Psychol
ogy 223
Page 1 of 49
,Table of Contents
CHAPTER 6: Adolescence.......................................................................................................................3
6.1. What is adolescence...................................................................................................................3
Demarcating adolescence..............................................................................................................3
Stormy phase?...............................................................................................................................3
6.2. Physical development.................................................................................................................3
Adolescent growth spurt...............................................................................................................4
Sexual maturation..........................................................................................................................4
The psychological effects of physical changes...............................................................................7
Body image and eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia...............................................................8
Adolescent sexuality......................................................................................................................9
6.3. Cognitive development.............................................................................................................12
Theories of cognitive development.............................................................................................12
Language development................................................................................................................18
Practical cognition........................................................................................................................18
Schooling.....................................................................................................................................23
6.4. Personality development..........................................................................................................24
Theories of personality development..........................................................................................24
Identity development..................................................................................................................26
The self-concept..........................................................................................................................31
Emotions......................................................................................................................................33
Career choice...............................................................................................................................34
6.5. Social development...................................................................................................................39
The parent-adolescent relationship.............................................................................................39
Peer group relationships..............................................................................................................43
Adolescents and cyberspace........................................................................................................48
Moral development.....................................................................................................................48
Page 2 of 49
, CHAPTER 6: Adolescence
6.1. What is adolescence
Adolescence = transition period between childhood and adulthood
o Adolescence can therefore = bridge between being a child and
becoming an adult
Demarcating adolescence
Since age boundaries of adolescence vary = more acceptable to demarcate
adolescent developmental stage
Demarcation according to specific physical and psychological developmental
characteristic and socio-cultural norms than chronological age
Adolescence begins at puberty when body reaches sexual maturation and
ends when person meets societal norms and expectations of being an adult
In SA adolescence legally ends at 18 – parental consent for most things ≠
required
In this book – more traditional psychological perspective that adolescence
spans from approx. 12 to 18 years
Stormy phase?
Adolescence often described as stormy phase because it = characterised
especially by conflict with parents and other authority figures, moodiness and
high-risk behaviour
= several divergent opinions regarding common psychological characteristics
of adolescents
Therefore, adolescents experience biologically based stormy period
Agreed upon viewpoints of adolescence:
More balanced perspective = adolescence is normal developmental period
o It is acknowledged that adolescents biological and psychosocial
functioning undergo major changes to prepare them for adult life
Majority of adolescents don’t experience any significant maladjustment,
undesirable behaviours or continuous emotional turmoil
Some adolescents experience this period as stormy and stressful but are they
are more likely to come from dysfunctional families
Adolescence = weak link in life stages chain if storm and stress occur
Adolescence and associated characteristics = universal phenomenon that
seems to occur in all cultures
6.2. Physical development
Early adolescence = characterised by rapid and extensive physical growth
(growth spurt/accelerated growth)
Period sexual maturation takes place = puberty
Rapid growth and sexual maturation = initiated by secretion of somatotrophin
(growth hormone) and gonadotrophin (sex hormone)
o Somatotrophin causes bodily growth
o Gonadotrophin stimulates gonads (testes in males; ovaries in females)
to secrete male and female sex hormones
Male sex hormone – androgens (testosterone)
Page 3 of 49
, Female sex hormones – estrogens
Androgen and estrogen = responsible for development of primary and
secondary sex characteristics
o Primary sex characteristics refer to sex organs (organs involved in
reproduction)
o Secondary ex characteristics refer to distinguishing male and female
characteristics (e.g., beard/breasts)
Below is a representation of development of primary and secondary sex characteristics
Pituitary gland secretes
Growth of hormones that Growth of
underarm hair stimulate the following: underarm hair
and beard
Adrenal Adrenal
Development glands glands Enlargement
of breasts of larynx
Enlargement Ovaries Testes
Growth of
of uterus pubic hair
Commencement
of menstruation Enlargement
Release of of penis
hormones
Growth of
that Commencement
pubic hair
stimulate of ejaculation
following:
Adolescent growth spurt
Growth spurt of girls begins at about 10-13 years and ends at 16 years or
later
Growth spurt of boys begins at 12-15 years and ends at 18 years or later
Although girls growth spurt begins earlier boys grow more rapidly
All parts of the body grow rapidly – the tempo of growth = different
(asynchrony)
When growth tempo of skeleton starts decreasing, body’s mass and muscle
development begins to increase
In girls = body contours become more rounded (widening of hips)
In boys = body becomes more angular (broadening of shoulders)
Individual differences = taken into account
Sexual maturation
Sexual maturation/puberty = one of most dramatic events in human
development
Secular trend occurs
o Secular trend = puberty beginning increasingly at earlier age that
people reaching their adult height earlier (16 – 18) are becoming taller
than before
Secular trend can be attributed to healthier diets, better medical care,
improved hygiene and fewer childhood diseases because of immunisation
Page 4 of 49
