Adolescence Final Exam

Chapters 1-4

Describe developed and developing countries.

Developed: 20%of worlds population

o worlds most economically developed countries, with the highest median

levels of income

• The "western World"

• Characteristics:

o Affluent

o Individualistic

o value independence and self expression

o marry for love

o Developing: 80% of worlds population

o Countries that have lower levels of income then developed countries but are

experiencing rapid growth

o Characteristics:

o Experiencing economic growth

o collectivist is cultures value, harmony, and obedience

o more traditional and rural

o closer community ties

Define majority culture

o Within a country, the cultural group that sets most of the norms and standards and

holds most of the positions of

o political, economic, intellectual and media power

Describe the differences between adolescents in “the West” versus adolescents around the world.

o the west

o Generally, have access to secondary and tertiary education, with a wide

range of opportunities

o have much leisure time to spend with friends, media, video games, music,

social networking apps

o socioeconomic disparities affect long term prospects

o Around the world

o Sub-saharan Africa

▪ Average of 5 children per woman

▪ children take on family duties from a young age

▪ older siblings are often parentified

o North Africa and Middle East

▪ Strong islamic traditions

▪ Patriarchal Authority - Dad has absolute control of wife and kids

▪ youth are attracted to western culture through media▪ blend of traditions and modern influences

o Asia

▪ Filial Piety: Children are obligated to respect, obey, and revere their

parents.

▪ Strong emphasis on education

▪ collectivistic family values

▪ academic pressure can lead to mental health challenges

o India

▪ Recent compulsitory education for ages 6-14 (2010)

▪ high levels of illiteracy

▪ widespread child labor

▪ factory oriented work for young people

Describe G. Stanley Hall’s importance to the study of adolescence.

• The Age of Adolescence

• Defined age range beginning at 14 and ending at 24.

• “Storm and Stress” a theory promoted by Hall asserting that adolescence is inevitably a time

of mood disruptions, conflict with parents, and antisocial behavior.

Describe longitudinal research and ethnographic research methods.

Ethnographic-Research design that involves spending extensive time among the people

being studied.

Describe longitudinal research and ethnographic research methods.

Longitudinal- A study in which data are collected from the participants on more then one

occasion overtime.

Define how adolescence is viewed as “beginning”.

• the start of puberty (feedback loop)

o The Endocrine System- where it begins with the release of hormones into the

bloodstream

o Hypothalamus- kickstarts puberty by increasing GNRH.

▪ Body fat reached (Leptin)

▪ Begins middle child age

o pituitary gland-bodies preparation for reproduction

o Gonads-sex glands

o Adrenal Glans

Define spermarche and menarche.

A girls first menstrual perioD

Define spermarche and menarche.

Beginning of development of sperm in boys' testicles at puberty

Define what boys and girls have in common regarding physical changes that occur during puberty.

• Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid gland, Adrenal glands

• Adolescent Growth spurt: The rapid increase in height that takes place at the

beginning of puberty

• Peak height velocity: The point at which the adolescent growth spurt is at its

maximum rate

• Asynchronicity: Uneven growth of different parts of the body during puberty

• Secondary Sex Characteristics: pubic hair, oily skin, growth spurt, under arm hair.

Define the genotype → environment effects view

Nature VS. Nurture Debate

• Theory that both genetics and environment make essential contributions to human

development

• Hard to unravel because our genes actually influence the kind of environment we

experience

o Passive Genotype -> Environmental Effects

▪ Hard to separate bc parents provide both

o Evocative Genotype -> Environmental Effects

▪ Inherited characteristics evokes response from others in their

environment.

o Active Genotype -> Environmental Effects

▪ Seek out environments that correspond to their genotype

Describe the secrecy shrouding menstruation during the 19th century.

• Menstruation was regarded as a Taboo topic

• 1895- 60% of Boston high-school girls had no now edge of menarche before it

occurred

• middle class Americans felt they had a duty to protect girls' innocence

• gradually became more openly discussed

Describe Western attitudes toward menstruation in the early 20th century.

• girl scouts were the first to read about menarche and talk to their troop leader about

it

• in 1920s sanitary napkins became available, and ads were running leading

1940s Disney ran "the story of menstruation, which was seen my 93 million

American school girls

Describe Piaget’s theory of stage development.

• Cognitive development takes place in distinct stages

Cognitive stages-means that each person's cognitive abilities are organized into organized

into a coherent mental structure.

• Active construction of reality takes place using schemes.

Schemes- structures organized and interpreting information.

Assimilation- when new information is altered to fit in existing scheme

Accommodation-entails changing the scheme to adapt to the new information.

Define abstract thinking.

• Thinking in terms of symbols, ideas, and concepts.

o Examples: time, friendships, faith

Apply the idea of critical thinking skills in adolescence

• Thinking that involves not merely memorizing information but analyzing it, making

judgements about what it means, relating it to other information, and considering

ways in which it might be valid or invalid

• Requires foundation of skills and knowledge obtained in childhood.

o Example: comparing their curfew to their friends, deciding its unfair and

proposing a new curfew

Characterize the current climate in American high schools.

• Educational environments need to promote critical thinking

• Media literacy now required, which is the ability to discern evidence based in unbiased info in

media in order to make sound judgments.

Apply the term metacognition, imaginary audience, and personal fable.

Metacognition- the capacity of “thinking about thinking” that allows adolescents to

reason about their thought processes and monitor them.

• Self-awareness (thinking about others and what they think about you)

Imaginary audience- Beliefs that others are acutely aware of and attentive to one's

appearance and behavior

Personal fable- a belief in one’s personal uniqueness, often including a sense of

invulnerability to the consequences of taking risks.

• Example: “No one understands me”

Describe the sources of influence during adolescence

• Hot tasks that have immediate outcome feedback on rewards and losses

o More influenced by strong emotions and Psychosocial factors like

peer pressure

Describe Western cultural beliefs regarding dating practices.• dating is allowed as young as 14

• relationships are usually short lived

• helps adolescents learn emotional skills leading to stronger relationships.

Describe the differences in religiosity of adolescents in developing and developed

• Developed countries are generally less religious

o America is the exception (more religious)

• Involvement related to several positive outcomes

o Lower-level risks of behavior and depression

o Higher levels of well-being and self-esteem

Apply the term prosocial

• Behavior that is intended to benefit others

o Example: picking up someone's pencil for them

o Capable of grasping more abstract and complex ideas like “duty to others”.

Define moral identity

• a person's commitment to positive moral ideals in thoughts and behavior

Describe differences in research that utilizes adolescents versus adults.

Research on adolescents often focuses on developmental changes, social influences, and identity formation, while adult studies may emphasize stability, life experiences, and long-term outcomes.