Puberty's Psychological Aspects
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Throughout life human beings go through specific periods of growth and development. As adolescents change and mature they go through a rapid period of physical maturation called puberty. This period involves both hormonal and bodily changes. (Santrock 50). During this time girls and boys both mature in very physical ways (girls develop breasts and hips, and boy’s voices get deeper and they grow taller). They also undergo many hormonal changes (girls have an increase in estrogens while boys have an increase in androgens).
While these very physical and anatomical changes are taking place, it is also important to remember that many psychological changes are also occurring. In fact, there are probably as many psychological changes as there are physical changes. These changes occur because both the way adolescents see themselves and the way the world treats them changes dramatically. As a result of these psychological changes, many behaviors will change as well as how adolescents view the world around them.
One change that occurs psychologically during puberty is the adolescent’s body image. Adolescents seem to take an acute interest in how their body is changing on a day-to-day basis. In early adolescence this trend seems to be at its peek because many adolescents seem to have a negative outlook on their body and how it is changing. This idea of body image can be both enlightening and distressing for many adolescents. In today’s society kids are constantly being bombarded with pictures of how they are suppose to look, when adolescents begin to mature in a way that seems “abnormal” or not the same as the movie stars they aspire to be it can take a psychological toll. However, as adolescents progress through puberty most become satisfied with their body image. (Lawler & Nixon, 2010) (Markey, 2010) (Murray Byrne & Riegner, 2011)
Another psychological aspect that comes to the surface during puberty is the role of gender differences in adolescents’ lives. As discussed earlier, during adolescence many adolescents change their personal view of their body (body image). However, there is a slight difference in how boys view their body’s maturation and how girls view the same thing. While boys tend to become more satisfied with their body image and changes, girls tend to become dissatisfied. Also stereotypes tend to surface during these years. Girls are expected to put on makeup, and dress up. Boys are expected to get in trouble, and make stupid mistakes. Gender stereotypes that were not always there when they were children tend to arise and become very important as adolescents move through puberty.(Crespo, 2010) (Yaun, 2010)
During puberty boys and girls both experience and increase in hormones. These hormonal increases can have a negative effect in some adolescents. For example girls with high estrogen levels may experience depression, and higher levels of androgens in early-maturing girls may lead to an increase in sexual arousal. (Vermeersch, 2008) (Van Goozen, 1998) (Blakemore, 2009) (Susman, 2009)
While hormones cause many adolescents to act out, or inappropriately, it is important to look at external causes of bad behavior as well. Many social and societal aspects have an affect on how adolescents will go through puberty. Parent-child relationships, and how other adolescents perceive one another are just two examples of different social aspects that can affect how adolescents behave. (Brookes-Gunn, 1989) (Booth, 2003)
One of the last psychological aspects of puberty is when puberty actually begins. Early-maturing boys tend to see themselves in a more positive way than late- maturing boys (Peskin,1967). Early-maturing girls, however seem to be more susceptible to external problems such as: drinking, smoking, early on sexual intercourse. They also seem more likely to be depressed, have an eating disorder, and struggle for independence (DeRose,2011).
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While these very physical and anatomical changes are taking place, it is also important to remember that many psychological changes are also occurring. In fact, there are probably as many psychological changes as there are physical changes. These changes occur because both the way adolescents see themselves and the way the world treats them changes dramatically. As a result of these psychological changes, many behaviors will change as well as how adolescents view the world around them.
