psych 21/25

Brain Development and Evolution

• Selective Pruning

  • During adolescence, unused neurons and connections in the brain are pruned away.

  • Important for resource management; the brain cannot maintain all connections due to evolutionary history and resource constraints.

  • The brain is unable to keep up with modern day abundance (e.g., fast food).

• Resource Management

  • The brain attempts to assume a state of starvation to conserve resources regardless of current overabundance.

  • Continued pruning leads to selective improvement.

• Neuron Growth

  • Neurons can still grow as you age, but this process slows down.

Frontal Lobe Development

• Insurance Rates

  • High insurance rates for young individuals attributed to underdeveloped frontal lobes impacting foresight and planning.

  • Young adults may engage in impulsive actions without fully considering consequences, leading to risky behaviors.

• Future Planning

  • Many high schools require students to complete long-term planning, which often becomes outdated due to ongoing cognitive development.

  • Frontal lobe development affects the ability to foresee consequences and consequences of rash decisions.

Moral Reasoning Development

• Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Reasoning

  • Preconventional Level:

    • Focus on self-interest and consequences.

    • Actions are based on avoiding punishment or seeking reward.

  • Conventional Level:

    • Morality is based on conformity and social order.

    • Decisions made to gain social approval or reinforcement of community norms.

  • Postconventional Level:

    • Personal ethical principles dictate actions.

    • Individuals create a moral compass independent of societal norms.

• Moral Judgment

  • Moral reasoning becomes progressively more sophisticated throughout adolescence.

  • Recognizing the complexity of morality, especially regarding scenarios that require consideration of others' circumstances.

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

• Abstract Thinking and Logical Reasoning

  • Late adolescence marks the ability to think abstractly and apply logical reasoning to moral judgments.

  • Ability to simulate situations that are not physically present, such as the scientific method.

Social Influences during Adolescence

• Peer Influence

  • Peer groups play a crucial role in shaping behavioral choices during adolescence, sometimes outweighing parental influence.

  • Adolescents often look to peers for validation and model their behavior accordingly.

Impact of Social Media

• Delayed Gratification vs Immediate Gratification

  • The rise of platforms like TikTok encourages a culture of instant gratification.

  • Continuous exposure to short, engaging content can develop habits detrimental to focus and longer cognitive engagement.

• Time Management

  • Suggestions for using social media moderately to avoid becoming entrapped in short attention spans.

Erickson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

• Overview of Stages

  • Each stage builds upon the last, developing core strengths and addressing challenges in a progressive manner.

• Stage Descriptions:

  • Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust

  • Toddlerhood: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

  • Preschool Age: Initiative vs. Guilt

  • School Age: Competence vs. Inferiority

  • Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion

  • Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation

  • Middle Adulthood: Generativity vs. Stagnation

  • Late Adulthood: Integrity vs. Despair

Conclusion

• Role of Honesty in Relationships

  • Emphasis on forming genuine relationships and making informed choices about the people they surround themselves with.

  • Nurturing friendships contributes to resilience and emotional support as one progresses through life.

• General Recommendations:

  • Engage in meaningful community service (e.g. volunteering in nursing homes) to foster connections and understanding of generational challenges.