Define Puberty - - Process that leads to sexual maturity or fertility
What are puberty's causes, timing, and effects? - - - rising levels of leptin -
adrenarche: maturation of adrenal glands - a decrease in average of pubertal onset
(happening at a younger age) - early maturation is a disadvantage for girls - problem
behaviors
What changes are occurring in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex? - - - the seat of
emotions such as anger - this area develops quickly before other regions that help to
control it. - this "judgement" region reins in intense emotions but doesn't finish developing
until 18-25 years.
How much exercise is best? - - 60 minutes a day of moderate/vigorous exercise
What changes are occurring in the natural sleep cycles for teens? - - average sleep
declines to less than 8 hours at age 16. most adolescents don't get enough sleep
What changes occur in how teens use their free time? - - they might start using drugs
What are the main eating disorders? - - anorexia and bulimia
What are the symptoms and treatments for anorexia and bulimia? - - - gain weight -
hospitalization if person is severely malnourished - behavior therapy - cognitive therapy
What is the most commonly used drug in teen years? - - marijuana
What is the average age for initiating sexual activity? - - females: 17 years
, WVU Psych 241: Exam 4 with Verified AnSwers
males: 16 years
What factors are related to delaying sex? - - -religion or morals - possibility of
unwanted pregnancy
What type of Sex Ed tends to be most effective? - - programs that encourage
abstinence and discuss STD prevention and safe-sex practices - delays initiation and
increase contraception use.
How common are STI's? - - every year more than 3 million American adolescents
acquire an STI
What are common traits of teen parents? - - - sexually inexperienced - many grew up
w/o a father - likely as kids to have been abused - exposed to divorce - exposed to
substance abuse
What are some common risks to the mother? - - - dropping out of school or being
poorly educated - financial hardship - repeated early pregnancies
What risks are associated with being born to teen parents? - - - prematurity and low
birthweight - fetal, neonatal, or infant death - health and academic problems - abuse and
neglect - developmental disabilities
What new abilities are part of formal operational thinking? - - conjure up make-
believe situations, abstract propositions and events that's purely hypothetical and can try
to reason logically about them.