Question

Discuss the characteristics of adolescence stage? 8marks question​

Answer 1

Answer:

Physical development refers to bodily changes including growth, improved gross and fine motor skills, and biological maturity. In early adolescence, the young adolescent body undergoes more developmental change than at any other time except from birth to two years old. Young adolescents' growth is accelerated and uneven (California State Department of Education, 1987; Kellough & Kellough, 2008; Manning, 2002; Scales, 1991, 2010; Wiles, Bondi, & Wiles, 2006). Developmental growth includes significant increases in height, weight, and internal organ size as well as changes in skeletal and muscular systems (Kellough & Kellough, 2008) with growth spurts occurring about two years earlier in girls than boys (Brighton, 2007; Tanner, 1973). Because bones are growing faster than muscles, young adolescents often experience coordination issues. Actual growing pains result when muscles and tendons do not adequately protect bones (Kellough & Kellough, 2008; Wiles et al., 2006). Fluctuations in basal metabolism cause these youth to experience periods of restlessness and lassitude (Kellough & Kellough, 2008). Young adolescents, particularly European-American youth, are often physically vulnerable due to improper nutrition, poor physical fitness, and health habits (Scales, 2010) as well as high-risk behaviors such as alcohol or drug use (Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2011) and sexual activity.

Puberty, a phase of physiological change triggered by the release of hormones, begins in early adolescence (Manning & Bucher, 2012). The onset of puberty is an intense developmental period with hormones signaling the development of primary sex characteristics (genitalia) and secondary sex characteristics (e.g., breast development in girls; facial hair in boys). Girls tend to mature one to two years earlier than boys (Caissy, 2002). The increased adrenal hormone production affects skeletal growth, hair production, and skin changes (Dahl, 2004). These highly visible changes and disparate rates of maturity cause many young adolescents to feel uncomfortable about differences in their physical development (Simmons & Blyth, 2008).

The young adolescent brain undergoes remarkable physical development. While brain size remains relatively unchanged, researchers report significant changes within the brain (Blakemore & Choudhury, 2006; Casey, Giedd, & Thomas, 2000; Dahl, 2004). During early adolescence, synaptic pruning is actively restructuring the brain's neural circuitry (Giedd, 2004; Nagel, 2010). The prefrontal cortex—an area of the brain that handles executive functions such as planning, reasoning, anticipating consequences, sustaining attention, and making decisions—continues to develop. Additionally, gender-specific differences are evident in young adolescent brains (see Caskey & Ruben, 2007.)

Physical development often affects young adolescents' emotional/ psychological and social development. Practitioners (e.g., teachers or guidance counselors) and parents can alleviate young adolescents' concerns about physical development by explaining that these changes are natural and common (Strahan, L'Esperance, & Van Hoose, 2009; Wiles et al., 2006). Adults can provide accurate information, respond to questions, and encourage young adolescents to consult credible resources (Scales, 2010).

Schools can support physical development by offering responsive educational opportunities for young adolescents. Among these opportunities are health and science curricula that describe and explain physical changes (Kellough & Kellough, 2008). Schools also need to provide (a) programs that encourage adequate exercise and healthy lifestyles, (b) access to plenty of water and nutritious food during the school day, (c) appropriate instruction concerning the risks of alcohol and drug use, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. Young adolescents must be afforded opportunities for physical movement and periods of rest (George & Alexander, 1993). When young adolescents avoid physical activity due to concerns about body image (Milgram, 1992), teachers can incorporate movement in classroom activities, minimize peer competition, and interrupt comparisons between early and late maturing youth.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

Hope it will clear to you...plz mark me brainlist

Explanation:

Characteristic # 1

A period of Rapid Physical/Biological Changes, has Psychological Repercussions Too:

The growth of the pelvis bone, the filling out of breast, growing in size and sensitivity of genitalia, growing of pubic and axillary hair, deepening of voice, acne, and the menarche are the main physical and biological developments in girls which make them confused and apprehensive.

Both in boys and girls, the secretion of hormones from adrenal and gonads, and supported by what is secreted from the glandular anterior and the posterior neural portions of the pituitary gland, bring about rapid changes in size and strength of bones, muscles, nervous systems and especially in the reproductive organs which become fully matured for the sexual function.

Characteristic # 2

Appearance-Consciousness:

During adolescence, both the girl and the boy, grow very much conscious about their appearance. As physical changes are very rapidly taking place, affecting the appearance of the adolescent, “how do I appear?” becomes his or her haunting concern. An adolescent would do all that he or she can to develop and maintain an attractive look. One grows very particular regarding one’s dress, hair-style and so on.

Characteristic # 3

Attraction Towards the Opposite Sex:

The pubic changes in the girl, and in the boy, make one feel a strong attraction towards the other. The physical growth during the period of adolescence, makes one attractive for the opposite sex. Nevertheless, it entails the problem of adaptability to peers of the same sex, and to those of the opposite sex.

Characteristic # 4

Career-Consciousness:

A mention, by the way, has already been made that an adolescent starts thinking about his career at this stage. Now, one happens to be mature enough to think of the importance of a good job in life. Looking to his own parents and to others, he can very well realise the importance of a good job for a respectable and comfortable life.

Characteristic # 5

Emotional Conditions:

An adolescent boy or girl may take any rash or reckless step out of anger or frustration. An adolescent lacks in emotional maturity.

Failure in education, in love affairs, in pursuing an act of his or her interest—may it be playing or loitering with his or her peers, or seeing a picture or watching a television serial and so on, soon upsets an adolescent; cool or objective thinking, generally, should be taken to be too much to expect of an adolescent.