Physical and Cognitive Development

in Adolescence (Ch. 11)

Physical Changes
Puberty!

Brain!

Sexual Behaviour
Other Health Issues
Cognitive Changes
Piagets Formal Operations
 Puberty
All physical changes associated with
sexual maturity
takes about 4 years
no single marker.
Physical Evidence of Puberty
Growth spurt
not symmetrical
Primary sex characteristics
Primary sex organs increase in size
Onset of fertility
menarche
spermarche
Physical Evidence of Puberty
Secondary sex characteristics
Changes in body composition
boys muscle increase
Girls body fat increase
 Puberty: Body Image
Major source of adolescent
Self esteem
especially for girls
Who become less satisfied over
time
boys get more satisfied
 Timing of Puberty
Highly variable
9-14 years of age
Genetic factors
Onset
Body type
Environmental factors
activity-level
Health and nutrition
Secular trends
Kids are reaching puberty earlier than in the past
 Timing of Puberty
Early or late maturation
Girls:
early development worse than
development late
Increased risk for later psychological and
behavioural problems

Boys: early development better than develop

late
achieve manly status
but late-starters benefit in long run.
 Brain Changes
Two major phases
13-15 yrs
Cerebralcortex (white matter) develops
Corpus callosum thickens ( )
can process info more efficiently
Starting at 17
Frontal cortex (grey matter) develops
helps judgement
 Brain Changes

Growth spurt in limbic system

strong emotions
+ Underdeveloped (
)frontal cortex
= teenage brain
 Sexual Behaviour
8% of those <15 years are sexually active
But dont use contraception consistently

girls less likely to than boys

Why?
immature decision-making
Focus on immediate considerations
Dont consider consequences

Or appreciate the probability of risk

 Teen Pregnancy

Consequences for Mom and baby

unless they get support
 Sexual Behaviour
Factors influencing early sexual activity
Poorly monitored youth
single parents, poverty
alcohol use
History of abuse or neglect

girls
Early maturing, disengaged ( ) from school,
dating early
 Preparing Teens for Sex
Develop attitudes and social skills
Who teaches?
Parents
FactsAND decision-making skills
What Ontarios new sex ed curriculum teaches in

grades 1 through 12 (video)

Abstinence ? Or contraceptive
use?
Abstinence: no effect
Contraceptive use: safer sex
 Other Health Issues
Sensation-seeking ( )
Why?
Brain
New sensations!
temperament
peers

autonomy from their

parents
 Other Health Issues
Drug Use
Highest in sensation-seekers
and shy/lonely
parenting matters
Rates have been dropping
but starts young
 Cognitive Changes
Piagets Formal Operations
Can reason logically about abstract ideas!
systematic problem-solving

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning ( -
Can draw logical conclusions about hypothetical situations
not just real ones!
if elephants are bigger than dogs, and dogs are bigger than mice . Then
elephants are bigger than mice.

If mice are bigger than dogs, and dogs are bigger than elephants, then mice are
bigger than elephants.