PYC4805 Exam summaries - Summary Child Development.

CHAPTER 2: THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADOLESCENT:  Teenage years = the years of the storm and stress  Puberty is not a single process, but encompasses a suit of developmental changes.  Puberty or adolescence is marked by a growth spurt and a range of pubertal changes. (internal or external changes).  External bodily changes: for example, increase in height and mass, as well as changes in bodily proportions  Internal bodily changes: for example, subtle changes in adolescents’ nutritional needs and digestive processes, their motor capabilities and skills, and their strength and endurance.  A complex interaction of hormones release by the pituitary and sex glands = drastic and rapid physical changes of the body.  These factors often cause problems and stress for the adolescent:  Adolescents are acutely aware of their body and worry whether theirs will develop naturally and acceptably.  Irregular growth (asynchronism) causes awkwardness, and they frequently seem uncoordinated.  1 st menarche can be traumatic for an unprepared girl.  Nightly semen emissions can cause shame, humiliation, uneasiness and guilt for a boy.  Both genders are upset by acne (due to sensitivity about appearance)  Obesity can also damage an adolescents’ self-image, and can cause negative psychological factors.  To develop a sense of identity Adolescents must : - Accept the changes in their body - Integrate the changes into their self-image and - Retain a sense of community (they should feel that they are still the same person) lOMoARcPSD|  The way in which adolescents perceive their body may therefore have important psychological consequences and may construct or improve the forming of the self-concept.  The self-concept is influenced by the following:  What adolescent feel other think of them:  The impression they make on their peer group: they conform to the social behaviour of the group, and at times, also to their norms for physical appearance and accomplishments. lOMoARcPSD| THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PHYSICAL GROWTH OF THE ADOLESCENT:  = Characterised by various changes in the child that lead to reproductive maturity.  Pituitary gland plays a major role in these changes.  Physical change starts when the hypothalamus section in the brain activates the pituitary gland to secrete growth and sexual hormones.  Hormonal changes trigger a rapid increase in height and mass, as well as changes in the body’s proportions.  Accelerated growth during adolescence:  = typical of the pubescent period.  During this period, various changes that take place lead to reproductive maturity.  Pituitary gland plays an important role in the commencement of pubescence.  Pubescence gradually gives way to puberty.  Puberty= seen as point at which reproductive maturity is reached.  Physical changes take place as follows:  Hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete growth and sex hormones (somatotropin and gonadotropin)  These activating hormones activate most of the other endocrine glands  Endocrine glands in turn release their respective hormones into the adolescents system. Hormones include sex hormones : testosterone and oestrogen.  Hormones stimulate the forming of sperm cells and ova (eggs) respectively and are responsible for the development of the secondary sexual characteristics in boys and girls  Activating hormones of pituitary gland also cooperate with other hormones, such as thyroxin and cortisol, to promote the forming of bone and muscle. lOMoARcPSD|  Hormonal changes = rapid increase in body length and mass, while the proportions of the adolescent’s body begins to change. ( = Growth spurt)  Girls: 9 ½ and 14 ½ (generally 10)  Boys: 10 ½ and 16 (generally 12 or 13)  Last approximately 2 years, and soon after it ends, the adolescent reaches sexual maturity.  Girls reach their mature body length approximately 2 years before boys.  Girls are heavier & stronger than boys between ages 11 – 13 but boys catch up due to a more intense growth spurt and are generally taller.  Boys reach their mature height at approximate 21 and girls at 17.  All skeletal and muscular proportions are affected but in different degrees which causes clumsiness and poor coordination, but this is restored after the growth spurt.  Growth rate is influenced by genetic, endocrine, emotional and environmental factors but varies for each person.  Primary and secondary sexual characteristics:  Secondary sexual characteristics emphasise the differences between adults and children and also emphasise the difference in outward appearance between women and men.  Primary sexual characteristics = the organs necessary for reproduction  Secondary sexual characteristics = physiological signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve sex organs.  Secondary characteristics emphasize differences between adults and children and also the outward appearance between men and woman. Eg. Facial hair, breasts, voice etc.  There is about a 7 year range for the onset of puberty of girls and about 8 years for boys. Average age for puberty is 12 for girls and 13 / 14 for boys. The process takes about 4 years. GIRLS BOYS Growth spurt (10 – 11) Growth spurt (12-13) Breast development (10-11) Testes and scrotum (11-12) Pubic hair (10-11), underarm and body hair (12- 13) Penis (12-13) - Starts to lengthen before it thickens Vaginal discharge (10-13) Ejaculation (13-14) Production of underarm sweat Pubic hair (11-12), underarm and body hair (13- 15), facial hair (13-15) Menarche (11-14) Development of underarms and sweat glands (13-15) Deepening of voice (14-15)