Developmental Psych Chapter 9: Cognitive, Emotional and Social Development in Adolescents

storm and stress

G. Stanley Hall’s phrase for the intense moodiness, emotional sensitivity and risk-taking tendencies that characterize the life stage he labeled adolescence

True of false: Adolescents think about life in deeper, more thoughtful ways than children do

true

True of False: adolescence is when we develop our moral code for living

true

True or false: adolescents are highly sensitive to what other people think

true

true or false: adolescents are unusually susceptible to peer influences

true

true or false adolescents are highly emotional compared to to other age groups

true

true or false: adolescents are prone to taking risks

true

true or false: most adolescents are emotionally disturbed

false

true or false: suicide is relatively common during adolescents

false

true or false: adolescents feel more stressed out with their parents than with their peers

true

true or false: getting in with a bad crowd makes teenagers “go down the wrong path”

true

formal operations stage

A stage in Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, occurring typically from ages 12 and up, where individuals develop the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use deductive reasoning.

pre-conventional thoughts

Lawrence Kohlberg’s therpy, the lowest level of moral reasoning, in which people approach ethical issues by only considering the personal punishments or rewards for their actions. person operates according to a “will I be punished or rewarded?” mentality

conventional thoughts

Lawrence Khohlberg’s theory, the intermediate level of moral reasoning in which people respond to ethical issues by discussing the need to uphold social norms. person’s moral centres on the need to obey society’s rules

postconventional thought

In Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory, the highest level of moral reasoning, in which people respond to ethical issues by applying their own moral guidelines apart from society’s rules . person has a personal moral code that transcends society’s rules

adolescent egocentrism

term of young teenagers to feel their actions are at the center of everyone else’s consciousness

imaginary audience

term for the tendency of young teenagers to feel that everyone is watching their every actions; a components of adolescent egocentrism

personal fable

tendency to believe that their lives are special and heroic; a component of adolescent egocentrism

experience-sampling method

a research procedure designed to capture moment-to-moment experiences by having people take notes describing their activities and emotions whenever a signal sounds

non-suicidal self-injury

act of self mutilation, such as cutting or burning one’s body to cope with stress

adolescent limited turmoil

antisocial behaviour, for most teens, is specific to adolescence and does not persist into adult life

life-course difficulties

antisocial behaviour that, for a fraction of adolescents, persists into adult life

how does the brain change behaviour during adolescents?

frontal lobe grey matter peaks right before puberty and then gradually declines due to pruning

are there sex differences in brain development

Yes, research indicates that boys and girls may experience different patterns of brain maturation, particularly in areas related to emotional regulation and social cognition.

do pubertal brain changes predict teenage distress?

Yes, studies suggest that changes in the brain during puberty, particularly in regions related to emotional regulation, can be linked to increases in anxiety and mood disorders in teenagers.

Katarina, a teacher, is about to transfer from fourth grade to the local high school, and she is excited by all the things that her older students will be able to do. Based on what you have learned about Piaget’s formal operational stage and Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning, pick which two new capacities Katarina is apt to find among her students.

The high schoolers will be able to debate different ideas even if they don’t personally agree with them.

The high schoolers will be able to develop their own moral principles.

A 14-year-old worries that everyone is watching every mistake she makes; at the same time, she is fearless when her friends dare her to take life-threatening risks like bungee jumping off a cliff. According to Elkind, this feeling that everyone is watching illustrates ; _____________ , the risk-taking is a sign of _____________; and both are evidence of the process called ___________.

the imaginary audience; the personal fable; adolescent egocentrism

Pick which symptom indicates your 15-year-old nephew has a genuine psychological problem

depression

Your child has made it into the popular kids’ crowd at school. You should feel (pick one):

worried because he is at risk for acting-out problems

There has been a rise in teenage crimes in your town. Which solution should you not support?

