Short Essay

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Module 18

Adolescence

& Adulthood

Psychology 1: General Psychology

J. Marie Hicks, Ph.D. Adjunct Psychology Instructor [email protected]

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INTRODUCTION

Adolescence

Developmental period, lasting from about ages 12 to 18, during which many biological, cognitive, social, and personality traits change from child-like to adult-like

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PUBERTY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Puberty

Developmental period between the ages of 9 and 17

Individual experiences significant biological changes

Results in developing secondary sexual characteristics

Sexual maturity

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PUBERTY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (CONT’D)

Girls during puberty

Puberty sets off physical growth

Puberty triggers a physiological process: female sexual maturity

Menarche: estrogen levels increase eightfold and the first menstrual period occurs

Menarche triggered by

Hypothalamus

Pituitary gland

Girls during puberty

Estrogen

Female secondary sexual characteristics

Girls during puberty

Puberty sets off physical growth

starts 9.6 years

begins 6 to 12 months before breast development

Puberty triggers a physiological process: female sexual maturity

Menarche

first menstrual period

estrogen levels increase eightfold

stimulates the development of both primary and secondary sexual characteristics

Menarche triggered by

Hypothalamus

releases hormone called kisspeptin (stimulates pituitary gland)

Pituitary gland

produces hormones that travel through the bloodstream and stimulate the ovaries to greatly increase production of female hormones

Girls during puberty

Estrogen

one of the major female hormones

stimulates both primary and secondary sexual characteristics

Female secondary sexual characteristics

triggered by increase of estrogen secretion

includes growth of pubic hair, development of breasts, and widening of hips

begins about 10.5 years, continues for about 4 to 5 years

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PUBERTY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (CONT’D)

Boys during puberty

Increase in physical growth (height) age 13 to 14

Male sexual maturity, includes growth of genital organs

First ejaculation and sperm production

Testosterone

Male secondary characteristics

Boys during puberty

Increase in physical growth (height) age 13 to 14

Male sexual maturity, includes growth of genital organs

begins around age 11 and continues for approximately three years

sperm production begins around age 12 to 14

Testosterone

major male hormone

stimulates growth of genital organs

development of secondary sexual characteristics

Male secondary characteristics

triggered by increased secretion of testosterone; includes growth of pubic hair, facial hair, development of muscles, and a change (deepening) in voice

occurs between 12 and 16

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ADOLESCENTS: SEXUALLY MATURE

BioPsychoSocial approach

Adolescent development as a process that occurs simultaneously on many levels

Includes

hormonal

neural

sexual cognitive

social

cultural

personality changes

interact and influence each other

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COGNITIVE & EMOTIONAL CHANGES

How a person perceives, thinks of, and understands his or her world through the interaction and influence of genetic and learned factors

Piaget’s cognitive stages: continued

Stage 4: formal operations

Brain development: reason and emotion

Prefrontal cortex: executive functions

Lack of cortex development can lead to

risk-taking behaviors

Vulnerability

Limbic system: emotional behaviors

display a wide range of emotion

increased structure and function of the limbic system accounts for irritability and aggression

Definition

How a person perceives, thinks of, and understands his or her world through the interaction and influence of genetic and learned factors

Piaget’s cognitive stages: continued

Stage 4: formal operations

last of Piaget’s four cognitive stages; extends from about age 12 through adulthood

adolescents and adults develop the ability to think about abstract or hypothetical concepts

consider an issue from another’s viewpoint and solve cognitive problems in a logical way

Brain development: reason and emotion

Prefrontal cortex: executive functions

located near the front of the brain

Vulnerability

around age 11 and continuing into young adulthood, the brain rewires and reorganizes

especially vulnerable to traumatic adolescent experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, bullying, feeling lonely, rejected, or depressed, and abusing drugs

Brain development: reason and emotion

Prefrontal cortex: executive functions

risk-taking behavior

explains why the adolescent’s brain (not being fully developed) allows for risky or irresponsible behavior

feels invulnerable and has no fear of accidents

Brain development: reason and emotion

Limbic system: emotional behaviors

teenagers have less control over their emotional and impulsive behaviors

moody, emotional, and impulsive behaviors

display a wide range of emotion

being ecstatic over getting a date

feeling depressed when failing a test

getting angry when being insulted

increased structure and function of the limbic system accounts for irritability and aggression

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COGNITIVE & EMOTIONAL CHANGES (CONT’D)

Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning

Three levels of moral reasoning

Self-interest: preconventional level

lowest level of moral reasoning - Stage 1 & stage 2

Social approval: conventional level

represents an intermediate level of moral reasoning – Stage 3 & Stage 4

Abstract ideas: postconventional level

Highest levels of moral reasoning - Stage 5 & Stage 6

Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning

Three levels of moral reasoning

Self-interest: preconventional level

lowest level of moral reasoning

stage 1, moral decisions are based primarily on fear of punishment or the need to be obedient

stage 2, moral reasoning is guided most by satisfying one’s self-interest

may involve bargaining

Social approval: conventional level

represents an intermediate level of moral reasoning

stage 3, moral decisions are guided most by conforming to the standards of people we value

stage 4, moral reasoning is determined most by conforming to laws and society

Abstract ideas: postconventional level

stage 5, moral decisions are made after carefully thinking about all the alternatives and striking a balance between human rights and laws of society

stage 6, has been omitted because few people have reached it

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COGNITIVE & EMOTIONAL CHANGES (CONT’D)

Parenting styles and effects

Different styles of parenting

Authoritarian parents

Authoritative parents

Permissive parents

High Control / Firm Low Control / Lax
Involved / Responsive / Warm Authoritative Permissive
Uninvolved / Unresponsive / Cold Authoritarian Neglectful

Parenting styles and effects

Different styles of parenting

Authoritarian parents

attempt to shape, control, and evaluate the behavior and attitudes of their children in accordance with a set standard of conduct,

absolute standard that comes from religious or respected authorities

Authoritative parents

attempt to direct their children’s activities in a rational and intelligent way

supportive, loving, committed, encourage verbal give and take, and discuss their rules and policies with their children.

Permissive parents

less controlling and behave with a non-punishing and accepting attitude toward their children’s impulses, desires, and actions, do not teach self control. They consult with their children about policy decisions (the children have a largely equal voice), make few demands, and tend to attempt to use reason rather than direct power.

Neglectful parents

Uninvolved and lax, low control – they let the children do as they please with little attempt to supervise, create boundaries, show caring or concern, or regulate their children’s behavior. The children tend to feel unwanted, like do what cares what they do or how they are. The parents may rebound with occasional bursts of unreasonably strict control or harsh discipline, but otherwise the children are largely ignored, and the parents do not wish to be bothered with knowing what is going on with their children.

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COGNITIVE & EMOTIONAL CHANGES (CONT’D)

Beyond adolescence

Changes in cognitive speed

20 to 40

40 to 80

late 50s +

Changes in memory

40s +

Beyond adolescence

Changes in cognitive speed

20 to 40, cognitive skills remain relatively stable

40 to 80, general slowing of some cognitive processes

late 50s, slowing in processing speed, perceptual speed, and reaction time

Changes in memory

40s and continuing into old age, most people complain about not remembering things

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PERSONALITY & SOCIAL CHANGES

Personality and social development

Refers to how a person develops a sense of self or self-identity, develops relationships with others, and develops the skills useful in social interactions

Personal identity or self-identity

Refers to how we describe ourselves and includes our values, goals, traits, perceptions, interests, and motivations

Development of self-esteem

How much we like ourselves and how much we value our self-worth, importance, attractiveness, and social competence

High self-esteem: develop and maintain high levels

Low self-esteem: develop and maintain low levels

Reversals, reverse levels

Personality and social development

Refers to how a person develops a sense of self or self-identity, develops relationships with others, and develops the skills useful in social interactions

Personal identity or self-identity

Refers to how we describe ourselves and includes our values, goals, traits, perceptions, interests, and motivations Development of self-esteem Self-esteem

how much we like ourselves and how much we value our self-worth, importance, attractiveness, and social competence

High self-esteem: develop and maintain high levels

60% of adolescents develop and maintain a strong sense of self-esteem through junior high school

do well in school, develop rewarding friendships, participate in social activities, and are described as cheerful, assertive, warm, and unwilling to give up

Low self-esteem: develop and maintain low levels

15% of adolescents develop and maintain a chronically low self-esteem through junior high school

have continuing personal and social problems (shy, lonely, depressed) that have been present for some time and contribute to low self-esteem

Reversals, reverse levels

25% of adolescents show dramatic reversals in self-esteem, either from high to low or low to high

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PERSONALITY & SOCIAL CHANGES (CONT’D)

Adulthood: Erikson’s psychosocial stages

Stage 5: identity versus role confusion

adolescence (12 to 20)

Stage 6: intimacy versus isolation

young adulthood (20 to 40)

Stage 7: generativity versus stagnation

middle adulthood (40 to 65)

Stage 8: integrity versus despair

late adulthood (65 and older)