One change that occurs psychologically during puberty is the adolescent’s body image. Adolescents seem to take an acute interest in how their body is changing on a day-to-day basis. In early adolescence this trend seems to be at its peek because many adolescents seem to have a negative outlook on their body and how it is changing. This idea of body image can be both enlightening and distressing for many adolescents. In today’s society kids are constantly being bombarded with pictures of how they are suppose to look, when adolescents begin to mature in a way that seems “abnormal” or not the same as the movie stars they aspire to be it can take a psychological toll. However, as adolescents progress through puberty most become satisfied with their body image. (Lawler & Nixon, 2010) (Markey, 2010) (Murray Byrne & Riegner, 2011)
Another psychological aspect that comes to the surface during puberty is the role of gender differences in adolescents’ lives. As discussed earlier, during adolescence many adolescents change their personal view of their body (body image). However, there is a slight difference in how boys view their body’s maturation and how girls view the same thing. While boys tend to become more satisfied with their body image and changes, girls tend to become dissatisfied. Also stereotypes tend to surface during these years. Girls are expected to put on makeup, and dress up. Boys are expected to get in trouble, and make stupid mistakes. Gender stereotypes that were not always there when they were children tend to arise and become very important as adolescents move through puberty.(Crespo, 2010) (Yaun, 2010)
During puberty boys and girls both experience and increase in hormones. These hormonal increases can have a negative effect in some adolescents. For example girls with high estrogen levels may experience depression, and higher levels of androgens in early-maturing girls may lead to an increase in sexual arousal. (Vermeersch, 2008) (Van Goozen, 1998) (Blakemore, 2009) (Susman, 2009)
While hormones cause many adolescents to act out, or inappropriately, it is important to look at external causes of bad behavior as well. Many social and societal aspects have an affect on how adolescents will go through puberty. Parent-child relationships, and how other adolescents perceive one another are just two examples of different social aspects that can affect how adolescents behave. (Brookes-Gunn, 1989) (Booth, 2003)
One of the last psychological aspects of puberty is when puberty actually begins. Early-maturing boys tend to see themselves in a more positive way than late- maturing boys (Peskin,1967). Early-maturing girls, however seem to be more susceptible to external problems such as: drinking, smoking, early on sexual intercourse. They also seem more likely to be depressed, have an eating disorder, and struggle for independence (DeRose,2011).
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Concept Applied in the Classroom
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As a middle school teacher it is important to understand the hormonal changes that are starting to occur in students. Understanding how these hormones might affect behavior and overall school satisfaction may help a teacher create teaching strategies that help ensure healthy progression through puberty. Also understanding the various psychological changes that are occurring in students might help a teacher stay aware of how they perceive and treat their students. Knowing that students are possibly having a hard time understanding and accepting their body image may help teachers be more sympathetic toward certain students.
In a psychology class there are multiple ways not only to teach about puberty but also allow students (especially at the middle school level) to learn more about the changes that are occurring in their body (students should already have a pretty good knowledge of puberty from health classes). For example a psychology teacher may assign a project, where each student is assigned an unpleasant aspect of puberty (zits, body odor, growing pains, etc.). They would then have to do research on the reason this aspect occurs during puberty. They would then have to create a creative radio/TV/newspaper advertisement about how to prevent or help the unpleasantness of this aspect of puberty. Not only does this activity teach students about the changes occurring but it also teaches them how to take care of themselves while the more unpleasant parts of puberty surface. (2.4/2.6)
A psychology teacher may also choose to have after school group therapy sessions if she feels a need. This is where students, who feel they have something that is bothering them, and would like to talk about, can go and communicate their emotions in a healthy way. This should be an environment where everyone would feel excepted and belonging. It should be a place where adolescents feel comfortable talking about their feelings. (5.1)
In a psychology class there are multiple ways not only to teach about puberty but also allow students (especially at the middle school level) to learn more about the changes that are occurring in their body (students should already have a pretty good knowledge of puberty from health classes). For example a psychology teacher may assign a project, where each student is assigned an unpleasant aspect of puberty (zits, body odor, growing pains, etc.). They would then have to do research on the reason this aspect occurs during puberty. They would then have to create a creative radio/TV/newspaper advertisement about how to prevent or help the unpleasantness of this aspect of puberty. Not only does this activity teach students about the changes occurring but it also teaches them how to take care of themselves while the more unpleasant parts of puberty surface. (2.4/2.6)
A psychology teacher may also choose to have after school group therapy sessions if she feels a need. This is where students, who feel they have something that is bothering them, and would like to talk about, can go and communicate their emotions in a healthy way. This should be an environment where everyone would feel excepted and belonging. It should be a place where adolescents feel comfortable talking about their feelings. (5.1)