Definition
Adolescence is the developmental period between childhood and adulthood. It is a unique time characterized by dramatic social transformations (e.g., friendships become more intimate) that occur alongside significant physical, cognitive, and psychological changes.
Introduction
Adolescence (broadly spanning 10–22 years old) is a unique period in development characterized by rapid and dramatic biological, cognitive, and social changes. For instance, most adolescents go through puberty, which involves hormonal shifts that trigger the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics and physical growth, in addition to changes in emotionality and behavior (e.g., Connolly et al. 1996). The adolescent brain also undergoes important structural and functional changes, including increased synaptic pruning (which contributes to growth in cognitive abilities) and further development of the prefrontal cortex (a...
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Etkin, R.G., Bowker, J.C. (2018). Adolescent Issues. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2467-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2467-1
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