| Term | Definition |
|
adolescent growth spurt |
a sudden, brief burst of physical growth during which adolescence typically make great gains in height and weight |
|
puberty |
the period of sexual maturation; the onset of one’s ability to reproduce |
|
primary sex characteristics |
the organs make sexual reproduction possible, such as the ovaries and testes |
|
Secondary sex characteristics |
sexual characteristics that are not involved in reproduction, such as the growth of facial hair in males and the rounding of hips and breasts in females |
|
menarche |
a female’s first menstrual period |
|
Clique |
a small exclusive group of people within a larger group |
|
crowd |
large groups of people who share attitudes and a group identity |
|
identity crisis |
a period of inner conflict during which one examines one’s value’s and makes decisions about one’s true life |
|
identity status |
one of four reaction patterns or processes in the development of identity during adolescence |
|
Identity Moratorium |
a period of time in the development of identity in which a person delays making a decision about important issues but actively explores various alternatives |
|
Identity Foreclosure |
the act of making a commitment based on other’s values in order to avoid an identity crisis |
|
Identity diffusion |
the constant search for meaning and identity without committing oneself to a set of personal beliefs or an occupational path |
|
Identity achievement |
a stage in identity development in which a person has committed to an occupational direction and made decisions about important life decisions |
|
Anerexia Nervosa |
an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss due to self-starvation |
|
Bulimia |
an eating disorder in which enormous quantities of food are consumed and then purged by means of laxatives or self-induced vomiting |
|
Juvenile Delinquincy |
a violation of the law committed by a child or adolescent |
|
status offense |
an action that is illegal when committed by a minor, such as consuming alcohol |