Adolescene Brain development

Synaptogenisis

Connected new neurons in the brain rapidly. Old

Myelination

Item connecting neurons and parts of the brain grows together.

Synaptic Pruning

Cutting out unused neurons

Connectivity Pathways

PFC sends more signals to the subcortex.

What affect would PFC to the sub cortex have on adolescence?

Increased risk taking, impulsivity, and outbursts

Nucleus accumbens (NAc)

Motivation and goal-directed behavior V

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Dopamine production area

What is the effect of connections between brain regions growing stronger?

Strengthen’s the reward system.

What is dopamine a signaling agent for that’s crucial in the brain?

Memory formation.

Explanatory Learning 

Trying out different ways to solve a problem before deciding on the best solution. 

How does thinking change in adolescence?

-Thinking becomes more abstract and logical.

-Attention increases

-Processing speed increases

Formal Operational thought stage

Last stage of Piagoets cognitive developmental theory

What is formal operational thinking characterized by?

Logical and abstract thought.

-Understand things like peace, love fate, or justice.

Availability Heuristic 

Mental shortcut that relies on immediate information that. comes to mind. 

Representativeness Heuristic

Mental shortcut that relies on internal prototypes

Stereotype threat

Anxiety from feeling unfairly judged about ability based on common stereotypes, negatively impacts academic performance.

Stage enviornement fit 

The idea that we can do better when the environment matches developmental needs. 

Autonomy

Teenagers want more decision making power

Preventing peer victimization in schools

-Increased supervision of students

-Identify aggressors and victims

-Inform parents

-Restorative justice

Preventing bullying on a peer level

-Adressing school climate

-Informal peer involvement

-Bystander intervention and defending

Exploration 

the extent to which an adolescent explores different identity options 

Commitment

Adaptation of specific identities

Identity achievement

Explored options and picked 1 that feels true to themself.

Identity Moratorium 

Actively exploring different options but hasn’t made any firm commitment yet. 

Identity Foreclosure

Commits to an identity without trying others first

Identity diffusion 

Not interested in trying new things 

-Not committed to anything 

-Antisocial behavior

What is a protective effect against racism?

Feeling connected to and taking pride in one’s ethnic heritage.

Critical consciousness

Ability to reflect on and analyze social systems for inequality.

Sensation seeking

The drive for excitement in doing something that might be scary.