Adolescence in

Middle School
Development
STAGE AGE

Prenatal Conception to Birth

Infancy & Toddlerhood Birth – 2 years

Early Childhood 2 – 6 years

Middle Childhood 6 – 11 years

Adolescence 11 – 18 years

Early Adulthood 18 – 40 years

Middle Adulthood 40 - 65 years

Late Adulthood 65 years - death

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Adolescence is the transition
between childhood and
adulthood.

Puberty, a series of biological

events leading to an
adult-sized body and sexual
maturity, marks the beginning
of adolescence.
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 Physical
Development

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 BOYS GIRLS

Growth Spurt Starts at age 12.5 Starts at age 10

Proportions Shoulders Hips broaden

broaden, longer
legs

Muscle-fat Gain more Gain more fat

makeup muscle, aerobic
efficiency

Hormonal Testosterone Estrogen

Changes Increase Increase
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What is & what happens
during Puberty
❏ Both heredity and physical health contribute to
pubertal growth
❏ Voice changes, primarily in boys
❏ Both biological and social forces contribute to the
experience of adolescence
❏ Compared to girls, boys tend to receive less social
support for the physical changes of puberty
❏ Psychological distancing between parents and
children is normal during adolescence, and most
parent-child conflict is mild.
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 Cognitive
Development
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Formal Operational
Stage
❏ Age 11+ ❏ Includes 2 major features
❏ Characterized by the ❏ Hypothetico-Deducti
capacity for abstract, ve Reasoning
systematic, and ❏ Propositional
scientific thinking Thought
❏ Can develop new logical
rules through internal
reflection

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Hypothetico-Deductive
Reasoning
When faced with a problem…
1. Hypothesis created
2. Hypothesis used to generate logical inferences
3. Determine if inferences confirm real world by
isolating and combining variables

Propositional Thought
The ability to evaluate logic of proposals without
concrete real world circumstances.
Ex: Elephants are bigger than dogs and dogs are bigger
than mice. Therefore, elephants are bigger than mice.
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Changes in the Brain
1) Significant
cerebral cortex and
3) Sleep Regulation
frontal lobes
- adolescents will go
shaping - a
to bed later but
decrease of gray
2) Heightened need slightly more
matter in the brain.
brain response to sleep each night (~9
The “Use it or lose
emotional hours)
it” period of
mindsets and information,
behaviors. particularly
situations with high
emotional urgency
or intensity.

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Decision-Making
Despite enhanced Poor decision making
cognitive processing, impacted by:
adolescents struggle 1) Insufficient knowledge
with rational decision or lack of experience
making - complete 2) Competing goals -
pre-frontal cortex social status versus
what is right
development is not
3) Short term > long term
finished until ages 25-30. 4) Self-centric habits

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Language and
Literacy
Development

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Communication Changes
❏ Slang becomes a popular way of speaking amongst
peers
❏ Non-verbals slowly become more noticeable and
used to heighten communication intentions
❏ Reading becomes more complex, and adolescents
may struggle to adjust to the rigor
❏ Interested in arguing and debating
Emotional and Social
Development

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Identity and Role Confusion
Identity Development:
❏ Involves defining who you are and what you value
❏ Personality solidification
❏ Direction paves way for motivation and goal-setting

As adolescents are undergoing their own identity development,

they often experience…

Role Confusion:
❏ Lack of direction
❏ Unresolved childhood conflicts
❏ Identity impacted by social pressures
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Self-Concept
Industry
❏ When adolescents develop a sense of competence at useful
skills and task
❏ Promotes a positive self-concept and self-esteem, pride in
accomplishments, and participation

Inferiority
❏ Results when adolescents develop little confidence and are
pessimistic in their abilities
❏ Negative self-concept and self-esteem. Results in isolation.

*Both engage adolescents in social comparison

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Peer Relations
Peer Relationships
❏ Trust becomes a defining feature
❏ Friendships are more selective
❏ Friends are selected that are similar to
oneself
❏ Concerned about acceptance in a peer
Group

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 General Self Esteem

Social Physical /
Academic Physical
Competence Athletic
Competence Appearance
Competence

Other Relationships Outdoor Various

Language Relationships
Math School with Peers with Parents Games Games
Arts
Subjects

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Resources for Adolescent Parents

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