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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–7Cite as

Adolescent Issues

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Synonyms

Issues related to adolescent development; Teenage issues

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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Rebecca G. Etkin & Julie C. Bowker

Authors
  1. Rebecca G. Etkin
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  2. Julie C. Bowker
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Correspondence to Rebecca G. Etkin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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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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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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