Skip to main content

Pubertal Change and Cognition

  • Chapter
Book cover Girls at Puberty

Abstract

Early adolescence, the stage of life during which puberty takes place, is a time of some very interesting changes in cognition. It is the time for the onset of the final stage in Piaget’s (Inhelder and Piaget, 1958) conceptualization of cognitive development, a stage characterized by the development of the capacity for abstract thinking, or formal operational thought. While not all early adolescents, or even adults, manifest such thinking (Elkind, 1974), early adolescence is a time when some young people first manifest abstract thinking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Carey, S. Maturational factors in human development. In D. Caplan (Ed.), Biological studies of mental processes. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1980, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, S. Spatial reorganization at adolescence. Presentation at a conference on Gender-Role Development: Conceptual and Methodological Issues sponsored by NICHD in Bethesda, MD, September 30-October 2, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, S., and Diamond, R. Maturational determination of the developmental course of face encoding. In D. Caplan (Ed.), Biological studies of mental processes. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1980, 60–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, S., Diamond, R., and Woods, B. Development of face recognition—maturational component? Developmental Psychology, 1980, 16, 257–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichorn, D. H., and Bayley, N. Growth in head circumference from birth through young adulthood. Child Development, 1962, 33, 257–271.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elkind, D. Children and adolescents: Interpretive essays on Jean Piaget. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, H. T. Phrenoblysis: Special brain and mind growth periods. I. Human brain and skull development. Developmental Psychobiology, 1974a, 7, 207–216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, H. T. Phrenoblysis: Special brain and mind growth periods. II. Human mental development. Developmental Psychobiology, 1974b, 7, 217–224.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, H. T. Growth spurts during brain development: Implications for educational policy and practice. In J. S. Chall and A. F. Mirsky (Eds.), Education and the brain. Chicago: Society for the Study of Education, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, H. T., and Epstein, E. B. The relationship between brain weight and head circumference from birth to age 18 years. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1978, 48, 471–474.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenough, W. T., Volkmar, F. R., and Juraska, J. M. Effects of rearing complexity on dendritic branching in frontolateral and temporal cortex of the rat. Experimental Neurology, 1973, 41, 371–378.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamburg, B. A. Early adolescence: A specific and stressful stage of the life cycle. In G. V. Coelho, D. A. Hamburg, and J. E. Adams (Eds.), Coping and adaptation. New York: Basic Books, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst, L., and Petersen, A. C. Timing of maturation, brain lateralization and cognitive performance in adolescent females. Paper presented at the meeting of the Fifth Annual Conference on Research on Women and Education, Cleveland, November 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst, L., and Petersen, A. C. Timing of maturation, brain lateralization and cognitive performance. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Asso-cation, Montreal, September 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inhelder, B., and Piaget, J. The growth of logical thinking from childhood to adolescence. New York: Basic Books, 1958.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kavrell, S. M. and Petersen, A. C. Patterns of achievement in early adolescence In M. L. Maehr and M. W. Steinkamp (Eds.), Women and science. Greenwich, Conn.: Jai Press, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsbourne, M. and Hiscock, M. Does cerebral dominance develop? In S. J. Segalowitz and F. A. Gruber (Eds.), Language development and neurological theory. New York: Academic Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsbourne, M., and Hiscock, M. Cerebral lateralization and cognitive development. In J. S. Chall and A. F. Mirsky (Eds.), Education and the brain. Chicago: National Society for the Study of Education, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. E., and Jacklin, C. N. The psychology of sex differences. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcombe, N., Bandura, N. M., and Taylor, D. G. Sex differences in spatial ability and spatial activities. Sex Roles,in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C. Physical androgyny and cognitive functioning in adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 1976, 12, 524–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C. Differential cognitive functioning at adolescence. In M. Sugar (Ed.), Female adolescent development. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C. Biopsychosocial processes in the development of sex-related differences. In J. E. Parsons (Ed.), The psychobiology of sex differences and sex roles. Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C. Does pubertal change affect cognition in girls? Invited presentation at a Female Adolescent Development conference sponsored by the Personal Products Company at LaJolla, California, March 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C. Menarche: Meaning of measures and measuring meaning. In S. Golub (Ed.), Menarche. New York: Heath, in press. Petersen, A. C. and Spiga, R. Adolescence and stress. In L. Goldberger and S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress: Theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C., and Taylor, B. The biological approach to adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C., and Wittig, M. A. Sex-related differences in cognition functioning: An overview. In M. A. Wittig and A. C. Petersen (Eds.), Sex-related differences in cognitive functioning: Developmental issues. New York: Academic Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C., Tobin-Richards, M., and Crockett, L. Sex differences. In H. E. Mitzel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Research. 5th ed. New York: Free Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R. G., Rosenberg, F., and Rosenberg, M. Disturbance in the self-image at adolescence. American Sociological Review, 1973, 38, 553–568.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, R. G., Blyth, D. B., Van Cleave, E. F., and Bush, D. M. Entry into early adolescence: The impact of school structure, puberty, and early dating on self-esteem. American Sociological Review, 1979, 44, 948–967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Starck, R., Genesee, F., Lambert, W. E., and Sikes, M. Multiple language experience and the development of cerebral dominance. In S. J. Segalowitz and F. A. Gruber (Eds.), Language development and neurological theory. New York: Academic Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobin-Richards, M., and Petersen, A. C. Spatial and sex-appropriate activities. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, August 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toepfer, C. F. The process of the middle school. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Middle School Association in St. Louis, November 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toepfer, C. F. Brain growth periodization in young adolescents: Some educational implications. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Boston, April 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waber, D. P. Sex differences in cognition: A function of maturation rate? Science, 1976, 192, 572–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waber, D. P. Sex differences in mental abilities, hemisphere lateralization, and rate of pysical growth at adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 1977, 13, 29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waber, D. P. Cognitive abilities and sex-related variations in the maturation of cerebral cortical functions. In M. A. Wittig and A. C. Petersen (Eds.), Sex-related differences in cognitive functioning: Developmental issues. New York: Academic Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, P. H. Measuring maturation: Myelinogenesis and brain function. Andover Review, 1978, 5, 69–79.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Petersen, A.C. (1983). Pubertal Change and Cognition. In: Brooks-Gunn, J., Petersen, A.C. (eds) Girls at Puberty. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0356-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0354-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics