Other species are born, grow rapidly to maturity, and are sexually mature adultsHumans and primates have quick growth then delay until puberty, have long adolescence then adulthood Gives opportunity to build physical strength□ Intellectual maturing□ Learn social skills/child rearing□ Acquire resources□Must be (possibility) evolutionary advantage to delayed sexual maturity:Delayed maturity:○Adolescence starts at puberty, when does it end? (18-25?)•Parenting: Delayed maturity, bigger bodies, longer lifespans, lower fertility, bigger brains, more complex social structures, parentingMating: faster maturity, smaller bodies, shorter lifespans, higher fertility, smaller brains, less complex social structures, no parenting Each species has it's own strategy for reproduction: mating or parentin□ We can grade all species on continuumPrey species or species in unstable environments have better chances of continuation of species with mating strategy□Predators or non-prey species in stable environment with opportunity for stable social structures□Environmental stabilityTradeoff btw having as many offspring as possible, or investing in parenting with fewer children to increase likelihood of survival to adulthood○Life history theory•Prior to puberty, sexes are relatively equal in size, then males are 17-20% bigger than femalesSexual dimorphism: most mammal species have one sex that is larger than the other○Genetic□Critical Fat hypothesis: body doesn't reach puberty until a critical level of fat has been reachedNutrition (malnutrition delays puberty)□Life history theory: serves cue to stable or unstable environment, and initiate mating effort (Life as a spectrum from parent al patterns to mating patterns)Increase in stress hormone cortisol→quickens onset of pubertyLack of male figure incites need for new male in household - sexual interestPossible reasons:◊Especially for girls (but also for boys): Children with a father absent reach sexual maturity fasterFamily constellation (family situation)□Individual differences in puberal timing due to:Could indicate that the brain is becoming more efficient□Increase in white matter volume in adolescence→increase in mylenization (myelin sheath for axon)Synaptic pruning: less active synapses are eliminated□Decrease in gray matter volumeBelieved to be the last part of the brain undergoing development□Cognitive skills: Planning, attention, response inhibition, organizingExecutive functioning:□Occurs in the pre-frontal cortexSexual bimaturation:○Puberty•Girls begin puberty sooner, boys' puberty lasts longer○Reproductively capable1.Become more attractive to opposite sex2.These should explain every change during puberty1)Enable us to complete with same-sex peers3.Changes During Puberty:○Testosterone production increasesIncrease in muscle massBrow ridge becomes pronouncedLower jaw becomes thicker/more prominentSecondary sex characteristics develop: pubertal hair, etcBoys: changes during puberty○Menarche: beginnings of menstrual cycleDevelopment of breasts as secondary sex characteristicLarger orbital holes (eye sockets)Girls:○Sensation seeking (showing off/risk-seeking): (possibly boys engage in more frequently because boys need to be chosen for mating)Increased cognitive capacity: reasoning, problem-solving, logical thinking skillsSelf-awareness: Greater knowledge about strengths/weaknesses, etc.Ego-centricity persists from childhoodBoth boys and girls:○Pituitary gland: controls metabolic hormones that initiate puberty/change•Large conflict in adolescence: Identity vs. Identity ConfusionIf you exit adolescence without an established sense of identity, it leads to confusion and troubled adulthood□Unstable identity is not a (healthy) sense of identity□Identity will give you a path in life□Healthy to exit adolescence with a solid sense of identityMajor conflicts throughout life○Erik Erikson (Developmental psychologist)•Pubertal timing•Early pubertyLate pubertyMale: positive and negativeMale: negativeFemale: positive and negativeFemale: (extra) negativeAdolescent Development: 4/23/14Wednesday, April 23, 20144:58 PM Psychology Page 1Female: positive and negativeFemale: (extra) negativeAssociated with social benefitsDelinquent behaviorAcademic problemsEarly sexual behaviorLack of interest from opposite sexSubject to bullyingChildish interests/mental immaturity Psychology Page
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