Development During Adolescence :: Human Development Teenagers Essays

Adolescence is the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood; it generally refers to a period ranging from age 12 or 13 through age 19 or 21. Although its beginning is often balanced with the beginning of puberty, adolescence is characterized by psychological and social stages as well as by biological changes. Adolescence can be prolonged, brief, or virtually nonexistent, depending on the type of culture in which it occurs. In societies that are simple, for example, the transition from childhood to adulthood tends to occur rather rapidly, and is marked by traditionally prescribed passage rites. to contrast this, American and European societies the transition period for young people has been steadily lengthening over the past 100 years, giving rise to an adolescent subculture. As a result of this prolonged transitional stage a variety of problems and concerns specifically associated with this age group have developed. Psychologists single out four areas that especially touch upon adolescent behavior and development: physiological change and growth; cognitive, or mental development; identity, or personality formation; and parent-adolescent relations. Physiological Change: Between the ages of 9 and 15, almost all young people undergo a rapid series of physiological changes, known as the adolescent growth spurt. These hormonal changes include an acceleration in the body's growth rate; the development of pubic hair; the appearance of axillary, or armpit, hair about two years later. There are changes in the structure and functioning of the reproductive organs; the mammary glands in girls; and development of the sweat glands, which often leads to an outbreak of acne. In both sexes, these physiological changes occur at different times. This period of change can prove to be very stressful for a pre-teen. For during this stage of life appearance is very important. An adolescent child who develops very early or extremely late can take a lot of ridicule from his or her peers. However, the time at which a girl goes through this stage and a male goes through it are different. Girls typically begin their growth spurt shortly after age 10. They tend to reach their peak around the age 12, and tend to finish by age 14. This spurt occurs almost two years later in boys. Therefore boys go through a troubling period where girls are taller and heavier than them. This awkward period occurs from ages ten and one-half to thirteen. Time is not the only difference in the pubescent period for boys and girls. In girls, the enlargement of the breasts is usually the first physical

Physicians Clash over Medical Ethics in Death Penalty Cases Essay

The news clipping is mainly about the dilemma doctors face. They are trained to save people. They did not choose their profession to punish law-violating citizens. Specifically, this topic has been given hype by Dr. Marc Stern who quit on his job of being the head doctor in the state of Washington’s prison whose responsibilities included maintaining the lethal injection table in order for the next death sentence. In the past several years, according to the article, medical ethics and death penalty has clashed. There are a number of instances in the past where doctors bailed out of the execution causing delay in the death penalty; case in point: Michael Morales. The article also stated that the problem does not stop here. This ethical dilemma against professional participation needs careful and further study. Capital punishment and justice would be difficult to serve if all doctors are concerned about ethics. Experts went as far as predicting capital punishment could end because of this ethical issues. Ethical dilemma The whole article is about ethical dilemma. Doctors do not want to continue participating in capital punishment (overseeing death penalties) as this poses ethical issues for them. Most of them belive the punishment is cruel and unusual. Also, doctors are trained to save lives and not to end it. Personal thoughts on the matter I understand that being an object to end another person’s life when one is trained to help save it could have severe impact on one’s conscience. The human world has become civilized enough over the course of history to preserve one another. It is even more emphasized in a doctor’s profession where preservation of mankind has been his chosen field and career. However, if all doctors feel this way, I can see the nation revolting. Without a trained professional in the death sentence chamber, there is no way an execution will happen. I can foresee various forms of protests because somehow, justice must be served according to the laws of the state. The person in death sentence was found guilty of an offense that demerits him his life. The family and friends of his victim/s have turned into the law for support to the injustice done to them. The law cannot fail these people because doctors cannot do their state-given responsibilities. There must be some doctors out there that are willing to do the job. I am not saying that the state must find conscienceless professional so that the death penalty can still be observed. There must be some doctors in the field that understand their moral obligations and their obligations to the state. Like it or not, the prosecution must be finished. They cannot let the convicted criminal die in the hands of non-professionals nor can they let the families and friends of the victims live in injustice.

Theme Of Identity, Bullying And Conformity In Jerry...

In the novel â€Å"Stargirl† by Jerry Spinelli the theme develops through identity, bullying and conformity. Stargirl’s identity plays a part in the theme because she is different than everybody else. Another topic that plays a role in the theme of â€Å"Stargirl† is bullying because the students bully Stargirl for being herself. The final topic that plays a role in developing the theme is conformity because Stargirl conforms to be like the others, but then she realises that she wants to be herself. There are many themes in â€Å"Stargirl†, but overall theme in the novel â€Å"Stargirl† is always be yourself. Identity shapes the theme of â€Å"Stargirl† because she isn’t happier when her peers accepted her, she is truly happy when she is herself. One of the first†¦show more content†¦This is when Leo and Kevin are filming hot seat with Stargirl and the student jury started asking some very rude things. Proving that bullying wi ll make Stargirl be someone she is not. An additional instance of bullying developing the theme is on page 165 it reads, â€Å"Classrooms, hallways, courtyard, lunchroom- everywhere I went I heard her disparaged, mocked, and slurred.† (Spinelli, page 165) This occurs after Stargirl tries to fit in but the students still bully her so a little later she decides that she should just be herself. This confirms that bullying will make Stargirl be someone she is not just to stop being bullied. Therefore this proves that bullying will force Stargirl to be someone she is not. The final topic that shapes the theme, always be yourself, in the book â€Å"Stargirl† is conformity because in Mica everybody is the same and when Stargirl gets there they want her to be like them, forcing Stargirl to conform if she wants to fit in, but Stargirl later finds that she doesn’t want to fit in, she just wants to be herself. An instance of conformity shaping the novel’s theme is o n page 10 where Leo explains â€Å"...we all wore the same clothes, talked the same way, ate the same food, listened to the same music.† (Spinelli, page 10). This is when Leo explains how everyone is the same. Proving that everybody in Mica acts the same way. Another example of conformity advancing the theme is on page 26 and Leo realises what makes Stargirl stand out â€Å"Because she wasShow MoreRelatedStargirl, A Microcosm of Societal Conformity Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pagespertained to as conformity. Conformity refers to the process by which an individuals attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours are influenced by other individuals. Except, how do these necessities manipulate a being? Social psychologists have conducted an assortment of experiments and concluded that, through a range of forms of social influence, groups can alter their members’ personality. Jerry Spinelli’s novel Stargirl depicts the physiological troubles with conformity as it’s main t heme. Furthermore it