Psychology Week 8 Discussion Board 8.9-8.10

Written by P. A. Owens on October 10, 2018

Week 8 DB 8.9 and 8.10

8.9 Describe the physical changes of puberty:

Puberty can be defined as the physical changes in both primary sex characteristics (growth of actual sex organs…) and secondary sex characteristics (changes in the body…) that occur in the body as sexual development reaches its peak (Ciccarelli and White 2017). Puberty can occur in males usually happens around age 14, while females make their statement much earlier, around age 12. Although, puberty comes at different times for everyone according to their genetic makeup and these ages are just estimates, averages or what have you. Puberty occurs as the result of a complex series of glandular activities, stimulated by the “mastor gland” or the pituitary gland, when the proper genetically determined age is reached… these glands stimulate the growth of characteristics such as body hair, muscle tissue in males, and the menstrual cycle in girls (Ciccarelli and White 2017). It takes about 4 years for puberty to be finished with its job in each of us, but the brain doesn’t actually stop developing until one’s early 20’s.

 

8.10 Identify the cognitive and moral advances that occur in adolescence:

Cognitive:

The cognitive development of adolescents is less visible than the physical development but still represents a major change in the way adolescents think about themselves, their peers, and relationships, and the world around them (Ciccarelli and White 2017). Adolescents tend to do a lot more thinking than any other ages. They not only become more self-conscious of themselves, but also of the world around them and how they are going to respond to those changes. In fact, many young adults tend to think too much about their current situations and tend to sometimes make up situations and problems that weren’t there in the first place. Some adolescents have spent so much time thinking about their own thoughts and feelings that they have become convinced that they are special, one of a kind, and that no one else has ever had these thoughts and feelings before them (Ciccarelli and White 2017). Being a common feeling among teens. This would make sense as to why some teens are such risk takers and show such large amounts of bravery when it comes to them doing “brave”, sometimes almost stupid and irrational, things.

Moral:

Being moral can be described as what one person views as right from wrong and to what extent. If someone thinks nothing is wrong and you can do whatever you want, that is obviously a sign of low moral standards in that person’s life. Moral advances made during adolescence concerns the teenager’s understanding of “right” and “wrong” (Ciccarelli and White 2017). So a teenager’s view of right and wrong is put into place for the rest of their life during adolescence. That’s not to say it can’t be changed a bit throughout their life, but for the most part, these views and outlooks on these matters are put in place for good.

References:

Ciccarelli, Saundra K., & J. Noland White.  Psychology (REVEL with e-text/access code), 5th            Edition.  Person 2017.  ISBN:  978-0134715305