Article Reflection 2 Psychology Essay Research Paper

Article Reflection 2
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Article Reflection 2
Part I: Article Based Question to Answer:
1. The authors argue that puberty is “not like a single doorway to adulthood: instead it is a long hallway” because even when a girl may develop one sign of puberty, there are other processes involved. Puberty develops uniquely in each individual and as such it is not a “one size fits all.” This interferes with studying puberty because while development of menstruation can be a clear benchmark, other areas of development such as breast buds, occur gradually. On the other hand, some girls start with breast buds while others start with pubic hair and so there is no clear definition of how puberty occurs.
2. Tanner identifies five stages of girl’s development based on physical characteristics. The stages are:
Tanner 1: The girl shows no changes since infancy (such as public hair or breast buds)
Tanner 2: Breast buds grow and signs of pubic hair
Tanner 3: Additional enlargement of the breast tissue and advancement in color and distribution of pubic hair
Tanner 4: Increase size of the breast including elevation of the nipple area and development of pubic hair similar to that of adults but does not reach the thighs
Tanner 5: Mature female breasts and public hair is adultlike and extends to the things
3. African Americans and Latino girls are likely to go through early puberty than their Caucasian counterparts because of the environment they grow. African Americans and Latinos are more likely to experience the risk factors of early puberty such as obesity. Early puberty has been linked to environmental factors such as higher body weight, which disproportionately affect minority groups. They also are at a greater risk of environmental pollutants such hormone-disrupting chemicals, which when combined with genes lead to early puberty.
4. The study focuses on a combination of environmental and genetic factors as a contributor to puberty development. The expression of genes becomes highly dynamic when reacting to environmental influences. For example, in girls, many neural and hormonal actions responsible for onset of puberty are highly susceptible to disruption and variation because of environmental changes. However, epigenetics can be used to help make the right lifestyle choices and decisions that can control early puberty. For example, eating the right foods, exercise, quality sleep, and relationships can influence whether genes are activated or suppressed.
5. Chemically, the root cause of increasing decline in age of breast bud development but not menarche is interruption of estrogen receptors. The environmental chemicals can act as estrogen receptors in the body causing an estrogen-mimicking effect. The process causes girls to develop breast buds earlier rather than earlier menstruation. The authors claim that breast tissue has more sensitivity to estrogen than menstruation. This explains the common incidents of girls developing breast buds as early as 7 or 8 years compared to menstruation. Another reason is a feedback loop where by chemicals that affect estrogen metabolism cause girls to accumulate more fat tissue leading to increase in release of estrogen. The fat or obesity plus estrogen contribute to early breast buds.
6. Belsky’s evolutionary view is that girls’ bodies may be going to early puberty as a response to human evolution. Nature allows puberty to occur early so that people can reproduce young and die young. For example, the chances of dying with breast cancer increases with early puberty and so nature allow the person to reproduce early on. For example, environmental chemicals may be alerting the body that the world is dangerous and brings in early puberty to reproduce earlier.
Part II: Interview Questions
Annabel is a 26-year-old Caucasian female born and raised in the United States.
1. Did you recall if you went through puberty earlier, later, or at the same time as your peers?
Annabel: I went through poverty almost the same time with my ...