lives at home an adolescent or an adult?

All depends on the boundaries one uses to define the period

Makes more sense to think of adolescent development as a series of transitions from immaturity into maturity

Adolescence: A broad range

Because this period spans over a decade, covering so much growth and change, Adolescence divided into 3 phases:

Early adolescence: 10-13Middle adolescence: 14-17Late adolescence: 18-22

Correspond to anything?

Part I: The Fundamental Changes

of Adolescence

Chapter 1: Biological TransitionsChapter 2: Cognitive TransitionsChapter 3: Social Transitions

Chapter One:Biological Transitions

What is Puberty?From Latin word pubertas (adult)

Period of lifespan in which an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction

Hormones regulated by the endocrine system lead to physical changes

No new hormones are produced and no new bodily systems develop at puberty

The Endocrine System: HPG Feedback Loop

HPG Axis:Hypothalamus Pituitary gland (master gland)Gonads (testes and ovaries)

Gonads release sex hormones into bloodstream

Androgens and estrogens

Somatic Development: Changes in

Stature/Dimensions of the Body

Adolescent growth spurt Simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and androgens

Peak Height VelocityTime that adolescent is growing most quickly

Average female growth spurt is 2 years before the average male growth spurt

Somatic Development: Changes in Stature/Dimensions of the Body

Skeletal changesBones become harder, denser, more brittle

Conclusion of pubertyClosing of ends of long bones

Growth in height is terminated

Relative proportions of body fat/muscle change for boys and for girls

Changes in the circulatory & respiratory systems

What triggers Puberty?

What Are The 3 MajorPhysical Changes of Puberty?

Adolescent growth spurt

Development of primary sex characteristics (gonads)

Development of secondary sex characteristics (breasts, pubic hair)

How Do We Know?How do Scientists Investigate Pubertal Maturation?

Somatic Development: Sexual Maturation

Development of secondary sex characteristics (Tanner Stages)

Five Stages

Changes include growth of pubic hair changes in appearance of sex organsbreast development

Sexual Maturation: Boys

Spermarche typically occurs 1 year after accelerated penis growth

Boys capable of fathering a child before they look like adults; opposite true for girls

15

Sexual Maturation: GirlsSequence less regular than in boys

Menarche typically occurs after other secondary sex characteristics; regular ovulation follows 2 years later

Thus, girls appear physically mature before they are actually capable of reproduction

16

Variations in the Timing and Tempo of Puberty

Onset can begin as early as 7 in girls and 9 ½ in boys; as late as 13 in girls and 13 ½ in boys

Interval b/w first sign and complete physical maturation can be as short as 1.5 yrs or as long as 6 yrs

Ethnic Differences

Within the U.S., there are Ethnic differences in timing and rate of pubertal maturation

AA females mature significantly earlier than MA girls, who in turn, mature earlier than White girls

Why the difference?Exposure to toxins in environment

General SES

Family dynamics

Puberty is Affected by Context

Timing of physical changes in adolescence varies by

Regions of the worldSocioeconomic classEthnic groupHistorical era

Example: Menarche (first menstruation)U.S. average 12 to 13 yearsLumi (New Guinea) average > 18 years

Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation

Pubertal maturation an interaction between genes and environment

Differences in timing/rate among individuals in the same general environment result chiefly from genetic factors

Two key environmental influences: nutrition and health

Exposure to pheromes

Individual Differences in Pubertal Maturation:

What can effect the Timing of Pubertal Onset?

EARLY

Higher affluence; economic advantages

But what about Culture/Ethnicity?

Better nourishment throughout prenatal, infant, & childhood yrs

Better health conditions

Growing up in less cohesive families w/ more conflict

Growing up in households w/ no natural father; instead having stepfather present (pheromones)

Small amts of stress = speed up; great deals = slow down

LATE

Poorer economic conditions

History of protein and/or caloric deficiencies

Chronic illness in childhood

EXCESSIVE EXERCISE!Ballet dancers, GymnastsEating disorders

Psychological/Social: The Impact of Specific Pubertal Events

Most adolescents react positively to pubertal changes

especially secondary sex characteristics

Reactions to menarche are variedbut less negative than in the past

Less known about boys’ reactions to first ejaculations …why?

Psychological/Social: Early or Late Maturation

Perception of being an early or late maturer is more important in affecting one’s feelings than the reality

Early maturation does bring social advantages

But early maturation is associated withMore drug and alcohol use

Precocious sexual activity

Context is important to consider

Eating Disorders in Adolescence

Eating Disorders

Deviation from the “ideal” physique can lead to loss of self-esteem and other problems in the adolescent’s self-image

Studies of magazines, 1970 to 1990Ideal body shape became slimmer

Ideal body shape became less curvaceous

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa and BulimiaAdolescents with these eating disorders have an extremely disturbed body image.

BulimiaEating binges; force themselves to vomit

3% of adolescents are genuine bulimics

AnorexiaStarve themselves to keep weight down

Fewer than ½ of 1% of adolescents

Anorexia NervosaINTENSTE fear of becoming obese which does not subside even with extreme weight loss

Refusal to maintain body weight above minimum normal weight for one’s age and height (ie, she is more than 15% below expected body weight)

Body image distortion – looks in mirror and sees FAT when in reality…

Can cause liver, kidney, and heart failure

Deadliest of all psychiatric illnesses

Anorexia NervosaOnset usually occurs after puberty or late adolescence

In order to meet criteria, females must have absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles

Primarily occurs in adolescent girls/women and rare in males

Prevalence - .5 to 1% of female population

Increase in early onset anorexia in girls b/w ages of 8 and 13!

Obsessed with weighing themselves and the way others may “see” them

Prevalent among dancers, gymnasts, models

Anorexia Nervosa

How can they not realize that they are starving themselves TO DEATH?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJPrhJty7TM

Bulimia NervosaRecurrent episodes of binge eating – eat abnormally large amounts of food in a small space of time

Loses control when bingeing

Uses vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or dieting to control weight

Two or more eating binges a week, occurring for 3 or more months

Overconcern with body weight and shape

Onset usually during late adolescence or early adulthood

Prevalence rate: 1-3% of population

Bulimia Nervosa

Two sub-types:Purging type: individual regularly vomits or uses laxatives, diuretics, or enemasNonpurging type: excessive exercise or fasting used in an attempt to compensate for binges

Important to know…

Differences b/w Anorexia & BulimiaPeople w/ Bulimia realize their eating patterns (binging/purging) are not normal – frustrated and ashamed by that knowledgeBulimia much more prevalent than anorexiaA person’s weight has little to do with Bulimia whereas anorexic criteria is <15% normal body weight

Videos

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/program.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7M8yNKQ7M