devpsychch2QA

These flashcards cover the key concepts of cognitive development during adolescence, including cognitive abilities, brain structure/function, metacognition, risk-taking, and social cognition.

What is cognition?

Cognition refers to thinking.

How do adolescents' thinking abilities differ from children's?

Adolescents are more sophisticated in thinking about possibilities, abstract concepts, metacognition, multiple dimensions, and relative perspectives.

What is metacognition?

The process of thinking about thinking itself.

What does thinking about possibilities involve?

Adolescents consider how their personalities might change in the future and how different circumstances could affect them.

What is hypothetical thinking?

The ability to plan ahead and predict future consequences of actions.

What is increased introspection in adolescence?

Thinking about our own emotions.

What is adolescent egocentrism?

Extreme self-absorption during adolescence.

What is the imaginary audience?

The belief that everyone is watching and evaluating one's behavior.

What is the personal fable in adolescence?

The belief that adolescents are unique and not subject to the same rules as others.

What does thinking in multiple dimensions mean?

The ability to view things from more than one aspect at a time.

What is adolescent relativism?

Shifting from seeing things as absolute to seeing things as relative.

What are the four stages of Piaget's cognitive development?

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations.

What differentiates adolescent thinking from child thinking?

The abstract system of logical reasoning.

What is selective attention?

Focusing on one thing while ignoring others.

What is divided attention?

Paying attention to two or more things at the same time.

How do adolescents improve in attention?

They enhance both selective and divided attention abilities.

What is working memory?

The ability to hold information for a short period while solving a problem.

What is long-term memory?

The ability to recall information from the past.

What is autobiographical memory?

The recall of personally meaningful events.

What is the reminiscence bump?

The phenomenon where experiences from adolescence are recalled more than from other life stages.

What happens to processing speed during adolescence?

It increases, allowing for faster problem-solving.

What is synaptic pruning?

The process through which unnecessary neuronal connections are eliminated.

What is myelination?

The process of insulating brain circuits which improves information processing efficiency.

What is brain plasticity?

The capacity of the brain to change in response to experience.

What is developmental plasticity?

Extensive brain remodeling in response to experiences during childhood and adolescence.

What is adult plasticity?

Minor changes in brain circuits due to experiences in adulthood.

What region of the brain is crucial for sophisticated thinking?

The prefrontal cortex.

What is the limbic system's role?

It processes emotional experiences, social information, and reward.

What changes in brain function occur in adolescence?

Increased focus of activation patterns in the prefrontal cortex and improved functional connectivity.

What neurotransmitter is important for reward regulation in the brain?

Dopamine.

What neurotransmitter regulates mood?

Serotonin.

What is the social brain's role in adolescence?

It enhances sensitivity to social evaluation and peer pressure.

What is the maturity gap?

The difference between adolescents' cognitive capabilities and their emotional/social maturity.

What does IQ stand for?

Intelligence quotient.

What is Lev Vygotsky's zone of proximal development?

The level of challenge that is achievable but requires development of advanced skills.

What is scaffolding in learning?

Structuring a learning situation to be just within the student's reach.

What is social cognition?

Thinking about other people and social relationships.

What is theory of mind?

The ability to understand that others have beliefs and intentions different from one's own.

How do adolescents view social conventions?

They begin to see them as arbitrary and regulating behavior.

What increases adolescents' tendency to take risks?

Increased focus on peers' opinions and responsiveness to rewards.

What influences decision-making in adolescents?

Emotional arousal affects their performance on cognitive tasks.

What does the behavioral decision theory involve?

Identifying choices, consequences, evaluating costs and benefits, and decision-making process.

Why is adolescent risk-taking prevalent?

Adolescents may prioritize social rewards over potential risks.

Why is it easy for adolescents to learn new skills?

Because of ongoing brain development and a high degree of plasticity.

What are the implications of drug use during adolescence?

It can have lasting effects because of the brain's plasticity at this age.

What is meant by emotional arousal in decision-making?

It can degrade decision quality and cognitive performance.

Why is classroom education often ineffective in preventing risky behavior?

Adolescents are influenced more by personal experience than information given in education.

How does the cognitive ability of adolescents compare to adults?

By age 15, adolescents have similar basic cognitive abilities to adults.

What role does novelty and challenge play in brain development?

They are essential to maintaining brain plasticity.

How do changes in social cognition benefit adolescents?

They help in developing identity, autonomy, intimacy, and understanding societal norms.

What do adolescents realize about personal rights and community?

Some rights should not be restricted, while others may need restrictions for community benefits.

What increases adolescents' emotional sensitivity?

Changes in the social brain during puberty.

What does functional connectivity refer to?

The extent to which multiple brain regions work together at the same time.

What is the role of dopamine in adolescent behavior?

It influences the experience of reward.

How do risks and rewards influence adolescent behavior differently from adults?

Adolescents tend to focus more on rewards, while adults focus more on risks.

What is the impact of psychosocial maturity on adolescent behavior?

It continues to develop into the 20s, leading to a maturity gap.

What cognitive abilities are young adolescents still developing?

Creative thinking, planning, and assessing costs and benefits.

What are the first two stages of Piaget's cognitive development theory?

Sensorimotor and preoperational.

What happens during the formal operations stage?

Adolescents develop abstract and systematic reasoning.

What defines concrete operational thinking?

Focus on concrete, tangible information rather than abstract reasoning.

How does emotional arousal affect adolescent cognitive performance?

It can worsen performance on cognitive tests.

What could help reduce risky behaviors in adolescents?

Finding ways to allow for safe and positive risks.

What is the importance of addressing the maturity gap?

Understanding that intellectual capability may not align with emotional maturity.

Why do adolescents sometimes act against logic?

They may rely on intuition rather than deliberate reasoning.

What do researchers suggest about limiting adolescents' ability to take risks?

It can be effective in decreasing risky behavior.

How might adult plasticity differ from developmental plasticity?

Adult plasticity involves minor changes while developmental plasticity involves extensive remodeling.

What is synaptic pruning's effect on information processing?

It improves the efficiency of transmitting impulses.

Why do researchers study brain changes in adolescence?

To better understand the relationship between cognitive development and behavior.

How can risky behavior result from emotional states in adolescents?

Emotional states can impair judgment and decision-making.