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MATERNAL

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and development across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. Physically, teenagers experience growth spurts and sexual maturation. Their brains continue developing, improving reasoning and abstract thinking skills but emotional regulation lags behind. Psychosocially, adolescents work to establish their identity, autonomy, intimacy, sexuality, and achievement. These changes can result in moodiness, risk-taking, and focus on peers. Adults should provide structure, clear rules, and opportunities for safe exploration and achievement.

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Kim Mingyu
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53 views32 pages

MATERNAL

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and development across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. Physically, teenagers experience growth spurts and sexual maturation. Their brains continue developing, improving reasoning and abstract thinking skills but emotional regulation lags behind. Psychosocially, adolescents work to establish their identity, autonomy, intimacy, sexuality, and achievement. These changes can result in moodiness, risk-taking, and focus on peers. Adults should provide structure, clear rules, and opportunities for safe exploration and achievement.

Uploaded by

Kim Mingyu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adolescent Growth and

Development
Angela Huebner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Human Development
Virginia Tech
[email protected]
703.538-8491
February 7, 2008
Period of Adolescence
Rapid growth
Interaction of physical, psychological, and
environmental factors
Off timing of systems (Dahl, 2004)
 Puberty

 Physical growth

 Emotion and behavior regulation

Importance of understanding interaction of all the


systems;
Transitions all occur sequentially but not necessarily
at the same time
Source: Cooperative Extension System
Extension "CARES" for America's Children and Youth Initiative
March, 2001
What’s the Big Deal?
Adolescent morbidity
 Health Paradox (Dahl, 2004):
 Developmental period of strength and
resilience both physically and cognitively
 Yet, morbidity & mortality rates increase 200%

 DIFFICULTIES IN CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR


AND EMOTION
Overview

I. Physical Development
II. Cognitive Development
III. Psycho-Social Development
I. Physical Development
Height & Weight Changes
Secondary Sex Characteristics
Continued Brain Development
Rapid Gains in Height & Weight

4.1 to 3.5 inches per year

Girls mature about 2 years earlier than boys

Weight gain = muscles for boys; fat for girls


Secondary Sex Characteristics:
Pubic hair
Menarche or penis growth
Voice changes for boys
Underarm hair
Facial hair growth for boys
Increased production of oil, sweat glands, acne
Continued Brain Development
Not completely developed until late
adolescence

Emotional, physical and mental abilities


incomplete

May explain why some seem inconsistent


in controlling emotions, impulses, and
judgements
Understanding the Adolescent Brain
Advances in brain imaging allow
for better understanding of what
occurs
Evidence for frontal lobe delays
Inability to delay gratification;
impulse control
Suggestion that puberty
represents a period of synaptic
reorganization and as a
consequence the brain might be
more sensitive to experiential
input at this period of time in the
realm of executive function and
social cognition

Prefrontal cortex of interest (Blakemore & Choudhury, 2006)


Brain: Developmental
Changes

Synaptogenesis: proliferation of synapses


Myelinazation: insulation around synapses
Synaptic pruning: frequently used connections are
strengthened, infrequently used connections are
eliminated
(Blakemore & Choudhury, 2006)
Bottom Line?
How do these change affect teens?
Usually studied as decision making
(Steinberg, 2004)
 In lab: similarities in adolescent & adult decision
making processes
Adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to risk
taking
 Novelty & sensation seeking increase dramatically
at puberty
 Development of self-regulation lags behind

Risk taking as group behavior (Steinberg,


2004)
How Do These Changes
Affect Teens?
Frequently sleep longer - 9 1/2 hours

May be more clumsy because of growth


spurts-body parts grow at different rates

Girls may become sensitive about weight -


60% trying to lose weight
1-3% have eating disorder
How Do These Changes
Affect Teens?
Concern if not physically developing at same
rate as peers - need to “fit” in (early vs. late
maturation)

Feel awkward about showing affection to


opposite sex parent

Ask more direct questions about sex - trying


to figure out values around sex
What Can Adults Do?
Expect inconsistency in responsibility
taking and in decision making
Provide opportunities for “safe” risk
taking
Avoid criticizing/comparing to others
Encourage enough sleep
Encourage/model healthy eating
Encourage/model activity
Provide honest answers about sex
II. Cognitive Development
Advanced Reasoning Skills
Abstract Thinking Skills
Meta-Cognition
Beginning to Gain Advanced
Reasoning Skills
 Options
 Possibilities

 Logical

 Hypothetically

 What if?
Think Abstractly
Can take others’ perspective

Can think about non-concrete things like


faith, trust, beliefs, and spirituality
Ability to Think About Thinking
Meta-cognition

Think about how they feel and what they are


thinking

Think about how they think they are perceived by


others

Can develop strategies for improving their


learning
How Do These Changes
Affect Teens?
Heightened self-consciousness
Believes no one else has experienced
feelings/emotions
Tend to become cause-oriented
Tend to exhibit a “justice orientation”

“It can’t happen to me” syndrome


What Can Adults Do?
Don’t take it personally when teens
discount experience

Discuss their behavior rules/consequences

Provide opportunities for community service

Ask teens their view and share own


III. Psycho-Social Development
Establishing identity
Establishing autonomy

Establishing intimacy

Become comfortable with one’s sexuality

Achievement
Establishing Identity
Erikson (1959): identity vs. identity diffusion

Integrates opinions of other into own


likes/dislikes—needs interactions with diverse
others for this to occur
Outcome is clear sense of values, beliefs,
occupational goals, and relationship expectations
Secure identities-knows where they fit
Identity Exploration Process:
Commitment
present absent

present Identity Moratorium


Achievement

Exploration

Identity Identity
absent Foreclosure Diffusion

Marcia (1966)
Establishing Autonomy
Becoming independent and self-governing within
relationships

Make and follow through with decisions

Live with own set of principles of right/wrong

Less emotionally dependent on parents


Establishing Intimacy
Learns intimacy and sex not same thing
Learned within context of same-sex friendships;
then in romantic relationships

Develops close, open, honest, caring, and trusting


relationships

Learn to begin, maintain, and terminate


relationships; practice social skills, and become
intimate from friends
Becoming Comfortable
with One’s Sexuality
How educated/exposed to sexuality largely
determines if healthy sexual identity develops

More than half high school students are sexually


active

Mixed messages contribute to teen pregnancy


and sexually transmitted diseases
Predictors of Sexual Activity
Having a steady boy/girlfriend

Using alcohol regularly


Having parents with permissive values about
sex

Being worried about one’s future occupational


success
Implication: focus on more than one risk
factor
Achievement

Society fosters and values attitudes of


competition and success

Can see relationship between abilities, plans,


aspirations

Need to determine achievement preferences,


what good at, and areas willing to strive for
success
How Do These Changes
Affect Teens?
More time with friends
May keep a journal
More questions about sexuality
Begin to lock bedroom door
Involved in multiple hobbies/clubs
More argumentative
Interact with parents as people
What Can Adults Do?
Encourage involvement in groups

Praise for efforts and abilities

Help explore career goals and options

Help set guidelines/consequences

Establish rituals for significant passages

Know friends and what they are doing


Provide structured environment/clear expectations

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