Adolescence: Physical Development

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

How does the concept of 'imaginary audience' contribute to adolescent behavior, and what are its potential consequences?

It leads adolescents to believe everyone is as focused on them as they are on themselves, influencing their behavior and appearance. This can lead to risky behaviors due to a sense of invulnerability and a desire for attention.

Explain how formal operational thinking enables adolescents to engage in 'true scientific thinking,' and provide an example of a cognitive ability that demonstrates this.

Formal operational thinking allows adolescents to develop hypotheses and test them systematically. An example is the understanding of transitivity, where they can deduce relationships between multiple elements.

In what ways might pseudostupidity manifest in adolescents, and how does it relate to their developing cognitive abilities?

Adolescents exhibit pseudostupidity when they approach simple problems with overly complex strategies, failing because the tasks seem too simple. This occurs because their new ability to consider alternatives is not fully refined.

How can conflicting self-perceptions influence an adolescent's sense of identity, and what strategies might they use to reconcile these contradictions?

Conflicting self-perceptions can make teens feel like a fraud, as their behavior changes based on who they're with. They may emphasize certain traits to align with how others see them, or add moral standards to their self-descriptions. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly explain psychological moratorium, as described by Erikson, and its role in adolescent identity formation.

Psychological moratorium is a period during adolescence where teens put on hold commitment to an identity while exploring various options. It is essential for developing a more coherent view of oneself. Signup and view all the answers

How has the trend of apprenticeship shifted with each passing generation, and how has the vocational identity evolved as a result?

Previous generations usually envisioned themselves working a particular job and often worked as an apprentice. Occupations today require more specific skills that need additional education or are acquired on the job itself, causing vocational identity to take longer to develop. Signup and view all the answers

What role does parental acceptance play in the well-being of adolescents questioning their sexual identity, and how might a lack of acceptance affect them?

Parental acceptance is crucial for the well-being of adolescents questioning their sexual orientation. A lack of acceptance can lead to feelings of depression and can adversely affect their emerging sexual identity. Signup and view all the answers

Why are adolescents particularly susceptible to peer pressure, and how can deviant peer contagion influence their behavior?

Adolescents are susceptible to peer pressure due to their desire to fit in and be accepted. Deviant peer contagion occurs when peers reinforce problem behavior, increasing the likelihood of future problem behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How do crowds and cliques differ in adolescent peer relationships, and what role do they play in shaping an adolescent's identity and social status?

Cliques are groups of individuals who interact frequently, while crowds are characterized by shared reputations or images. Both reflect prototypic identities and are linked with social status and values. Signup and view all the answers

What is the false consensus effect, and how does it influence adolescent drinking behavior?

The false consensus effect is the assumption that everyone is drinking heavily, influencing adolescents to start drinking to assume that everyone is doing it. Signup and view all the answers

Why is anorexia nervosa considered a dangerous disorder, and what factors make individuals more susceptible to it?

Anorexia is dangerous because it can lead to starvation and death; some 15 to 20 percent of its victims literally starve themselves to death. Susceptibility factors include being an intelligent, successful, and attractive white adolescent girl from affluent homes. Signup and view all the answers

What is relationship inauthenticity, and how does it affect an adolescent's mental health, particularly for females?

Relationship inauthenticity is the incongruence between thoughts/feelings and actions within a relationship. It negatively affects mental health, particularly for females, leading to depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways is there more compromise reached between teens and parents as teens grow older?

As teens grow older, there is more compromise reached between parents and teenagers. Parents are more controlling of daughters, especially early maturing girls, than they are sons (Caspi, Lynam, Moffitt, & Silva, 1993). Signup and view all the answers

Explain why teenagers turn to drug use.

The pleasurable experirence it provides is one reason but adolescents also turn to it to escape from the pressures of everyday life, or even for fun. Some adolescents try drugs simply for the thrill of doing something illegal or to enhance their academic performance. Signup and view all the answers

How has comprehensive sex education helped to drop instances of teenage pregnancy, and how are teenage mothers impacted in a number of cases?

Teenage pregnancy has dropped as awareness has increased. Without financial or emotional support, a mother may have to abandon her own education, and consequently may be relegated to unskilled, poorly paying jobs for the rest of her life. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Adolescence

Period starting with puberty and ending with the transition to adulthood, roughly ages 10-18.

Puberty

Period of rapid growth and sexual maturation, typically between ages 8 and 14.