1
Chapter 6
Adolescence
What is adolescence
Transition period between childhood and adulthood
Developmental bridge between being a child and becoming an adult.
Demarcating adolescence
Globalisation = most countries now acknowledge adolescence
Begins = 11-13 years
Ends = 17 and 21 years
» Depends on biological and socio-cultural factors.
Because of varied ages rather be defined by:
» Psychological characteristics
o Begins at puberty – sexual maturation
o Ends – meets the society norms and expectations of adulthood
Independence
Self-reliance
Fulfilment of adult roles = following a career
In SA: adolescence legally ends at 18 years.
» No longer need parental consent
» Liable for any signed contracts
o Contracts can be ambiguous = not a good indication of end of adolescence
A stormy phase
Most common psychological characteristic
» conflict with parents / authority figures
» Moodiness
» High risk behaviour
o Experience a stormy period = biologically based
Most psychologist agree that:
» Extreme views – replaced with more balanced perspective
o Adolescence is a normal period of development
o Adolescent’s biological/ psychosocial unction undergoes major changes in
preparation for adult life
» Majority Don’t experience significant maladjustment & undesirable behaviours
» Some experience it as stormy and stressful- more likely from disorganised backgrounds
» Adolescence is the weak link’ in life cycle
» Negative behaviours aren’t as serious as it seems
» Adolescence = universal phenomenon
o Occurs in all cultures
o Tend to be lower in traditional cultures
Adolescent is expected to conform
, 2
Family / peer / community help keep them on the right path
6.2) Physical development
Early adolescence is characterised by rapid and extensive physical growth
» Initiated by the secretion of somatotrophin (growth hormone)
o Causes bodily growth
And the development of sexual maturity (puberty)
» Initiated by gonadotrophin (sex hormone).
o Stimulates the gonads
Males – testes
Hormones = androgens of which testosterone and androsterone
Small quantities of estrogen also secreted by males
Females = ovaries
estrogens of which estrione, estriol and estradiole are the most
important
o Androgen and oestrogen are responsible for the development of primary and
secondary sexual characteristics.
Primary = sex organs (organs involved with reproduction).
Secondary = distinguished male and female characteristics such as beard or
breasts.
6.2.1) Adolescent growth spurt (rapid physical growth)
Girls begin = 10 and 11. End = 16 or later
» Reach adult height in late adolescents
Boys begin = 12 and 15 End = 18 or later
» Grow more rapidly than girls
» Reach adult height in early 20’s
Asynchrony: the disproportionate growth tempo of the different body parts
» Causes adolescents to look awkward and uncoordinated
o First to grow = arms/ legs/ hands/ feet
o Then the torso lengthens
When tempo of skeleton decrease – body mass and muscle begin to increase
» Girls = body becomes more rounded (widening of hips)
» Boys = become more angular (broadening of shoulders)
Uniqueness of each individual – to be considered
» Complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors
6.2.2) Sexual maturation
Known as puberty
Secular trend
» When puberty begins at an increasingly earlier age = people are reaching their adult height
earlier (16-18yrs)
» Becoming taller than previously.
o attributed to healthier diet, better medical care, improved hygiene and fewer
childhood diseases.
, 3
In girls
Puberty begins 2 years earlier than boys
Puberty starts when the sex organs, (ovaries, vagina, labia and clitoris) begin to enlarge.
Secondary characteristics also develop
» breast buds
» hair on legs, armpits and pubic areas
» accumulation of body fat
» possibly deepening or lowering of voice.
» Hips start to broaden
» Texture of skin changes
Menarche: first menstruation.
» Appears late in sexual maturation
» 2 years after start of breast development / growth spurt slowed down
Nutrition, stress and physical exercise may influence the onset of puberty.
