Numerous psychological, cognitive, identity and social developments occur during adolescence. One of the major changes that occurs during this transformation from childhood to adulthood is the expression of sexual characteristics. Sexual characteristics begin to emerge when the adolescent begins to experience puberty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Puberty is defined as sexual maturation in late childhood related to a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and social changes (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010 ). Puberty occurs when pulsatile secretion of skirt dotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is initiated and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is activated. These hormones stimulate other endocrine glands to increase their hormone production, which include the testes-gonads in males and the ovaries in females, which now increase the production of both masculinizing hormones and feminizing hormones. These hormones are produced in both males and females, but in different ratios. Puberty often begins in females between the ages of eight and thirteen and in boys between the ages of nine and fourteen. However, African American girls have also been shown to reach puberty earlier than any other girls, with puberty starting as early as age six (Carel & Leger, 2008). Puberty corresponds to the adolescent growth spurt, which is a rapid increase in size accompanied by changes in body shape and proportions. Over the course of about four years, different parts of the body will grow. Facial features, such as ears and nose, will grow before the skull. The hands, arms and feet will grow before the torso. There may also be asymmetries in growth between the two sides of the body, with one breast or testicle growing before the other (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). During puberty, girls put on about fifteen pounds on average. The growth spurt will begin and end about two years earlier than for boys. Girls will experience breast growth and increased pelvic spread. Boys will gain on average about forty-two pounds. The heart and lungs will increase more than in girls, as will bone mass and muscle tissue. Both males and females will gain approximately ten inches in height. A popular topic to discuss regarding puberty is the behavioral changes (adolescent moodiness) experienced. G. Stanley Hall called the complete set of difficult behaviors the storm and stress of adolescence. The storm and stress of adolescence includes characteristics such as increased conflict, mood swings, negative affect, and risky behaviors. Bad mood and negative affect, including depressed mood, are increased by hormones, but only when combined with other negative life events. Girls are more susceptible to depressive moods than boys. This is apparently due to differences in stress and methods of dealing with it. Girls are also more likely than boys to cope with stress using a ruminative coping style, which increases the risk of depression (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). Early and late puberty can influence adolescent psychological well-being. The reasons mainly depend on factors other than hormones. Girls begin puberty earlier than boys, and girls who mature early are older than most other children. Bigger, heavier girls tend to be more dissatisfied with their bodies, especially in a culture that prides itself on the sliminess of women. It is also more likely to be taken in, 2012).