Question

In your discussion post be sure to address each of the following: Describe the patterns of physical maturation during puberty for males during adolescence. Describe the patterns of physical maturation during puberty for females during adolescence. Analyze the impact of early and late maturation on: Self-concept Self-Esteem Social relationships Describe what you believe is the biggest threat to adolescent well-being and why? Select one a moral dilemma and describe how you would have responded to the dilemma in EACH of the stages of Kohlberg’s theory.

Answer 1

During the teenage, the bodies of adolescents undergo several changes, that they often find strange to deal with initially. These bodily changes are called puberty. In males, it culminates in the form of growing bodily hair, including penis, undearms, face chest, legs, etc. Also, their voice begins to change and they gain height at a fast pace. The skin of the private parts becomes thinner and testicles hang lower. In girls, puberty is marked by physical changes as well. The signs are development if breasts, growing pubic hair, beginning of menstrual cycle, gaining body fat, etc. Early or late maturation can have a profound impact on the way adolescents perceive themselves and their form their self-concept,identity. Emotional distress, perceived popularity, teasing related to such changes (or little changes) impact this formation to a great deal. In fact this identity formation is greatly impacted by the social relationships that a child forms as well. This is mostly because adolescents in this stage gain their sense of identity and self-concept from their peer goup, social relationships and friends circle. The biggest threat in fact, in this stage could be a fear of isolation, lack of social acceptance/desirability, etc. Other than this, emotional distress and lack of coping with the immense changes in one's life could trigger this as well. Support systems are highly useful atthos point for adolescents. In the stages of the Kohlberg's theory, initially it would include reasoning about what's right, pondering over the conscience before making choices.