It is the stage of life characterized by the appearance and development of secondary sex characteristics (for example, a deeper voice and larger Adam's apple in boys, and development of breasts and more curved and prominent hips in girls) and a strong shift in hormonal balance towards an adult state. Puberty occurs through a long process and begins with a surge in hormone production, which in turn causes a number of physical changes. Hormones play an organizational role, priming the body to behave in a certain way once puberty begins, and an active role, referring to changes in hormones during adolescence that trigger behavioral and physical changes. These changes are largely influenced by hormonal activity. Some of the most significant parts of pubertal development involve distinctive physiological changes in individuals' height, weight, body composition, and circulatory and respiratory systems. These factors can also contribute to precocious and delayed puberty. Every person's individual timetable for puberty is influenced primarily by heredity, although environmental factors, such as diet and exercise, also exert some influences. The average age of onset of puberty is at 11 for girls and 12 for boys. Puberty is a period of several years in which rapid physical growth and psychological changes occur, culminating in sexual maturity.
The structure has changed to resemble an adult form. 6 Promoting positive changes in adolescentsīiological development Puberty in general.5.5 Legal issues, rights and privileges.Some scientists have questioned the universality of adolescence as a developmental phase, arguing that traits often considered typical of adolescents are not in fact inherent to the teenage years. Developmental psychologists might focus on changes in relations with parents and peers as a function of school structure and pubertal status. Sociologists interested in adolescence might focus on the acquisition of social roles (e.g., worker or romantic partner) and how this varies across cultures or social conditions. For example, researchers in neuroscience or bio-behavioral health might focus on pubertal changes in brain structure and its effects on cognition or social relations. The study of adolescent development often involves interdisciplinary collaborations. Cognitive advances encompass both increment in knowledge and in the ability to think abstractly and to reason more effectively. Major pubertal and biological changes include changes to the sex organs, height, weight, and muscle mass, as well as major changes in brain structure and organization. In studying adolescent development, adolescence can be defined biologically, as the physical transition marked by the onset of puberty and the termination of physical growth cognitively, as changes in the ability to think abstractly and multi-dimensionally or socially, as a period of preparation for adult roles. Adolescence is usually accompanied by an increased independence allowed by the parents or legal guardians, including less supervision as compared to preadolescence. Such privileges and responsibilities include driving a vehicle, having legal sexual relations, serving in the armed forces or on a jury, purchasing and drinking alcohol, purchase of tobacco products, voting, entering into contracts, finishing certain levels of education, marriage, and accountability for upholding the law. Furthermore, even within a single nation, state or culture, there can be different ages at which an individual is considered mature enough for society to entrust them with certain privileges and responsibilities. The end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood varies by country. It is a period of multiple transitions involving education, training, employment, and unemployment, as well as transitions from one living circumstance to another. Within all of these perspectives, adolescence is viewed as a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, whose cultural purpose is the preparation of children for adult roles. Ī thorough understanding of adolescence in society depends on information from various perspectives, including psychology, biology, history, sociology, education, and anthropology. Thus, age provides only a rough marker of adolescence, and scholars have found it difficult to agree upon a precise definition of adolescence. Physical growth (particularly in males) and cognitive development can extend into the early twenties.
For example, puberty now typically begins during preadolescence, particularly in females. Adolescence is usually associated with the teenage years, but its physical, psychological or cultural expressions may begin earlier and end later. Adolescence (from Latin adolescere 'to mature') is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood ( age of majority).