Adolescent Development

Physical and Physiological Development

Adolescence begins with pubescence, a period of rapid physical growth, maturation of reproductive functioning, and appearance of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. Pubescence lasts about two years and ends with puberty, when sexual maturity and reproductive capacity are complete. Puberty is triggered by hormonal changes. During puberty, both boys and girls undergo an adolescent growth spurt, that is, sudden growth in height, weight, and muscular and skeletal development. Most notable and obvious is the appearance of menarche in females. Males experience nocturnal emissions. The primary sex characteristics are enlargement and maturation of organs directly related to reproduction. The secondary sex characteristics include physiological signs of sexual maturation such as breast development, growth of body hair, and so forth, that do not involve the sex organs. The principle signs [Page 18]of sexual maturity are production of sperm (for males) and menstruation (for females).

Research has found both structural and functional changes in adolescents’ information processing.

Puberty, which begins earlier in girls than in boys, ends when a person can reproduce. The timing of these events varies considerably both individually and cross-nationally. In most societies, puberty is considered to be the end of childhood. The end of adolescence is not clear-cut either. In Western societies, no single sign indicates that adulthood has been attained. In some societies, adolescence ends at puberty and is signified by puberty rites, which take a variety of forms. In contemporary understanding, adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood. It lasts from between age 10 and 13 until the late teens or early 20s.

In recent decades, people have been reaching sexual maturity sooner, growing faster and bigger than they used to, and attaining adult height earlier. This trend toward larger size and earlier maturation is known as the secular trend. Secular trend is influenced by today's higher standards of living, such as improved nutrition and better healthcare.

...