PSYC 2110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Secondary Sex Characteristic, Pubic Hair, Pituitary Gland
8 Jan 2020
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Document Summary
Can start early: age 9 or 10. Sexual maturation: changes in the reproductive organs. Signals other glands in children"s bodies to produce sex hormones at adult levels. In girls: breast enlarging, pituitary gland signals ovaries to produce estrogen, fat accumulates. In boys it starts and ends later. Start time and duration of puberty are highly variable in both sexes. The maturation of organs directly involved in reproduction: ovaries, uterus, vagina; scrotum, testes, penis. Girls: puberty begins with breast development, growth spurt, pubic hair. Boys: puberty begins with growth of testes/scrotum, followed by pubic hair, growth spurt. Girls are more likely to experience body dissatisfaction. Societal influences, earlier/more noticeable physical changes, others noticing emergence of adult appearance. Boys: more positive feelings about physical development and athletic abilities. More benefits for being treated more like an adult. Girls: more negative feelings, academic and social challenges, poorer outcomes, trouble at school. May engage in age inappropriate behavior with older peers.
