Chapter 5: Adolescence

The adolescence is the period following the onset of puberty during which a young
person develops from a child into an adult. Some physical changes occur in this stage
like bodily changes in height and weight as well as sexual maturation. Girls typically
begin the growth spurt earlier than boys, who acquire more muscle, less fat, and greater
heart and lung capacity. The brain communicates more effectively, and the frontal
cortex continues to mature. Sexual maturation, which includes primary and secondary
sex characteristics, occurs in predictable sequences for boys and girls. Pubertal changes
take place when the pituitary gland signals the adrenal gland, ovaries, and testes to
secrete hormones that initiate physical changes. The timing of puberty is influenced
strongly by health and nutrition. Its timing is also influenced by the social environment.

That combination of physical changes affects adolescents’ psychological functioning.

Teens, particularly girls, become concerned about their appearance. Adolescents are
moodier than children or adults primarily because their moods shift in response to
frequent changes in activities and social setting. Early maturation tends to be harmful,
especially for girls.

One important aim in this period is health. Teenagers need to consume adequate
calories, calcium, and iron. However, unfortunately, many teenagers do not eat properly
and do not receive adequate nutrition. There are two eating disorders, anorexia and
bulimia, that typically affect adolescent girls, and they are characterized by an irrational
fear of being overweight. Several factors contribute to these disorders, including
heredity, a childhood history of eating problems, and (during adolescence) negative
self-esteem and a preoccupation with one’s body and weight.

Moreover, to do exercise is very important. Individuals who work out at least three
times weekly often have improved physical and mental health. The benefits of
participating in sports include improved physical fitness, enhanced self-esteem, and an
understanding about teamwork. Usually, adolescents often overestimate the harm of
risky behavior in general, but they don’t see themselves as being personally at risk and
often place greater value on the rewards associated with risky behavior.

Information processing during adolescence suffered changes. Working memory

increases in capacity, and processing speed becomes faster. Both achieve adult like
levels during adolescence. Furthermore, content knowledge increases to expert like
levels in some domains, and strategies and metacognitive skills become more
sophisticated. In addition, adolescents often solve problems analytically, using
mathematics or logic. They also acquire skill in detecting weaknesses in scientific
evidence and in logical arguments.

Kohlberg, about reasoning about moral issues, proposed that moral reasoning includes
preconventional, conventional, and postconventional levels. Moral reasoning is first
based on rewards and punishments and much later on personal moral codes. As
predicted by Kohlberg’s theory, people progress through the stages in sequence and do
not regress, and morally advanced reasoning is associated with more frequent moral
behavior. However, few people attain the most advanced levels. Gilligan proposed that
females’ moral reasoning is based on caring and responsibility for others, not justice.
Research does not support consistent sex differences in moral reasoning but has found
that both males and females consider caring as well as justice in their moral judgments,
depending on the situation.

One of the principal things that the adolescents do is to find an identity, a search that
typically involves four statuses: Diffusion and foreclosure are more common in early
adolescence; moratorium and achievement are more common in late adolescence and
young adulthood. Adolescents are more likely to achieve an identity when parents
encourage discussion and recognize their autonomy; they are least likely to achieve an
identity when parents set rules and enforce them without explanation.

In this period social comparisons begin anew when children move from elementary
school to middle or junior high school; consequently, self-esteem usually declines
somewhat during this transition. However, self-esteem begins to rise in middle and late
adolescence as teenagers see themselves acquiring more adult skills and responsibilities.
The parent–child relationship becomes more egalitarian during the adolescent years,
reflecting adolescents’ growing independence.

Romantic relationships are a principal topic in this stage. They emerge in mid-
adolescence. For younger adolescents, dating is for both companionship and sexual
exploration; for older adolescents, it is a source of trust and support. Adolescents in
romantic relationships are more self-confident but also report more emotional upheaval.
In addition, by the end of adolescence, most American boys and girls have had sexual
intercourse, which boys view as recreational but girls see as romantic.

Some adolescents are attracted to members of their own sex. Attraction to same-sex
individuals follows a different path in boys and girls. For boys, the first step involves
feeling different and becoming interested in genderatypical activities. For girls, the first
step often involves strong feelings toward a particular female. Gay and lesbian youth
face many special challenges and thus may suffer from mental health problems.

Many adolescents drink alcohol regularly. The primary factors that influence whether
adolescents drink are encouragement from others (parents and peers) and stress.
Similarly, teenage smoking is influenced by parents and peers.

To sum up, in my opinion this period has a big importance because the adolescent
shapes values and decides social, psychological and sexual strengths. They also define
life projects and create their own bases for individual and society development that will
have implications in their future. Moreover, the adolescent has before him a series of
personal challenges, especially the dreams he wants to achieve when he becomes an
adult, so a lot of changes take place that are the base to future changes.