Adolescence: Body and Mind – Study Notes

Adolescence: Body and Mind

This chapter explores the biological, psychological, and cognitive changes that occur during adolescence, focusing on puberty, brain development, nutrition, sexual maturation, and cognitive development. It also addresses the impact of these changes on behavior, mental health, and educational engagement.

Puberty

Puberty marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, characterized by significant physical, hormonal, and psychological changes.

• Definition: Puberty is the period between the first surge of hormones and the achievement of full adult physical development.

• Key Features:

  • Rapid physical growth

  • Sexual maturation

Sequence of Pubertal Changes

• In Girls:

  • Increase in height

  • Accumulation of fat, especially at the breasts and hips

• In Boys:

  • Peak growth spurt

  • Deepening of the voice

Psychological Effects of Puberty

• Hormonal Influence: Hormones such as testosterone and estrogen instigate attraction and precipitate emotions.

• Gene-Environment Interaction: Genes and earlier experiences interact with hormones to shape psychological outcomes.

Brain Development During Puberty

• Limbic System: Matures before the prefrontal cortex, leading to heightened emotional impulses and risk-taking behaviors.

• Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for planning and emotional regulation, matures later.

• Amygdala: Directly affected by pubertal hormones, influencing emotional responses.

Body Rhythms

• Circadian Rhythms: The day-night cycle of biological activity, approximately every 24 hours.

• Genetic Influence: Genetics affect whether an individual is more alert in the morning or evening.

Growth, Nutrition, and Sexual Maturation

Adolescence is marked by significant growth, changes in nutrition, and the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics.

• Physical Growth: Each body part increases in size on a specific schedule. Skin becomes oilier, sweatier, and more prone to acne. Hair growth occurs under arms, on the face, and over sex organs.

• Primary Sex Characteristics: Organs directly involved in reproduction (e.g., ovaries, testes).

• Secondary Sex Characteristics: Physical traits not directly involved in reproduction (e.g., breast development, facial hair).

Sexual Maturation and Psychological Impact

• Sex Hormones: Affect the brain and influence culturally shaped thoughts and behaviors about sexuality.

• Sexual Thoughts: Can cause physiological and neurological processes, not just result from them.

Sexual Maturation and Sexual Intercourse

• Early sexual activity (e.g., at age 13) is associated with higher rates of depression, rebellion, and drug abuse. This trend reverses by age 19.

Sexual Problems in Adolescence

• Positive Trends:

  • Decreased teen births

  • Increased use of protection

  • Decreased teen abortion rates

• Problems:

  • Earlier puberty and sex before age 15

  • Unmarried, single teen mothers

  • Limited or unavailable grandmother support

  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Sexual Abuse

• Defined as any sexual activity (including fondling and photographing) between a juvenile and an adult.

Diet Deficiencies

• Many adolescents have unhealthy diets, often deficient in iron, calcium, zinc, and other minerals.

• Poor dietary choices are influenced by peers and the environment.

Body Image and Eating Disorders

• Body Image: Eating choices and patterns are often influenced by negative perceptions of body image.

• Eating Disorders:

  • Erratic eating and drug ingestion (e.g., diet pills for girls, steroids for boys)

  • Common types:

    • Anorexia nervosa

    • Bulimia nervosa

    • Binge eating disorder

Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Adolescents experience significant changes in thinking, including the development of abstract reasoning and the emergence of egocentrism.

Adolescent Egocentrism

• Thinking that leads young people to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others.

• Imaginary Audience: Belief that others are constantly watching and evaluating them.

• Personal Fable: Belief in one's own uniqueness and invulnerability.

• Invincibility Fable: Belief that one cannot be harmed by anything that might defeat a normal mortal.

Formal Operational Thought (Piaget)

• Characterized by more systematic logic and the ability to think about abstract ideas.

• Capacity to think of possibilities, not just reality.

• Hypothetical Thought: Reasoning about propositions that may not reflect reality.

• Deductive Reasoning: Reasoning from a general statement, premise, or principle, through logical steps, to figure out specifics.

• Inductive Reasoning: Reasoning from specific experiences or facts to reach a general conclusion.

Dual Processing

• Two networks exist within the human brain:

  • One for intuitive, emotional responses

  • One for analytical reasoning

• Adolescents are more likely to rely on intuitive thinking due to uneven brain maturation, while parents and teachers prefer slower, analytic thinking.

Secondary Education

Secondary education encompasses middle and high school, a period marked by changes in academic engagement and the development of cognitive skills.

Student Engagement

• From fifth to eighth grade, there is a slow and steady decline in emotional and academic engagement.

• About 18% of students remain highly engaged, while about 5% experience a sharp decline in engagement each year.

Middle School

• Typically includes grades 6 through 8.

• Academic achievement slows and behavioral problems increase during this period.

Coping with Middle School

• Students may "quit trying" due to fixed versus growth mindsets and problems related to increased technology use.

Opposing Perspectives: Digital Natives

• Debate exists over whether technology is a blessing or a curse for adolescent development.

• View from Science: Computer use can be seen as a symptom, with explanations from psychoanalytic theory, behaviorism, and evolutionary theory.

High School

• After puberty, adolescents are better able to cope with school demands.

• High schools aim to promote students' analytic abilities, often through AP and dual credit courses.

Alternatives to College

• About one-third of U.S. high school graduates do not enter college, reflecting a wide range of post-secondary pathways.