» Extreme physical exercise = later menstruation
» Strong correlation between stress and menstrual problems ‘
» High socio-economic groups menstruate 11 months earlier than low socio-economic groups
Most girls start ovulating a year after the menarche
Traditional / rural societies = rituals / initiations mark adulthood
» Female circumcision / female genital mutilation = 3 major types
o CLITORIDOTOMY
Comparable to male circumcision
Splitting or removal of the clitoral hood
A fold of skin protection the clitoris
Increases sexual pleasure
o CLITORIDECTOMY
Partial/total removal of the clitoris
o INFIBULATION
Partial/total removal of all external genitals
Clitoris
Labia minora
Labia majora
Stitching together of the vaginal opening
Leaving small hole for urine and menstruation
Prevents sex before marriage
Only the husband can remove stitching
» Performed by midwife
» No anaesthetics
» Instruments used = knives/ razor blades/ glass
» Immediate complications
o Excessive pain
o Shock
o Infections
o Urinating problems
o Bleeding
o Death
» Long term problems
, 4
o Chronic pain
o Childbirth complications
o Anxiety
o Frigidity
» Reasons
o Religious
o Cultural
o Medical
o Moral arguments
o Believe it enhances fertility (may cause infertility)
o Clit contains poison
Harm the man during intercourse
Kill the baby during birth
o Clitoris kind of looks like penis – removing it confirms femininity
o Or it can grow into the size of penis
» Many organisations speaking out against Female circumcision
o At any age is illegal
o Punishable by imprisonment from 3 months of life
» Difficult to illegalise traditional customs
o Uncircumcised have a difficulty finding a husband
Regarded as unclean
Not allowed to touch food
o Traditional leaders = regard it as an interference in cultural traditions / customs
In boys
Puberty begins when primary characteristics start to develop
» Testes and scrotum start to enlarge
» After about two years the penis begins to enlarge.
Secondary sexual characteristics include
» Pubic hair
» Deepening or lowering of voice
o Enlargement of larynx
o Lengthening / thickening of vocal cords
» Beard growth
Spermarche: first seminal emission (discharge of semen).
» 13-15 years
» Age differences attributed to nutrition and health
Traditional societies
» Male circumcision:
o Removal of foreskin of penis
Performed as religious practices / health reasons = baby boys
Initiation process in preparation for adulthood = adolescent boys
» Ritual commonalities
o Ritual sacrifice
o Seclusion
Chapter 6
Adolescence
What is adolescence
Transition period between childhood and adulthood
Developmental bridge between being a child and becoming an adult.
Demarcating adolescence
Globalisation = most countries now acknowledge adolescence
Begins = 11-13 years
Ends = 17 and 21 years
» Depends on biological and socio-cultural factors.
Because of varied ages rather be defined by:
» Psychological characteristics
o Begins at puberty – sexual maturation
o Ends – meets the society norms and expectations of adulthood
Independence
Self-reliance
Fulfilment of adult roles = following a career
In SA: adolescence legally ends at 18 years.
» No longer need parental consent
» Liable for any signed contracts
o Contracts can be ambiguous = not a good indication of end of adolescence
A stormy phase
Most common psychological characteristic
» conflict with parents / authority figures
» Moodiness
» High risk behaviour
o Experience a stormy period = biologically based
Most psychologist agree that:
» Extreme views – replaced with more balanced perspective
o Adolescence is a normal period of development
o Adolescent’s biological/ psychosocial unction undergoes major changes in
preparation for adult life
» Majority Don’t experience significant maladjustment & undesirable behaviours
» Some experience it as stormy and stressful- more likely from disorganised backgrounds
» Adolescence is the weak link’ in life cycle
» Negative behaviours aren’t as serious as it seems
» Adolescence = universal phenomenon
o Occurs in all cultures
o Tend to be lower in traditional cultures
Adolescent is expected to conform
, 2
Family / peer / community help keep them on the right path
6.2) Physical development
Early adolescence is characterised by rapid and extensive physical growth
» Initiated by the secretion of somatotrophin (growth hormone)
o Causes bodily growth
And the development of sexual maturity (puberty)
» Initiated by gonadotrophin (sex hormone).
o Stimulates the gonads
Males – testes
Hormones = androgens of which testosterone and androsterone
Small quantities of estrogen also secreted by males
Females = ovaries
estrogens of which estrione, estriol and estradiole are the most
important
o Androgen and oestrogen are responsible for the development of primary and
secondary sexual characteristics.
