Deck 14: Seciton 1: Adolescence: Biosocial Development

Question 1

Name three specific reasons why an 18-year-old boy is likely to outperform even the most athletic 13-year-old boy in sports such as swimming, tennis, and skiing.

Answer 1

The 18-year-old boy's superior performance is due to his 1) faster reaction time, 2) increased heart and lung capacity, 3) increased physical endurance, and 4) greater strength. By 18, a male's 5) lungs have tripled in weight and 6) his heart has doubled in size. A boy's 7) arm muscles double in strength between the ages of 8 and 18. In addition, 8) a teen runs faster with each year of adolescence.

Question 2

Compared to a century ago, adolescent sexual activity is now more hazardous because four factors have changed. Identify two of the four factors that have changed.

Answer 2

Change 1: Earlier puberty and weaker social taboos mean teens have sexual experiences at younger ages. Early sexual experiences correlate with depression and drug use. Change 2: A century ago, teenage mothers were married; now, in the United States, 85 percent are unwed. Most teenage mothers have no husbands to help them. Change 3: Raising a child has become more complex and expensive, and most mothers of teen mothers are employed, so fewer of them can help out. Change 4: Sexually transmitted infections are more common and dangerous.

Question 3

Describe the secular trend in puberty.

Answer 3

The secular trend in puberty is the fact that increased food availability has led to increased weight gain in childhood, which has resulted in earlier puberty and taller average height. For centuries every generation has reached puberty sooner than the previous one. Especially over the last 200 years, children have reached their adult height earlier and their adult height has increased due to improved nutrition and medical care. The secular trend has now stopped in developed nations, where adequate nutrition allows everyone to attain their genetic potential. It is still seen in African and Asian nations.

Question 4

Differentiate between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Name three symptoms that must be present for a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and three symptoms that must be present for a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa.

Question 5

State five problems with modern adolescents' nutrition.

Question 6

What is the difference between primary and secondary sex characteristics? Name at least three of each type of characteristic for either gender.

Question 7

Discuss the relationship between stress and puberty onset. Mention at least three stress factors as well as research findings on why this link may exist.

Question 8

Name the two kinds of sex hormones. State four kinds of changes that occur as the result of sex hormone production.

Question 9

State two physical and two cultural factors that make the typical adolescent boy or girl feel dissatisfied with his or her appearance.

Question 10

Joshua has a slightly deformed ear that can be corrected by plastic surgery. By age 11, Joshua is quite conscious of the defect, yet he has been told that it would be best to postpone surgery until he is at least 15 years old. Discuss the wisdom of this recommendation based on what is known about physical development during adolescence.