LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
Growth in Adolescence
Coverage:
• Adolescence Puberty and Growth:
• Growth in Adolescence • Puberty: A time of rapid physical growth and
sexual development, starting around ages 8-
• Sexual Development
14.
• Adolescent Brain o Girls start puberty around age 10.
• Adolescent Sleep o Boys start about 2 years later.
• Adolescent Sexual Activity o It takes about 3-4 years for puberty
• Eating Disorders changes to finish.
• Physical Growth: Adolescents grow taller
• Piaget’s Formal Operational and heavier during this time.
Stage o Growth order: Growth starts at the
• Information Processing extremities (hands, arms, feet) and
• Education moves inward to the torso.
• School Based Preparatory o Average growth during puberty: 10-11
inches in height and 50-75 pounds in
Experiences
weight.
• Teenagers and Working • Uneven Growth:
• Teenage Drivers o Head growth happens after the feet,
• Self-concept and Self-esteem in starting with the ears, nose, and lips.
Adolescence o This causes teenagers to sometimes
look awkward or out-of-proportion.
• Erikson: Identity vs. Role • Differences Between Boys and Girls:
Confusion o Before puberty: Boys and girls are
• Parents and Teens: Autonomy similar in height and weight.
and Attachment o After puberty:
• Peers ▪ Girls tend to be taller between
ages 10-14.
• Romantic Relationships ▪ Boys become both taller and
heavier after age 14.
• Body Image:
Adolescence (Ages 10-18) o Height and weight can be sensitive
topics for teens, especially with
• Period of Change: Begins with puberty and society’s preferences for tall men and
ends when a person transitions into adulthood. short women or thin bodies,
• Physical Changes: Triggered by hormones, especially for girls.
leading to physical growth and changes. o Overweight is a growing problem,
o These changes happen at different rates often caused by unhealthy diets and
in the brain and can lead to riskier lack of physical activity.
• Racial and Ethnic Differences:
behavior.
o Asian background: Generally, teens
• Cognitive Changes: Adolescents become
are shorter.
better at thinking in complex and abstract
o European and North American
ways. background: Tend to be taller than
• Parent Relationships: Teenagers start to seek Asian teens but shorter than African
more independence and redefine their teens.
relationship with parents. o Body shapes differ slightly across
• Peer Relationships: Friendships become more backgrounds, though these are
important for support, but sometimes peers general trends, and individual
can encourage problem behaviors. differences are common.
• Identity Formation: Adolescents explore
different roles and beliefs to develop their Sexual Development
personal identity.
• Adolescence is a time of growth, change, and Primary Sexual Characteristics:
discovery in many areas of life, including • Primary sexual characteristics are changes
physical, mental, and social development. directly related to reproduction.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
o Boys: • Puberty is happening earlier today than in the
▪ Growth of testes, penis, and past. For example, the average age for a girl’s
scrotum. first period has dropped from 16 to about 13.
▪ Spermarche: First ejaculation o Girls: Puberty starts earlier for African
of semen (ages 11-15). American girls compared to Asian-
o Girls: American girls.
▪ Growth of the uterus. o Boys: It’s harder to track the timing of
▪ Menarche: First menstrual puberty for boys, but it may be starting
period. earlier too.
▪ Females are born with Effects of Early Puberty:
immature eggs in the ovaries. • Girls who start puberty early may face:
Each month, one egg ripens and o Mental health issues: Depression,
is released. anxiety, eating disorders, and early
Male Anatomy: sexual behaviors.
• Males have internal and external genitalia for o They might feel more pressure to act
reproduction and sexual activity. older than they are, and peer
o Main organs: Penis and testicles comparisons can cause low self-
(which produce sperm and semen). esteem.
o Males constantly produce millions of o They may hang out with older peers who
sperm daily. engage in risky behaviors (like
Female Anatomy: substance use).
• External genitalia: The vulva, which includes • Boys who mature earlier may:
the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. o Experience increased depressive
• Internal organs: The vagina, uterus, fallopian symptoms if they mature faster than
tubes, and ovaries. their peers.
o The uterus hosts the developing fetus o May struggle with peer relationships,
and helps with sperm passage. and can be more likely to use drugs or
o Females release eggs from the ovaries alcohol.
each month. If fertilized by sperm, Gender Role Intensification:
pregnancy can occur. • During puberty, teens may feel pressured to act
Secondary Sexual Characteristics: more gender-typical:
• Secondary sexual characteristics signal o Girls might hide their success in
sexual maturity but aren’t directly linked to subjects like math or science to be seen
reproduction. as more attractive.
o Boys: o Boys might push themselves to be
▪ Broader shoulders, lower better at sports to prove their
voice (larynx growth). masculinity.
▪ Hair grows in pubic area, o These changes are not the same for
underarms, and face. everyone, and teens can feel a mix of
o Girls: maturity and childhood behaviors.
▪ Breast development (around
age 10). Adolescent Brain
▪ Wider hips and hair growth in
pubic area and underarms. Brain Changes During Adolescence:
Acne: • The brain matures but doesn't get bigger. It
• Acne is common due to hormonal changes becomes more connected and specialized.
during puberty. • Myelination (the coating around brain cells)
o It happens because of overactive oil continues, especially in areas like language.
glands. o This helps improve thinking and
o About 85% of teens get acne, and boys processing skills.
tend to get it more than girls. o However, more myelination means less
o Acne can cause social withdrawal due brain plasticity (ability to form new
to self-consciousness. connections).
