This chapter investigates questions of pubertal development noting that age marks key transitions relative to cognitive processes, socioemotional processes, and reproductive maturity. Unquestionably, decision making competencies will affect choices made about romantic attachments, whether to have sex and with whom to have sex; such issues are fully explored in this chapter. The maturational task of decision making is to grow in problem solving competencies in coping with daily problems in living, including anticipation and planning for future goals.

This chapter investigates questions of pubertal development noting that age marks key transitions relative to cognitive processes, socioemotional processes, and reproductive maturity. Unquestionably, decision making competencies will affect choices made about romantic attachments, whether to have sex and with whom to have sex; such issues are fully explored in this chapter. The maturational task of decision making is to grow in problem solving competencies in coping with daily problems in living, including anticipation and planning for future goals.