Question

Differentiate between adolescence and puberty.

Answer 1

Hint: Adolescence and puberty are the developmental stages in the life of a human being. They generally overlap with each other.

Complete answer:

Adolescence	Puberty
Adolescence refers to the period of psychological and social transition, generally, involving 10-19 years of age.	Puberty refers to the physical transition acquired during teenage. It generally begins at 11 years of age in females and 12 years of age in males.
It is a prolonged phenomenon and generally overlaps puberty but is distinct.	It can begin and end independently of adolescence.
It is described in terms of psychological mental, and sexual maturity, and decision-making ability. A fully adolescent person is called an adult.	It is described in physiological terms like the growth of pubic hairs, hoarseness of voice in males, muscular growth, development of breasts, development of sweat and sebaceous glands, etc.
It is acquired through practical apprehension and social maturity.	It is acquired with the help of hormones like testosterone in males and estrogen in females.

Note:
- Puberty is associated with the development of sex organs i.e. penis and testes in makes and ovaries in females. It also leads to the beginning of the menstrual cycle in females.
- Growth of hair in the pubic region such as armpits and groin region is the ‘first sign of puberty'.