Characteristics of Adolescent Psychology — Physical Development of Adolescent Psychology The adolescent phase is a period of human life that is very strategic, important and has a broad impact on subsequent development. In early adolescence, physical growth is very rapid but disproportionate, for example in the nose, hands, and feet.
In late adolescence, body proportions reach adult size in all its parts. In relation to this physical development, the most important development is that this aspect of sexuality can be divided into two parts, namely:
1) Primary Sex Traits The psychological development of male adolescents experiences rapid growth in the testes, the vessels that produce sperm and the prostate gland. The maturation of these sexual organs allows teenage boys, around the age of 14-15 years, to experience “wet dreams”, releasing sperm. In adolescent girls, there is rapid growth in the uterus and ovaries which produce ova (egg cells) and hormones for pregnancy. As a result there is a cycle of “menarche” (first menstruation). The early menstrual cycle is often accompanied by headaches, backaches, fatigue, depression, and irritability. Adolescent psychology.
2) Secondary Sex Traits The psychological development of adolescents in secondary sexuality is growth that complements individual maturity so that they appear as male or female. Teenage boys experience hair growth on their mustaches, sideburns, beards, hands, feet, armpits, and genitals.
In men, Adam’s Adam’s apple has grown and the male voice has turned hoarse and low. The skin turns rough. In adolescent girls also experience hair growth is more limited, namely in the armpits and genitals. Growth also occurs in the glands that will produce milk in the breasts, as well as growth in the hips so that they become proportionally adult women.
B. Cognitive Development of Adolescent Psychology Brain growth reaches perfection at the age of 12-20 years functionally, cognitive development (thinking ability) of adolescents can be described as follows:
a. Intellectually, adolescents begin to think logically about abstract ideas
b. The functioning of high-level cognitive activities, namely making plans, strategies, making decisions, and solving problems
c. Already able to use abstractions, distinguish the concrete from the abstract
d. The emergence of the ability to reason scientifically, learn to test hypotheses
e. Thinking about the future, planning, and exploring alternatives to achieve it adolescent psychology
f. Began to realize efficient thinking processes and learn to introspect
g. Insight of thinking is getting wider, can include religion, justice, morality, and identity (identity).
