PSY 213 1st Edition Lecture 19 Outline of Last Lecture I Peers II Schools Outline of Current Lecture I Physical Changes II Adolescent Sexuality Current Lecture I Physical Changes Puberty Period of rapid physical maturation occurring primarily in early adolescence that involves hormonal and bodily changes a Sexual maturation height and weight about age 9 growth spurts with girls And age 11 for boys b 3 5 inches a year girls 4 inches boys i Marked weight and height gains ii Facial and chest hair growth in males iii Pubic hair growth iv Breast growth in females v Menarche Girl s first menstruation vi Spirmarche first ejaculation 1 Overall girls get more support and info about puberty rather than boys These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Both boys and girls produce male and female hormones Puberty Hormonal changes Hormones Chemicals secreted by the endocrine glands and carried throughout the body by the bloodstream Endocrine system s role in puberty involves interaction Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Gonads Increases in testosterone and estradiol Girls who are overweight and obese are more likely to start period sooner Average age of puberty has declined significantly especially in girls Boys malnutrition will delay puberty Puberty Timing and variations in puberty Average age of menarche has declined significantly since mid 19th century Improved nutrition and health Pubertal sequence begins Boys 10 13 5 Girls 9 15 Body image Preoccupation with body image is strong throughout adolescence Girls are less happy with their bodies and have more negative body images Early and late maturation Boys Early maturing boys view themselves more positively and have more successful peer relations Late by the time they re in their 30 s they report stronger sense of identity Girls Early maturing girls show greater satisfaction early but less satisfaction later at risk They think they re adults more likely to smoke hangout with older peers drink alcohol mire likely to have eating disorder in conflict with parents struggling with independence The brain Corpus callosum The location where fibers connect the brain s left and right hemispheres This thickens up during puberty adolescence More efficient Speed of processing ability to think Prefrontal cortex The highest level of the frontal lobes involved in reasoning decision making and self control Undergoing quite a bit of change during adolescence Amygdala The region of the brain that is the seat of emotions Emotions override reason This part of brain undergoing a lot of change Gay males and lesbians struggle with same sex attractions Risk factors in adolescent sexual behavior Kids having sex at early age are more likely to engage in Drug use delinquency and school related problems Adolescent sexuality Developing a sexual identity sense of who you are what are you interested in Learning to manage sexual feelings Developing new forms of intimacy Learning skills to regulate sexual behavior Sexual identity includes Activities Interests Styles of behavior Indication of sexual orientation II Adolescent Sexuality Contraceptive use i Two kinds of risks 1 Unintended unwanted pregnancy 2 Sexually transmitted infections ii Adolescents are increasing their use of contraceptives Sexually transmitted infections STIs Contracted primarily through sexual contact iii Including oral genital and anal genital contact Adolescent pregnancy USA highest amount in the world Outcomes iv Low birth weight neurological problems childhood illness Child more likely to have this with adolescent pregnancy v Mothers drop out of school and never catch up economically Reducing adolescent pregnancy