Secondary sex characteristics are physical features that distinguish one gender from the other but that are not essential for reproduction. Puberty is the stage during which sexual functions reach maturity and that marks the beginning of adolescence. In females, the onset of puberty is typically signaled by menarche - the first occurrence of menstruation. In males, there is no comparable clear-cut marker of the onset of sexual maturity. The capacity to ejaculate sperm is used as a popular index of puberty.
Puberty arrives about two years later in boys than in girls.
Today's adolescents begin puberty earlier, and complete it more rapidly, than did their counterparts in earlier generations. Puberty also brings important changes in other body organs such as the heart and lungs increase considerably in size. Summarize the cognitive changes that occur during adolescence. Describe Erikson's psychosocial crisis of adolescence and Marcia's four identify statuses. During adolescence, the psychosocial crisis is identity versus diffusion.