Adolescence and Puberty
Puberty: Developmental Stages of Adolescents
As stated above, adolescence is a stage in a young person's life where great deals of changes take place. In early adolescence a young person begins puberty. Puberty brings on many changes physically, intellectually, and emotionally. From our required readings I have learned that Erikson argued that the child's early sense of identity comes partly "unglued" because of the combination of rapid body growth and the sexual changes of puberty (Bee, 2000). It is during this phase that a young person makes the transition from a child to an adult. During this stage Erikson refers to the identity of adolescents as going through a crisis. He refers to the crisis of adolescents as a stage of identity verses role confusion. The first approach that will help explain the pattern of development in adolescence is through the physical development stage. Physical development involves the bodily changes that adolescence has when they approach the puberty stage. Puberty is often referred to as "a period of rapid skeletal and sexual maturation that occurs mainly in early adolescence" (American Psychological Association, 2002). During the puberty stage, female and male individuals undergo several changes suitable for their physical stature and composition. Puberty among girls usually begins at age 9 to 12, while boys begin at age 11 to 14. Changes include growth of hair in the genital areas and under arms of both males and females. Body proportions also change with females developing bigger hips and breasts, ovulation, and menstrual cycle begins. Males, meanwhile, start producing sperm, erections and ejaculations, wet dreams, and darkening of the scrotum. Puberty begins with a surge in hormone production, which, in turn, causes a number of physical changes. The most startling change during puberty is the acceleration in growth known as the adult growth spurt. During puberty, the reproductive organs in both sexes mature, and
As stated above, adolescence is a stage in a young person's life where great deals of changes take place. In early adolescence a young person begins puberty. Puberty brings on many changes physically, intellectually, and emotionally. From our required readings I have learned that Erikson argued that the child's early sense of identity comes partly "unglued" because of the combination of rapid body growth and the sexual changes of puberty (Bee, 2000). It is during this phase that a young person makes the transition from a child to an adult. During this stage Erikson refers to the identity of adolescents as going through a crisis. He refers to the crisis of adolescents as a stage of identity verses role confusion. The first approach that will help explain the pattern of development in adolescence is through the physical development stage. Physical development involves the bodily changes that adolescence has when they approach the puberty stage. Puberty is often referred to as "a period of rapid skeletal and sexual maturation that occurs mainly in early adolescence" (American Psychological Association, 2002). During the puberty stage, female and male individuals undergo several changes suitable for their physical stature and composition. Puberty among girls usually begins at age 9 to 12, while boys begin at age 11 to 14. Changes include growth of hair in the genital areas and under arms of both males and females. Body proportions also change with females developing bigger hips and breasts, ovulation, and menstrual cycle begins. Males, meanwhile, start producing sperm, erections and ejaculations, wet dreams, and darkening of the scrotum. Puberty begins with a surge in hormone production, which, in turn, causes a number of physical changes. The most startling change during puberty is the acceleration in growth known as the adult growth spurt. During puberty, the reproductive organs in both sexes mature, and