Chapter Fifteen & Sixteen

1. Chapter Fifteen & Sixteen Adolescence: Cognitive Development Piaget’s formal thinking, Hypothetico-deductive, Inductive and deductive reasoning, ego-centricism, & decision making Adolescence: Psychosocial Development Eriskon, Marcia, Identity status, personality, risk-taking and factors influencing identity development

2. Every basic skill of information process continues to develop Brain maturation continues myelination is ongoing, so reaction time shorter prefrontal cortex becomes more densely packed and more efficient helps in planning, analyzing, and being able to pursue goals Language mastery improves Cognitive Development

3. Piaget’s formal operational thought, characterized by ability to think logically about abstract ideas qualitatively different from children’s thoughts New Logical Abilities

4. Hypothetical thought thinking about possibilities Deductive and inductive reasoning deductive reasoning—reasoning from general principle via logical steps to specific conclusion inductive reasoning—reasoning specific experiences or facts to a general conclusion Hypothetical-Deductive Thought

5. Characteristic of adolescent thinking that sometimes leads young people to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others. They believe that their thoughts feelings and experiences are unique Invincibility fable adolescents feel they are immune to the laws of mortality and probability (and nature) Adolescent Egocentrism

6. they therefore take all kinds of risks Personal fable adolescents imagine their own lives as mythical or heroic & see themselves destined for fame or fortune Imaginary audience how others will react (opinions of onlookers) they assume everyone else judges appearance(s) they’re not at ease with social world

7. Adolescence is a time for personal decisions and independent choices with far-reaching consequences. Adolescent choices are long-lasting Adolescents think about possibilities, not practicalities; thus, few decide important matters rationally egocentrism makes it hard to analyze and plan ahead Adolescent Decision Making

8. Weighing Risks and Benefits, cont. • Every decision requires weighing risk against opportunity • Consequences are discounted, probability miscalculated, and their future put at risk • Sex differences • boys more likely to take risks

9. Psycho-social Development The Self and Identity Who am I? Identity—consistent definition of one’s self as a unique individual in terms of roles, attitudes, beliefs. and aspirations

10. Erikson & Marcia • identity versus role confusion • Identity Statuses • