Autonomy and Achievement in Adolescence

These flashcards cover key concepts related to adolescent autonomy, including emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects, as well as influences from puberty, cognitive changes, social roles, and parenting styles.

What is the definition of autonomy in the context of adolescent development?

Autonomy is defined as becoming a self-governing person. It includes emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components, not just acting independently but also feeling and thinking independently.

How do independence and autonomy differ in the study of adolescence?

Independence refers to individuals’ capacity to behave on their own, while autonomy includes emotional and cognitive components in addition to behavior.

What are the three types of autonomy?

The three types of autonomy are emotional autonomy (changes in close relationships), behavioral autonomy (independent decision-making), and cognitive autonomy (independent values and beliefs).

How does puberty influence the development of autonomy?

Puberty triggers a turning away from parents towards peers, stimulated by emerging sexual interests and intimate friendships. Physical changes also lead to changes in how much autonomy is granted by parents and teachers.

What role do cognitive changes play in the development of autonomy?

Cognitive changes enable adolescents to weigh opinions, reason in sophisticated ways, foresee consequences, and develop a system of values based on their own sense of right and wrong.

How do social roles and activities influence autonomy in adolescence?

Involvement in new social roles and responsibilities, such as having a job or a driver’s license, requires and stimulates the development of independent decision making.

What is emotional autonomy and how does it develop during adolescence?

Emotional autonomy involves becoming less emotionally dependent on parents, forming closer relationships outside the family, and seeing parents as individuals. It involves a transformation, not a breaking off, of family relationships.

Explain the concept of individuation in the context of emotional autonomy.

Individuation is the gradual sharpening of one’s sense of self as autonomous, competent, and separate from one’s parents, without necessarily entailing stress and turmoil.

What is detachment theory and how does it contrast with current views on emotional autonomy?

Detachment theory suggests adolescents must sever emotional attachments to parents, leading to tension. Current research indicates that adolescents modify their relationships but do not sever emotional bonds.

How do parenting practices affect the development of emotional autonomy?

Healthy individuation and positive mental health are fostered by close family relationships. Authoritative parenting, which balances warmth with firm and fair guidelines, is associated with the healthiest development of autonomy.

What is behavioral autonomy and how does it relate to decision-making abilities?

Behavioral autonomy is the capacity to make independent decisions. It improves as adolescents develop more sophisticated reasoning, consider long-term consequences, and resist immediate rewards.

What are the cognitive developments related to improvements in self-regulation, and how do they affect decision-making?

Gains in self-regulation are linked to a decline in decisions influenced by immediate rewards and improvements in impulse control, allowing for more thoughtful and less hasty decisions.

What are some factors related to changes in susceptibility to peer influence?

Susceptibility to peer pressure is highest during early adolescence, especially for antisocial behavior. The presence of peers activates brain regions associated with reward, making adolescents more likely to focus on potential rewards of risky choices.

How do parents and peers influence adolescents in different situations?

Adolescents conform to peers on short-term social matters and turn to parents for long-term educational, occupational, and ethical issues.

How do authoritative parenting styles impact susceptibility to peer pressure?

Adolescents from authoritative homes are less susceptible to antisocial peer pressure but may be more susceptible to positive peer influence.

Explain how expectations for autonomy differ across cultures.

White adolescents and their parents have earlier expectations for autonomy than Asian adolescents and their parents, influencing family dynamics and conflict.

What is cognitive autonomy and what trends are noteworthy in its development?

Cognitive autonomy involves independent values, opinions, and beliefs. Trends include more abstract thinking, less authoritarianism, and beliefs based on personal values.

How do moral reasoning and behavior develop during adolescence?

Moral reasoning shifts from preconventional (rewards/punishments) to conventional (social rules) to postconventional (abstract principles), and moral reasoning gains are accompanied by changes in brain systems that permit us to behave less selfishly.

Define prosocial behavior.

Behaviors intended to help others.

What trends are associated with engagement of political engagement activities for adolescents?

Generally, only a small proportion of young people are politically engaged around the world. Most research on civic engagement in adolescence has focused on community service.