Final answer:
Sensitive periods for physical characteristics generally occur during puberty, while psychological changes continue throughout adolescence. Puberty in girls can last from ages 10 to 18 and in boys from approximately 12 to 18, whereas psychological maturation extends into late adolescence with respect to emotional and social development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sensitive periods related to physical and psychological characteristics vary in duration, with physical changes primarily occurring during puberty while psychological changes continue throughout adolescence. Physical changes such as the growth of the reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics typically begin in girls between the ages of 9 and 10 and in boys around the ages of 11 and 12. The growth spurt and development of organs like the brain make adolescence a critical period for physical and cognitive development. Menarche in females and spermarche in males mark key events in maturation during adolescence. As such, puberty can last from approximately 10 to 18 years of age in girls and from about 12 to 18 in boys. Psychological changes, on the other hand, involve emotional and social development, such as the formation of self-esteem and identity, peer relationships during the latency period, and the enhancement of executive functions into late adolescence.