Psyc Module 11

Questions and Answers

What is the main trigger for the onset of puberty?

Genetic predisposition

Increase in physical activity

Hormonal changes (correct)

Environmental factors

At what age do girls usually achieve sexual maturity?

14-15 years old

12-13 years old (correct)

16-17 years old

10-11 years old

How does sensation-seeking in adolescents affect their behavior?

It can lead to recklessness and higher chances of accidents. (correct)

It leads to increased caution and awareness.

It results in increased academic performance.

It has no significant impact on their behavior.

What characterizes adolescent thinking in the formal operational stage according to Piaget?

Ability to formulate hypotheses and test them systematically Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence the realization of one's sexual orientation?

Social media influence Signup and view all the answers

What happens to adolescents' self-esteem and academic performance when transitioning to secondary school?

Both self-esteem and academic performance tend to decline Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a characteristic of body and brain differences in adolescents?

Stable grey matter volumes Signup and view all the answers

What are 'task goals' in the context of children's motivation?

Focus on mastery and self-improvement Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Major Milestones of Puberty

Puberty is triggered by hormones, typically beginning between ages 7 and 8.
Gonadotrophic hormones play a central role in initiating puberty.
Girls generally achieve sexual maturity by ages 12 to 13.
Boys typically achieve sexual maturity later than girls.

Body and Brain Differences in Adolescents

Myelination in the brain continues to progress steadily during adolescence.
A U-shaped development pattern is observed in grey matter volumes, reflecting changes in brain structure.
Adolescents experience rapid growth in height, alongside increases in muscle mass and fat.
Sexual behaviors during adolescence can increase the risk of teen pregnancy.
Understanding one's sexual orientation is a gradual process, influenced by hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors, and may not be complete until early adulthood.

Sensation-Seeking in Adolescents

Adolescents often engage in sensation-seeking behaviors, leading to increased recklessness.
This desire for heightened arousal can contribute to a higher incidence of accidents and injuries.

Piaget's Formal Operational Stage

Adolescents enter Piaget's formal operational stage, allowing them to apply cognitive operations to both hypothetical ideas and real objects.
Formal operational thinking is not universally applied; some may not use it consistently, even if capable.
This stage enables adolescents to formulate hypotheses and systematically test them to solve problems.

Advances in Information Processing

Adolescence is marked by improvements in memory function and information processing capabilities.
Teens become more proficient in metacognition (thinking about thinking), metamemory (understanding memory processes), and strategy use.

Transition to Secondary School

Transitioning to secondary school can lead to declines in academic performance and self-esteem.
Children shift from task goals, aimed at self-improvement, to ability goals, focused on surpassing others.

Description

This quiz explores the critical milestones of puberty, highlighting how hormonal changes trigger development in adolescents. It also examines the differences in brain and body systems between adolescents and younger children, focusing on myelination and grey matter development.