Adulthood: Erikson’s psychosocial stages

Stage 5: identity versus role confusion

adolescence (12 to 20)

adolescents need to leave behind the carefree, irresponsible, and impulsive behaviors of childhood and develop the more purposeful, planned, and responsible behaviors of adulthood

if successful, develop a healthy and confident sense of identity; if not, experience role confusion

results in having low-self esteem and becoming unstable or socially withdrawn

Stage 6: intimacy versus isolation

young adulthood (20 to 40)

young adulthood is a time for finding intimacy by developing loving and meaningful relationships

can find intimacy in caring relationships

without intimacy, we will have a painful feeling of isolation, and our relationships will be impersonal

Stage 7: generativity versus stagnation

middle adulthood (40 to 65)

time for helping the younger generation develop worthwhile lives

positive: achieve generativity by raising our own children

also by mentoring at work and helping others

negative: lack of involvement leads to a feeling of stagnation, of having done nothing for the younger generation

Stage 8: integrity versus despair

late adulthood (65 and older)

time for reflecting on and reviewing how we met previous challenges and lived our lives

positive : if we can look back and feel content about how we lived and what we accomplished, we will have a feeling of satisfaction or integrity

negative: if we reflect and see a series of crises, problems, and bad experiences, we will have a feeling of regret and despair

12

GENDER ROLES, LOVE, & RELATIONSHIPS

Definition: gender roles

Gender roles

US gender roles

female gender role

male gender role

Worldwide gender roles

male gender roles

female gender roles

Evolutionary psychology theory

emphasizes genetic and biological forces

Social role theory

emphasizes social and cultural influences

Definition: gender roles

Gender roles

traditional or stereotypical behaviors, attitudes, values, and personality traits that society says are how males and females are to think and behave

US gender roles

female gender role includes being caring, insecure, helpful, emotional, social, and shy

male gender role includes being arrogant, self-confident, aggressive, ambitious, unemotional, and dominant

Worldwide gender roles

male gender roles include being ambitious, dominant, and independent

female gender roles include being submissive, affectionate, and emotional

differences in gender roles are clearly defined because society (family, peers, bosses, and colleagues) encourages and rewards behaviors and thoughts that match expected gender roles and discriminates against those who don’t fit

Evolutionary psychology theory

emphasizes genetic and biological forces and says that current gender differences are a continuation of the behaviors that evolved from early men and women who adapted these different behaviors in their attempts to survive the problems of their time

Social role theory

emphasizes social and cultural influences and states that gender differences between males and females arise from different divisions of labor

13

GENDER ROLES, LOVE, & RELATIONSHIPS

Kinds of love

Sternberg’s Theory

Triangular theory of love

Passion - Infatuation

Intimacy – Liking

Commitment – Empty Love

Romantic love

Companionate love

Fatuous love

Consummate love

Kinds of love

Triangular theory of love

Passion - Infatuation

feeling physically aroused and attracted to someone

Intimacy - Liking

feeling close and connected to someone

develops through sharing and communicating

Commitment – Empty Love

making a pledge to nourish the feelings of love and to actively maintain the relationship

Romantic love

involves continuously thinking about the loved one and is accompanied by warm sexual feelings and powerful emotional reactions

Companionate love

involves having trusting and tender feelings for someone whose life is closely bound up with one’s own

Fatuous love

Consummate love

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PHYSICAL CHANGES: AGING

Kinds of aging

Normal aging

Pathological aging

Gerontology

Aging and physiological changes

Aging process

Sexual changes with aging: women

Menopause

Psychological symptoms

Sexual activities

Sexual changes with aging: men

Sexual response

Physiological problems

Kinds of aging

Normal aging

gradual and natural slowing of our physical and psychological processes from middle through late adulthood

Pathological aging

caused by genetic defects, physiological problems, or diseases, such as Alzheimer’s

Gerontology

study of aging

Aging and physiological changes

Aging process

caused by combination of certain genes and proteins that interfere with organ functioning and the natural production of toxic molecules (free radicals)

causes random damage to body organs and DNA

damage eventually exceeds the body’s ability to repair itself

results in grater susceptibility to diseases and death

Sexual changes with aging: women

Menopause

Average age 50 (range 35 to 60)

Involves gradual stoppage of secretion of the major female hormone (estrogen)

Results in cessation of both ovulation and menstrual cycle

Physical symptoms

hot flashes, some sleep disturbance, and dryness of the vagina, which results from a decrease and eventual stoppage in the secretion of estrogen

Menopause

Psychological symptoms

moodiness, depression, anxiety, and anger

Sexual activities

women who experienced sexual activity as fulfilling and enriching before menopause will likely continue to enjoy sexual activity after menopause and into late adulthood

Sexual changes with aging: men

Sexual response

older men may require more time and stimulation to have an erection

healthy men usually have no difficulty in becoming sexually aroused or reaching orgasm

Physiological problems

some men see their decreased sexual abilities as a threat to their self-esteem

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