Puberty Timing:
2|Hikamac chi
Growth in Adolescence
Coverage:
• Adolescence Puberty and Growth:
• Growth in Adolescence • Puberty: A time of rapid physical growth and
sexual development, starting around ages 8-
• Sexual Development
14.
• Adolescent Brain o Girls start puberty around age 10.
• Adolescent Sleep o Boys start about 2 years later.
• Adolescent Sexual Activity o It takes about 3-4 years for puberty
• Eating Disorders changes to finish.
• Physical Growth: Adolescents grow taller
• Piaget’s Formal Operational and heavier during this time.
Stage o Growth order: Growth starts at the
• Information Processing extremities (hands, arms, feet) and
• Education moves inward to the torso.
• School Based Preparatory o Average growth during puberty: 10-11
inches in height and 50-75 pounds in
Experiences
weight.
• Teenagers and Working • Uneven Growth:
• Teenage Drivers o Head growth happens after the feet,
• Self-concept and Self-esteem in starting with the ears, nose, and lips.
Adolescence o This causes teenagers to sometimes
look awkward or out-of-proportion.
• Erikson: Identity vs. Role • Differences Between Boys and Girls:
Confusion o Before puberty: Boys and girls are
• Parents and Teens: Autonomy similar in height and weight.
and Attachment o After puberty:
• Peers ▪ Girls tend to be taller between
ages 10-14.
• Romantic Relationships ▪ Boys become both taller and
heavier after age 14.
• Body Image:
Adolescence (Ages 10-18) o Height and weight can be sensitive
topics for teens, especially with
• Period of Change: Begins with puberty and society’s preferences for tall men and
ends when a person transitions into adulthood. short women or thin bodies,
• Physical Changes: Triggered by hormones, especially for girls.
leading to physical growth and changes. o Overweight is a growing problem,
o These changes happen at different rates often caused by unhealthy diets and
in the brain and can lead to riskier lack of physical activity.
• Racial and Ethnic Differences:
behavior.
o Asian background: Generally, teens
• Cognitive Changes: Adolescents become
are shorter.
better at thinking in complex and abstract
o European and North American
ways. background: Tend to be taller than
• Parent Relationships: Teenagers start to seek Asian teens but shorter than African
more independence and redefine their teens.
relationship with parents. o Body shapes differ slightly across
• Peer Relationships: Friendships become more backgrounds, though these are
important for support, but sometimes peers general trends, and individual
can encourage problem behaviors. differences are common.
• Identity Formation: Adolescents explore
different roles and beliefs to develop their Sexual Development
personal identity.
• Adolescence is a time of growth, change, and Primary Sexual Characteristics:
discovery in many areas of life, including • Primary sexual characteristics are changes
physical, mental, and social development. directly related to reproduction.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
o Boys: • Puberty is happening earlier today than in the
▪ Growth of testes, penis, and past. For example, the average age for a girl’s
scrotum. first period has dropped from 16 to about 13.
▪ Spermarche: First ejaculation o Girls: Puberty starts earlier for African
of semen (ages 11-15). American girls compared to Asian-
o Girls: American girls.
▪ Growth of the uterus. o Boys: It’s harder to track the timing of
▪ Menarche: First menstrual puberty for boys, but it may be starting
period. earlier too.
▪ Females are born with Effects of Early Puberty:
immature eggs in the ovaries. • Girls who start puberty early may face:
Each month, one egg ripens and o Mental health issues: Depression,
is released. anxiety, eating disorders, and early
Male Anatomy: sexual behaviors.
• Males have internal and external genitalia for o They might feel more pressure to act
reproduction and sexual activity. older than they are, and peer
o Main organs: Penis and testicles comparisons can cause low self-
(which produce sperm and semen). esteem.
o Males constantly produce millions of o They may hang out with older peers who
sperm daily. engage in risky behaviors (like
Female Anatomy: substance use).
• External genitalia: The vulva, which includes • Boys who mature earlier may:
the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. o Experience increased depressive
• Internal organs: The vagina, uterus, fallopian symptoms if they mature faster than
tubes, and ovaries. their peers.
o The uterus hosts the developing fetus o May struggle with peer relationships,
and helps with sperm passage. and can be more likely to use drugs or
o Females release eggs from the ovaries alcohol.
each month. If fertilized by sperm, Gender Role Intensification:
pregnancy can occur. • During puberty, teens may feel pressured to act
Secondary Sexual Characteristics: more gender-typical:
• Secondary sexual characteristics signal o Girls might hide their success in
sexual maturity but aren’t directly linked to subjects like math or science to be seen
reproduction. as more attractive.
o Boys: o Boys might push themselves to be
▪ Broader shoulders, lower better at sports to prove their
voice (larynx growth). masculinity.
▪ Hair grows in pubic area, o These changes are not the same for
underarms, and face. everyone, and teens can feel a mix of
o Girls: maturity and childhood behaviors.
▪ Breast development (around
age 10). Adolescent Brain
▪ Wider hips and hair growth in
pubic area and underarms. Brain Changes During Adolescence:
Acne: • The brain matures but doesn't get bigger. It
• Acne is common due to hormonal changes becomes more connected and specialized.
during puberty. • Myelination (the coating around brain cells)
o It happens because of overactive oil continues, especially in areas like language.
glands. o This helps improve thinking and
o About 85% of teens get acne, and boys processing skills.
tend to get it more than girls. o However, more myelination means less
o Acne can cause social withdrawal due brain plasticity (ability to form new
to self-consciousness. connections).
Puberty Timing:
2|Hikamac chi