ogy 223
Page 1 of 49
,Table of Contents
CHAPTER 6: Adolescence.......................................................................................................................3
6.1. What is adolescence...................................................................................................................3
Demarcating adolescence..............................................................................................................3
Stormy phase?...............................................................................................................................3
6.2. Physical development.................................................................................................................3
Adolescent growth spurt...............................................................................................................4
Sexual maturation..........................................................................................................................4
The psychological effects of physical changes...............................................................................7
Body image and eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia...............................................................8
Adolescent sexuality......................................................................................................................9
6.3. Cognitive development.............................................................................................................12
Theories of cognitive development.............................................................................................12
Language development................................................................................................................18
Practical cognition........................................................................................................................18
Schooling.....................................................................................................................................23
6.4. Personality development..........................................................................................................24
Theories of personality development..........................................................................................24
Identity development..................................................................................................................26
The self-concept..........................................................................................................................31
Emotions......................................................................................................................................33
Career choice...............................................................................................................................34
6.5. Social development...................................................................................................................39
The parent-adolescent relationship.............................................................................................39
Peer group relationships..............................................................................................................43
Adolescents and cyberspace........................................................................................................48
Moral development.....................................................................................................................48
Page 2 of 49
, CHAPTER 6: Adolescence
6.1. What is adolescence
Adolescence = transition period between childhood and adulthood
o Adolescence can therefore = bridge between being a child and
becoming an adult
Demarcating adolescence
Since age boundaries of adolescence vary = more acceptable to demarcate
adolescent developmental stage
Demarcation according to specific physical and psychological developmental
characteristic and socio-cultural norms than chronological age
Adolescence begins at puberty when body reaches sexual maturation and
ends when person meets societal norms and expectations of being an adult
In SA adolescence legally ends at 18 – parental consent for most things ≠
required
In this book – more traditional psychological perspective that adolescence
spans from approx. 12 to 18 years
Stormy phase?
Adolescence often described as stormy phase because it = characterised
especially by conflict with parents and other authority figures, moodiness and
high-risk behaviour
= several divergent opinions regarding common psychological characteristics
of adolescents
Therefore, adolescents experience biologically based stormy period
Agreed upon viewpoints of adolescence:
More balanced perspective = adolescence is normal developmental period
o It is acknowledged that adolescents biological and psychosocial
functioning undergo major changes to prepare them for adult life
Majority of adolescents don’t experience any significant maladjustment,
undesirable behaviours or continuous emotional turmoil
Some adolescents experience this period as stormy and stressful but are they
are more likely to come from dysfunctional families
Adolescence = weak link in life stages chain if storm and stress occur
Adolescence and associated characteristics = universal phenomenon that
seems to occur in all cultures
6.2. Physical development
Early adolescence = characterised by rapid and extensive physical growth
(growth spurt/accelerated growth)
Period sexual maturation takes place = puberty
Rapid growth and sexual maturation = initiated by secretion of somatotrophin
(growth hormone) and gonadotrophin (sex hormone)
o Somatotrophin causes bodily growth
o Gonadotrophin stimulates gonads (testes in males; ovaries in females)
to secrete male and female sex hormones
Male sex hormone – androgens (testosterone)
Page 3 of 49
, Female sex hormones – estrogens
Androgen and estrogen = responsible for development of primary and
secondary sex characteristics
o Primary sex characteristics refer to sex organs (organs involved in
reproduction)
o Secondary ex characteristics refer to distinguishing male and female
characteristics (e.g., beard/breasts)
Below is a representation of development of primary and secondary sex characteristics
Pituitary gland secretes
Growth of hormones that Growth of
underarm hair stimulate the following: underarm hair
and beard
Adrenal Adrenal
Development glands glands Enlargement
of breasts of larynx
Enlargement Ovaries Testes
Growth of
of uterus pubic hair
Commencement
of menstruation Enlargement
Release of of penis
hormones
Growth of
that Commencement
pubic hair
stimulate of ejaculation
following:
Adolescent growth spurt
Growth spurt of girls begins at about 10-13 years and ends at 16 years or
later
Growth spurt of boys begins at 12-15 years and ends at 18 years or later
Although girls growth spurt begins earlier boys grow more rapidly
All parts of the body grow rapidly – the tempo of growth = different
(asynchrony)
When growth tempo of skeleton starts decreasing, body’s mass and muscle
development begins to increase
In girls = body contours become more rounded (widening of hips)
In boys = body becomes more angular (broadening of shoulders)
Individual differences = taken into account
Sexual maturation
Sexual maturation/puberty = one of most dramatic events in human
development
Secular trend occurs
o Secular trend = puberty beginning increasingly at earlier age that
people reaching their adult height earlier (16 – 18) are becoming taller
than before
Secular trend can be attributed to healthier diets, better medical care,
improved hygiene and fewer childhood diseases because of immunisation
Page 4 of 49
