Adolescent Psychology

In 1904, G Stanley Hall proposed

the "storm- and- stress "view of adolescence as a turbulent time full of conflict and mood swings.

Adolescents are primed to contribute to the world around them, as they develop

the cognitive maturity to consider the perspectives and needs of others and the social skills to provide emotional and practical support in meaningful ways.

Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud, referred to adolescence as

________ a period of disruption to the id, ego, and superego- out of sync.

Adolescence

the transition between childhood and adulthood

Prosocial behavior appears to peak in

mid to late-adolescence

Benson & Colleagues argues that too often researchers and society focus on

the negative developmental deficits such as risk-taking behaviors, drug use, and delinquency , as opposed to positive aspects such as meaningful relationships, passions about issues, social change, and talents

1988 cross-cultural study of adolescents by Daniel Offer studied

self-images of teens across multiple countries.

The 1988 study found that

73 percent reported positive self-image

The teens in the 1988 study stated to be

happy much of the time, enjoy life, and express positive feelings toward family.

The teens in the 1988 study value

work and school.

The teens in the 1988 study perceive themselves as

having self-control, express confidence about their sexual selves, and feel capable of coping with life’s stresses.

In this second decade of life, adolescence experience

dramatic changes in their biology, cognition, social and emotional development

Relationships change with

parents, with peer groups, sexual exploration, abstract thought begins, and ideals and values are questioned and explored on a deeper level

Anna Freud describes adolescence as a period of conflict, particularly with

parents about ‘need for ‘detachment’ and freedom

Sigmund Freud called adolescence

psychosexual orientation

In middle childhood brain development allows children to

use more integrated and select regions of the brain to complete the tasks they are performing, and this allows them to perform tasks more efficiently

In adolescence brain development is marked by

another rapid period of overproduction of synapses, followed by a normal pruning process that allows teens and young adults to develop more sophisticated levels of thought

What is the limbic system composed of?

amygdala, hippocampus, reticular formation

The limbic system matures much earlier than

the prefrontal cortex

The limbic system is almost completely developed by

adolescence

Fear and emotions are

intensified

Teen brains are primed for

experience and reward

The prefrontal cortex is involved in

logic, reasoning, regulation, and emotional control

The prefrontal cortex develops at a different pace than

the limbic system

The limbic system involves

rewards and emotions

Therefore, while the emotional part of the brain is strongly developed, and even “turbo-charged”,

the cognitive abilities to modulate these emotions are less mature

Strongly developed emotions and underdeveloped emotional regulation leads to

the risky behavior and emotionality often described in this period