CHAPTER 6: ADOLESCENCE:
WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE:
-A period of transition between childhood and adulthood and it can therefore be seen as a
developmental bridge between being a child and becoming an adult.
DEMARCATING ADOLESCENCE:
-Depending on biological and socio-cultural factors, as well as individual differences, the age at
which adolescence (as a separate developmental stage begins) varies from 11-13 years old,
while the age it ends is between 17-21 years old.
-Therefore, its more acceptable to demarcate the adolescent developmental stage according to
specific physical and psychological characteristics and socio-cultural norms, rather than on
chronological age.
-Adolescence = A stage that begins in biology and ends in society.
-Begins at puberty when the body reaches sexual maturation and ends when the person
meets societal norms and expectations (independence, self-reliance, following a career)
-In SA, adolescence legally ends at the age of 18 (when parental consent expires, and the
person may be held liable for contractual obligations)
A STORMY PHASE:
-There are a number of different opinions regarding the most common psychological
characteristics of the adolescent.
-On the 1 hand, adolescence is described as being characterized especially by conflict with
parents and other authority figures, moodiness and high-risk behaviour.
-Adolescents experience a stormy period that is biologically based.
-Socrates (469-399 BC): Adolescents “contradict their parents, don’t respect their
elders, are indolent, eat gluttonously, and tyrannize their teachers.”
-On the other hand, adolescents are viewed as being no worse than their parents when they
were young.
-They are even seen as better informed and more idealistic, honest and tolerant towards
others.
Most Psychologists Agree That:
-Extreme views on adolescence have been replace by more balanced views.
-Adolescence is a normal period of development.
,-Majority of adolescents do not experience any significant maladjustment, undesirable
behaviours or continuous emotional turmoil.
-Most adolescents values are also similar to those of their parents.
-Some adolescents do experience this time as stormy and stressful, but they are more likely to
come from a dysfunctional family background.
-If storm and stress do occur, it is most likely to occur in adolescence.
-In most cases, perceived negative behaviour is not nearly as negative as it seems.
-Adolescence is a universal phenomena that seems to occur in all cultures.
-However, storm and stress tend to be lower in traditional cultures.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:
-Early adolescence is characterized by rapid and extensive physical growth (growth spurt) and
the development of sexual maturity.
-The period during which sexual maturation takes place = puberty.
-The rapid physical growth and sexual maturation is initiated by the secretion of somatotrophin
(growth hormone) and gonadotrophin (sex hormone).
-Gonadotrophin (sex hormone) stimulates the gonads (testes and ovaries) to secrete male and
female sex hormones.
-Male sex hormones = Androgens of which testosterone and androsterone are the most
important while small quantities of estrogen (female hormone) are also secreted by males.
-Female sex hormones = Estrogens
-Androgen and estrogen are responsible for the development of primary and secondary sex
characteristics.
>Primary sex characteristics: sex organs (organs involved with reproduction).
>Secondary sex characteristics: distinguished male and female characteristics such as
the beard or breasts.
ADOLESCENT GROWTH SPURT:
-Girls begin at about 10-13 years old and ends at 16 years old or later.
-Boys begin at 12-15 years old and ends at about 28 years old or later.
-Boys grow more rapidly than girls do.
-By the end of the growing phase, boys are on average taller than girls of the same age.
-Girls reach their adult height towards late adolescence, while boys reach there’s during their
early twenties.
-The disproportionate growth tempo of the different body parts is known as asynchrony.
,-The 1st parts that show accelerated growth are the arms, legs, hands and feet.
-The torso (upper body) then starts to lengthen.
-Elongated boy with long arms and legs and big hands and feet = look awkward.
-When the growth tempo of the skeleton starts decreasing, the body’s mass and the muscle
development begin to increase and the long-legged stage ends.
-Girls = The body contours become more rounded (due to hips widening)
-Boys = Become more angular (due to shoulders broadening)
SEXUAL MATURATION:
-Generally known as puberty.
-Secular trend: When puberty begins at an increasingly earlier age; that people are reaching
their adult height earlier (16-18yrs) and are becoming taller than previously.
-Could be attributed to healthier diets, better medical care, improved hygiene and fewer
childhood diseases.
1. Sexual Maturation In Girls:
-Starts when the sex organs (ovaries, uterus, vagina, labia, clitoris) (primary sex characteristics)
begin to enlarge.
-At the same time, the secondary sex characteristics start to develop.
-The appearance of breast buds is usually the first external sign of sexual maturation.
-Next is bodily hair (pubic & armpit) starts to appear and the hips start to broaden.
-Also, the accumulation of body fat (increased weight), a slight deepening or lowering of the
voice and changes in the texture of skin.
-The most dramatic and symbolic sign of sexual maturation is girls = the menarche
-The first menstruation.
-It appears approximately 2 years after the start of breast development, the enlargement of the
uterus and after the growth spurt has slowed down.
-Environmental factors may also influence the onset of puberty (nutrition, stress, physical
exercise)
-Girls who do extreme physical exercise (athletics) begin menstruation much later.
-There is also a correlation between stressful life experiences (conflict) and menstruation
problems.
-Also, girls from higher socio-economic groups menstruate on average 11 months earlier.
-Most girls start ovulating on a regular basis only about 1 year after menarche (can have a child)
-Some girls do however start to ovulate from the 1st menarche.
, -In many traditional societies = feasts, rituals or certain initiation rites often mark the transition
into adulthood.
-Circumcision.
-Female circumcision is called female genital mutilation (FGM).
-There are 3 major types (each involves the clitoris)
-Clitoris = The small external and sexually sensitive organ just above the vagina.
o Clitoridotomy: The splitting or removal of the clitoral hood, a fold of skin that surrounds
and protects the clitoris.
o Clitoridectomy: Partial or total removal of the clitoris.
o Infibulation: Partial or total removal of all external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora and
labia majora) and the stitching together of the vaginal opening, leaving only a small
opening for urine and menstrual flow.
-Mainly to prevent pre-marital sexual intercourse.
-The husband can remove the stitching.
-Usually a midwife performs the circumcision without using anesthetics.
-Instruments used include knives, razor blades and even glass.
-Immediate complications are excessive pain, shock, infection, problems urinating, bleeding and
death.
-Long-term complications = Chronic pain, childbirth complications, anxiety, frigidity.
Reasons:
>Religious, cultural, medical and moral arguments.
>Enhances fertility (actually may cause infertility)
>Clitoris contains poison that could harm the man during intercourse or kill the baby during
birth.
>Removal of the clitoris confirms the girl’s femininity (because the clitoris resembles a penis)
>If the clitoris is not removed, it could grow to the size of a penis.
-In SA, female circumcision is illegal and is punishable with imprisonment of 3 months to life.
2. Sexual Maturation In Boys:
-Puberty begins when the primary sex characteristics start to develop.
-The testes and the scrotum start to enlarge.
-After approximately 1-2 years, the penis starts to enlarge.
-The secondary sex characteristics also start to develop (appearance of pubic hair)
