adolescent growth spurt
a sudden, brief burst of physical growth during which adolescents 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 that 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 rounding of the hips and breasts in females
menarche
a female's first menstrual period
cliques
small, exclusive groups of people within a larger group
crowds
large groups of people who share attitudes and a group identity
identity crisis
a period of inner conflict during which one examines one's values and makes decisions about one's life direction
identity status
according to Marcia, 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 questions
anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss due to self-starvation
bulimia nervosa
an eating disorder in which enormous quantities of food are consumed and then purged by means of laxatives or self-induced vomiting
juvenile delinquency
a violation of the law committed by a child or adolescent
status offenses
actions that are illegal when committed by a minor, such as consuming alcohol