Vigorously support law-and-order interventions, such as putting kids in jail to teach them a lesson.

deviancy training

socialization of a young teenager into delinquency through conversation centered on performing antisocial acts

Mom #1 says, “Getting involved with the ‘bad kids’ makes teens get into trouble.” Mom #2 disagrees: “It’s the kid’s personality that causes him to get into trouble.” Mom #3 says, “You both are correct — but also partly wrong. The kid’s personality causes him to gravitate toward the ‘bad kids,’ and then that peer group encourages antisocial acts.” Which mother is right?

Mom #3

cultural socialization

practices that promote racial pride and transmission of knowledge about cultural history and heritage

preparation for bias

strategies used to raise children’s awareness with prejudice and discrimination and how to cope with those experiences

egalitarianism

messages about diversity, racial equality, or may emphasize individual qualities such as work ethic rather than race

promotion of mistrust

practices that emphasizes wariness or distrust and includes warning that parents may give to children to be cautious of other ethnic groups

In impoverished countries, some teens have:

no adolescence, as they may be forced from a young age to survive without adult protection

Jonelle is a happy, healthy, well-adjusted teen. Based on the research, Jonelle would be expected to:

engage in some risk-taking behaviors.

Ayana is arguing that Kohlberg's moral reasoning scale is not valid (that is, it does not accurately reflect real-world morality). Based specifically on the text critique, which is NOT a critique Ayana can make?

"Everyone routinely cheats and lies."

According to David Elkind, young teens become angry, resentful, and rebellious because they:

are entering formal operations, and so understand the contradictions between what adults say and how they act.

At what age can parents expect children to become more secretive and distant?

early adolescence

Therese is giving a talk on making society fit the teenage mind. Based specifically on the text points, which is NOT a suggestion she should make?

"Advocate zero tolerance for teens who break the law."

Aidan is a counselor for adolescents. Which emotional problem is he MOST likely to encounter among his clients?

nonsuicidal self-injury

When Sheila walks to the lunchroom, she thinks that everyone is evaluating every move she makes. According to David Elkind, Shelia is showing signs of:

the imaginary audience.

Dr. Brainy, a neuroscientist, is giving a lecture on teenage brain development. Which of the following is NOT a statement she can make?

"We have pinpointed the exact brain regions that make teens behaviorally different from adults."

Ning has a new pimple on her chin this morning. She is mortified and tells her mother that she must transfer to another school because everyone will make fun of her. David Elkind would label Ning's reaction as showing:

adolescent egocentrism.

Seth is intensely involved in his high-school drama club. Based on the research, has Seth made a good choice?

Yes; heavy participation in school clubs can have long-term positive effects.

Which change is NOT unique to formal operations?

understanding the meanings of new words

Nien decides not to rob a backpack from an open locker at school because he feels that good people don't steal. Nien is operating at Kohlberg's _____ level of moral reasoning.

conventional

Ms. Jones asks if her child should attend an afterschool program at the local Y. Based on the text, how should a school counselor respond?

"First find out if the program is well structured and supervised."

The quality MOST likely to promote thriving in a teenager is having:

a passion or talent that is encouraged by a caring adult.

Since entering middle school, Julie's grades are dropping, and all she cares about is being in the popular crowd. Julie's behavior is:

relatively common at her age.

Josh is a typical teen attending a large public high school. Josh is LEAST likely to:

have friends in every crowd at school.

Research suggests that it's a good sign for a person's future development if, during high school, a teen is heavily involved:

in school clubs.

According to international research, parent-child arguments that revolve around choosing the "right" friends occur MOST often in:

East Asia.

Dr. Abstinence is lecturing about the prevalence of alcohol and drug use among today's teens. According to the text, she should say:

"A significant minority of teens both drink and use drugs."

A student who has read the chapter states that the labeling of teenagers as biologically (or neurologically) "out of control" neglects many realities. Which is NOT a reality this student can state?

Family members treat teenagers particularly badly today.

If 13-year-old Nadzia has made it into the popular "in crowd" at school, her mother might expect:

caring only about social status.

Which is NOT a situation that promotes thriving in teens?

living in large cities

According to this chapter, adolescence is:

a tumultuous but exciting time of life.

Youth development programs that promote thriving have which virtue?

allowing teens to enhance peer relationships