Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

414 Chapter 
12 
Development
The picture differs for girls. Although early-maturing girls 
are more sought after as dates and have better self-esteem than 
later-maturing girls, some consequences of early physical mat-
uration may be less positive. For example, early breast devel-
opment may set them apart from their peers and be a source 
of ridicule (Franko & Striegel-Moore, 2002; Olivardia & Pope, 
2002; Nadeem & Graham, 2005). 
Late physical maturation may produce certain psycho-
logical diffi culties for both boys and girls. Boys who are 
smaller and less coordinated than their more mature peers 
tend to feel ridiculed and less attractive. Similarly, late-matur-
ing girls are at a disadvantage in middle school and early high 
school. They hold relatively low social status and may be over-
looked in dating (Lanza & Collins, 2002). 
Clearly, the rate at which physical changes occur during 
adolescence can affect the way in which people are viewed by 
others and the way they view themselves. Just as important 
as physical changes, however, are the psychological and social 
changes that unfold during adolescence.
Moral and Cognitive 
Development: Distinguishing 
Right from Wrong
In a European country, a woman is near death from a special kind of cancer. The one drug 
that the doctors think might save her is a medicine that a medical researcher has recently 
discovered. The drug is expensive to make, and the researcher is charging ten times the 
cost, or $5,000, for a small dose. The sick woman’s husband, Henry, approaches everyone 
he knows in hope of borrowing money, but he can get together only about $2,500. He tells 
the researcher that his wife is dying and asks him to lower the price of the drug or let him 
pay later. The researcher says, “No, I discovered the drug, and I’m going to make money 
from it.” Henry is desperate and considers stealing the drug for his wife.
What would you tell Henry to do?