Similarities and Differences in Adolescent Development PSYCH600
Similarities and Differences in Adolescent Development
Monika G. Bellman
PSYCH600
May 12, 2014
Shaun-Katherine Robles
Similarities and Differences in Adolescent Development The transition between childhood and adolescence can be quite difficult for a young person. It seems like not too long ago they were playing with dolls and building blocks and now their interests are more so geared toward social and romantic relationships, the way they perceive themselves and how others perceive them. Their emotions are becoming much more complex and although schools make an attempt to prepare youth for the changes associated with puberty the fact remains that until an individual doesn’t experience it on their own they are still going to be faced with many challenges. Puberty or the transition between childhoods to adolescence is affected by a number of factors, such as gender, culture or sub-culture, and history. The focus of this assignment will be the similarities and differences in adolescent development between females and males. Although each person has their own personality and a way of coping with situations these characteristics are also determined by their gender. The fact that you are women or men does affect the way you behave. Whether it is the reaction to stress or the way one addresses an emotional situation there are some components that are specifically associated with one gender or another and the same applies to adolescent development. One of “the first outward sign of puberty is the rapid gain in height and weight known as the growth spurt” (Berk, 2010). Statistically girls began this transition a little sooner then boys which stat shortly after 12 years old while girls began at about 10 years old. Although females tend to be heavier toward the beginning of puberty due to the hormonal secretion this does balance out with time when boys tend to be heavier. There are a number of other physical similarities, which include the presence of
Monika G. Bellman
PSYCH600
May 12, 2014
Shaun-Katherine Robles
Similarities and Differences in Adolescent Development The transition between childhood and adolescence can be quite difficult for a young person. It seems like not too long ago they were playing with dolls and building blocks and now their interests are more so geared toward social and romantic relationships, the way they perceive themselves and how others perceive them. Their emotions are becoming much more complex and although schools make an attempt to prepare youth for the changes associated with puberty the fact remains that until an individual doesn’t experience it on their own they are still going to be faced with many challenges. Puberty or the transition between childhoods to adolescence is affected by a number of factors, such as gender, culture or sub-culture, and history. The focus of this assignment will be the similarities and differences in adolescent development between females and males. Although each person has their own personality and a way of coping with situations these characteristics are also determined by their gender. The fact that you are women or men does affect the way you behave. Whether it is the reaction to stress or the way one addresses an emotional situation there are some components that are specifically associated with one gender or another and the same applies to adolescent development. One of “the first outward sign of puberty is the rapid gain in height and weight known as the growth spurt” (Berk, 2010). Statistically girls began this transition a little sooner then boys which stat shortly after 12 years old while girls began at about 10 years old. Although females tend to be heavier toward the beginning of puberty due to the hormonal secretion this does balance out with time when boys tend to be heavier. There are a number of other physical similarities, which include the presence of