Primary = sex organs (organs involved with reproduction).
Secondary = distinguished male and female characteristics such as beard or
breasts.
6.2.1) Adolescent growth spurt (rapid physical growth)
Girls begin = 10 and 11. End = 16 or later
» Reach adult height in late adolescents
Boys begin = 12 and 15 End = 18 or later
» Grow more rapidly than girls
» Reach adult height in early 20’s
Asynchrony: the disproportionate growth tempo of the different body parts
» Causes adolescents to look awkward and uncoordinated
o First to grow = arms/ legs/ hands/ feet
o Then the torso lengthens
When tempo of skeleton decrease – body mass and muscle begin to increase
» Girls = body becomes more rounded (widening of hips)
» Boys = become more angular (broadening of shoulders)
Uniqueness of each individual – to be considered
» Complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors
6.2.2) Sexual maturation
Known as puberty
Secular trend
» When puberty begins at an increasingly earlier age = people are reaching their adult height
earlier (16-18yrs)
» Becoming taller than previously.
o attributed to healthier diet, better medical care, improved hygiene and fewer
childhood diseases.
, 3
In girls
Puberty begins 2 years earlier than boys
Puberty starts when the sex organs, (ovaries, vagina, labia and clitoris) begin to enlarge.
Secondary characteristics also develop
» breast buds
» hair on legs, armpits and pubic areas
» accumulation of body fat
» possibly deepening or lowering of voice.
» Hips start to broaden
» Texture of skin changes
Menarche: first menstruation.
» Appears late in sexual maturation
» 2 years after start of breast development / growth spurt slowed down
Nutrition, stress and physical exercise may influence the onset of puberty.
» Extreme physical exercise = later menstruation
» Strong correlation between stress and menstrual problems ‘
» High socio-economic groups menstruate 11 months earlier than low socio-economic groups
Most girls start ovulating a year after the menarche
Traditional / rural societies = rituals / initiations mark adulthood
» Female circumcision / female genital mutilation = 3 major types
o CLITORIDOTOMY
Comparable to male circumcision
Splitting or removal of the clitoral hood
A fold of skin protection the clitoris
Increases sexual pleasure
o CLITORIDECTOMY
Partial/total removal of the clitoris
o INFIBULATION
Partial/total removal of all external genitals
Clitoris
Labia minora
Labia majora
Stitching together of the vaginal opening
Leaving small hole for urine and menstruation
Prevents sex before marriage
Only the husband can remove stitching
» Performed by midwife
» No anaesthetics
» Instruments used = knives/ razor blades/ glass
» Immediate complications
o Excessive pain
o Shock
o Infections
o Urinating problems
o Bleeding
o Death
» Long term problems
, 4
o Chronic pain
o Childbirth complications
o Anxiety
o Frigidity
» Reasons
o Religious
o Cultural
o Medical
o Moral arguments
o Believe it enhances fertility (may cause infertility)
o Clit contains poison
Harm the man during intercourse
Kill the baby during birth
o Clitoris kind of looks like penis – removing it confirms femininity
o Or it can grow into the size of penis
» Many organisations speaking out against Female circumcision
o At any age is illegal
o Punishable by imprisonment from 3 months of life
» Difficult to illegalise traditional customs
o Uncircumcised have a difficulty finding a husband
Regarded as unclean
Not allowed to touch food
o Traditional leaders = regard it as an interference in cultural traditions / customs
In boys
Puberty begins when primary characteristics start to develop
» Testes and scrotum start to enlarge
» After about two years the penis begins to enlarge.
Secondary sexual characteristics include
» Pubic hair
» Deepening or lowering of voice
o Enlargement of larynx
o Lengthening / thickening of vocal cords
» Beard growth
Spermarche: first seminal emission (discharge of semen).
» 13-15 years
» Age differences attributed to nutrition and health
Traditional societies
» Male circumcision:
o Removal of foreskin of penis
Performed as religious practices / health reasons = baby boys
Initiation process in preparation for adulthood = adolescent boys
» Ritual commonalities
o Ritual sacrifice
o Seclusion
