Adolescent Development Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from chapters 1 through 3 of the adolescent development course notes.

Development

The pattern of continuous change from conception through the lifespan.

Learning (Moshman)

The quantitative acquisition of specific skills, distinguished from qualitative, structural reorganization.

Adolescence

The transitional period between childhood and adulthood involving biological, cognitive, and socioemotional shifts.

Emerging Adulthood

A transitional period beyond adolescence characterized by identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and feeling in-between.

Resilience

Successful adaptation to adulthood despite experiencing significant adversity.

Inventionist View

The perspective that adolescence is primarily a socio-historical creation driven by laws, education, and social institutions.

Adelson's Adolescent Generalization Gap

Widespread, often negative generalizations made about all adolescents based on the visible behavior of a small minority.

Millennials

The generation cohort born after $1980$, characterized by unprecedented ethnic diversity and a deep connection to technology.

Scientific Theory

An interrelated, coherent set of ideas used to explain phenomena and make scientific predictions.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious protective mechanisms utilized by the ego to distort reality and shield itself from anxiety.

Formal Operational Stage

The stage of Piagetian cognitive development during adolescence characterized by abstract, hypothetical thinking.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's term for the gap between a learner's independent ability and their ability with assistance.

Scaffolding

The practice of adjusting guidance or support levels during instruction to fit a learner's current performance.

Microgenetic Method

An approach emphasized by Siegler to study cognitive changes directly while learning occurs over precise time spans.

Eclectic Theoretical Orientation

An approach that refrains from following a single theory, instead selecting the most useful aspects from each perspective.

HPG Axis

The feedback system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads that regulates hormone levels in puberty.

Adrenarche

The early phase of puberty involving hormonal activity and changes in the adrenal glands.

Gonadarche

The second phase of puberty involving the maturation of primary and secondary sexual characteristics.

Leptin

A hormone indicating fat store adequacy (reaching around 17\text{\null}\% body fat) necessary for the onset of menarche.

Secular Trend

Systematic patterns of developmental changes observed across successive generations over time.

Female Athlete Triad

A combination of three conditions: disordered eating, amenorrhea (loss of menstruation), and osteoporosis.

Genotype

The complete genetic material and underlying blueprint of an organism.

Phenotype

The directly observable physical and psychological characteristics resulting from genetic expression and environment.

Synaptogenesis

The biological process responsible for creating new synaptic connections between neurons in the brain.

Neuroconstructivist View

The stance that biological processes and environmental experiences interact dynamically to construct brain development.

Operations (Piaget)

Internalized mental actions allowing individuals to perform tasks mentally that were previously performed physically.

Post-Formal Thought

A proposed stage beyond formal operations characterized by thinking that is reflective, relativistic, and context-dependent.

Adolescent Egocentrism

A state of heightened self-consciousness in adolescents, consisting of belief in an imaginary audience and personal fable.

Imaginary Audience

An aspect of adolescent egocentrism involving the belief that others are as attentive to one's behavior as oneself.

Personal Fable

A element of adolescent egocentrism involving a belief in one's personal uniqueness and invulnerability.