DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

1. DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 10 ADOLESCENCE The Psychological Impact of Pubertal Events Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

2. Reactions to Pubertal Changes Girls’ Reactions to Menarche: traumatic, disturbing, surprise, upset, shocking... Boys’ Reactions to Spermarche. Not intensely negative. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

3. Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies An adolescent initiation ceremony is a ritualized announcement to the community that a young person is ready to make the transition from childhood into adolescence or full adulthood. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

4. Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies Many tribal and village societies celebrate puberty with a rite of passage – a communitywide event that marks an important change in privilege and responsibility. Modern adolescents are confronted with many ages at which they are granted partial adult status – for example, an age for starting employement, for driving, for leaving high school, for voting, and for drinking. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

5. Pubertal Change, Emotions, and Social Behavior A common belief is that pubertal change has something to do with adolescent moodiness and the desire for greather physical and emotional separation from parents. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

6. Adolescent Moodiness Adolescents’ emotional reactions, in the form of anger and irritability for males and anger and depression for females, between 9 and 14 years of age Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

7. Parent-Child Relationship Puberty is related to a rise in parent-child conflict. Bickering and standoffs increase as adolescents move toward the peak of pubertal growth. During this time, both parents and teenagers report feeling less close to one another. In reality, parents and children display both conflict and affection toward one another throughout adolescence. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

8. The Importance of Early versus Late Maturation Effects of Maturational Timing: Early-maturing boys were seen as relaxed, independent, self-confident, and physically attractive by both adults and peers. In contrast, late-maturing boys were not well-linked. Peers and adults viewed them as anxious, overly talktative, and attention-seeking in behavior. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

9. Among girls, the impact of early versus late maturation was just the reverse. Early-maturing girld had social difficulties. They were below average in popularity, appeared withdrawn and lacking in self-confidence, and held few position in leadership. Instead, their late-maturing counterparts were especially well-off –regarded as physically attractive, lively, sociable, and leaders at school. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

10. Both boys and girls who have physical characteristics regarded by themselves and others as less attractive have a lower sense of self-esteem and are less well linked by agemates. The adoption of societ’s “beauty is best” stereotype seems to be an important factor in adjustement of early- and late-maturing boys and girls. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

11. The Importance of Fitting In with Peers Older peers often ancourage early-maaturing boys and girls into activities that they find difficult to resist but are not yet ready to handle emotionally, including sexual activity, drug and alchool use, and minor delinquent acts. Perhaps because of involvements like these, the school performance of early maturers tends to suffer. Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

12. Health Issues during Adolescence Nutritional Needs: During the grown-spurt, boys require about 2.700 calories a day and much more protein, girls about 2.200 calories and somewhat less protein than boys. Calcium, iron... Fast-food restaurants Vegetarian “Anorexia nervosa” Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

13. Adolescent Sexual Attitude and Behavior Homosexuality Teenage Pregnacy and Childbearing Sexually transmitted disease (Genital Herpes, Genital warts, Gonorrhea...) Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün

14. Substance Use and Abuse Peer encouragement –friends who use drugs, urge the adolescent to do so, and provide access to illegal substances- is the most consistent predictor of early abuse, but it does not occur in isolation. Other predisposing factors: low-income background, family mental health problems, prenatal drug use, poor school performance, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression... Prof.Dr. Mustafa Ergün