CHAPTER 4:

GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT DURING
ADOLESCENCE
Reported by:
Arriola, Lynzae Janet G.
AB Psychology II
WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE
???
ADOLESCENCE

• ERNEST R. HILGARD
(1971)
• Is a period of adjustment
where striking and far-
reaching changes occur
brought about by the
transition one experiences
from childhood to
adulthood.
• It is the last stage of
immaturity during which • It involves gradual,
a gradual physiological continual, and complex
and psychological process of growth and
transition is made from development during
one important phase to which the appearance
another of equal and behavior of the child
importance, that is, from are replaced by the
the dependency which is appearance and behavior
characteristic of of a mature person.
childhood , to the
independence which is
indicative of immaturity.
 • Chronological age is an
inadequate measure in
• It is the time during
determining the period
which the boy and the of adolescence as there
girl are in the process of is a wide range covered
completing their by this period.
physical, mental, social, • Some start adolescence
emotional, and moral at 12 or 13 and some
preparation for maturity. even earlier making up
the so called Early
maturers.
• The period of
adolescence is usually
described in terms of • Puberty is applied to the
physical development earlier stage of physical
involving changes in development at which a
structure and function. person becomes
• The boundaries of this functionally capable of
period are considered to producing offsprings.
be puberty, which marks
the beginning abd
maturity which
designates the end of the
period.
 The Growth Pattern

• The rate of growth slows

down until another spurts • The girls maintain this
occurs which marks the height and weight
beginning of puberty. advantage for around two
• The boys and girls years after which the
usually average the same boys forge ahead and
size until around age 11 maintain a height and
when the girls spurt weight advantage for the
ahead of the boys in both rest of their life.
height and weight.
• The youngsters begin
their growth spurts, 2
years before puberty and
the year just before
puberty is known as the
age of maximum growth.

• The maximum growth

rate is achieved by the
girls at 12 while the boys
achieve it at around
fourteen years.
 Early And Late Maturers

• You find adolescents taller and bigger for their age,

while some maybe smaller than their peers of this same
age.

• In each case, problemsof adjustment, both social and

emotional, may arise.

• Too much maybe expected of early maturers while

anxiety may be created among late maturers because of
the competition they have to face among peers of same
age.
 Developmental Tasks of Adolescence
1. Achieving new and more
mature relations with age
mates of both sexes.
2. Achieving a masculine or
feminine role.
3. Accepting one’s physique
and using the body
effectively.
4. Achieving emotional
independence of parents and
other adults.
5. Achieving assurance of
economic independence.
6. Selecting and preparing
for an occupation.
7. Preparing for marriage
and family life.
8. Developing intellectual
skills and concepts
necessary for civic
competence.
9. Desiring and achieving
socially responsible
behavior.
10. Acquiring a set of values
and an ethical system as a
guide to behavior.
Physical Development
• Is still very rapid and to
some extent suddenly,
leading to what has been
designated as the pubertal
growth spurt.
• The increase in height is due
to skeletal growth in the long
bones of the body while the
increases in weight is due
largely to the development of
the muscles, particularly the
large muscles which grow in
size, firmness and power.
The muscular development
is more apprent in boys than
in girls.
• Changes take place in bodily
proportions.
• The parts of the body do not
grow uniformly.
• The individual seems to
shoot upward, legs stretch
out, hands become too large
and feet too long.
• Change of voice also occurs
due to the enlargement of the
larynx and elongation of the
vocal cords.
• This is more evident in boys
than in girls.
• The secretory activity of the
sweat glands also occur
perticularly in the armpits
and in the genital regions.
Mental Development
• During the period of adolescence, mental
development is characterized by the expanding
of the mental powers, which is evident in a
broadening and deepening of thought and in the
improvement of reasoning as well as the
capacity to perform increasingly difficult mental
tasks.
• This improvement is demonstrated in a more
effective and efficient utilization of the process
of perception, imagination, logical memory, and
attention, particularly in the ability to form
abstract ideas, to judge, to reason, to acquire
knowledge and to learn.
Emotional Development
• “storm and stress” or an
idyllic period free of all
problems .
• This period is the most
• The individual because
exciting for the of lack of experience and
individual, it is full of social awkwardness, may
activity and happy develop feelings of
memories of crushes, inadequacy in meeting
puppy love or first love. this situations.
• Some adolescents
however, develop anxiety
brought by changes in
physical appearance,
voice and the appearance
secondary sex
characteristic.
Social Development
• The adolescent becomes increasingly aware of his
social environment which is much wider in scope
than the home, the neighborhood, and the school.
• He develops new interest and attitudes.
• He becomes more interested in developing new
skills, manners and poise to cope with his expanding
social environment.
• The significance of belongingness and acceptance of
peer is more felt and the need for approval,
recognition and status of age-mates sometimes
create problems between the adolescent and his
parents and other members of the family.
Sexual Development
• His attitude towards sex is very
much dependent upon the attitude
conveyed upon him by his parents
and teachers.
• The attitude of secrecy and taboo
concerning his sexual functions give
the adolescent a feeling of fear and
anxiety.
• Parents should develop in the
adolescents a clean and positive
attitude towards sex which is a very
important pre-requisite to happy sex
life in adulthood.
• “antisocial behavior”
• Which give rise to the age-old problem of juvenile
deliquency.
• It should be borne in mind that what adults may consider
as deliquent behavior may be just a normal reaction
during this period.
Social Pressure
• The adolescent faces
problems of coping with
societal demands.
• At times, his community
and his peers have certain
demands which he
cannot cope with,
because of circumstances
beyond his control.
Problems of Adjustment
• He has several
adjustment patterns to
make for himself, his
peer, his teachers, his
parents, and the
community at large.
 Lack of Status
• While an adolescent still
has the responsibilities he
had as a child, he does
not enjoy the rights and
privileges of an adult.
Not being sure of what
and where he is, he
becomes unhappy.
• The adolescent has ideals
for himself, all the
members of his family,
his friends, his
community and country.
But he is often
misunderstood because
they treat him as a little
child. And so he becomes
silent, morose and
disobidient.
Unsatisfactory Heterosexual Relationships
• While some adolescents have
pleasant sexual experiences
with the other sex, many are
disappointed because their
dreams of romance with a “they
live happily ever after” ending
are shattered by bitter
heartbreaks and
disappointments.
Feelings of Inadequacy
• Competition with others
in class, in athletics, or in
social affairs becomes
keener during
adolescence.