Assignment 1: Puberty

Puberty refers to the period of rapid physical growth and sexual maturation that occurs for a few years following childhood. This process typically begins at the age of 8 and ends at the age of 14 and is characterized by an onrush of hormones that produce external growth and internal changes. Although many similarities exist in how boys and girls experience puberty, timings differ.

Adolescents are highly influenced by their peers. As Erikson famously acknowledged, many young people in this stage experience an identity crisis often asking, "Who am I?"

Tasks:

In a minimum of 200 words, post your responses to the following:

• Describe the impact of pubertal timing on adolescent adjustment. Please note gender differences.
• Discuss your thoughts on primary and secondary sex characteristics that indicate sexual maturity.
• Describe positive and negative ways in which teens influence each other, as peers become much more important during this stage.

Support your responses and analysis by using at least two resources from professional literature. Professional literature may include the Argosy University online library resources; relevant textbooks; peer-reviewed journal articles; and websites created by professional organizations, agencies, or institutions (websites ending in .edu or .gov).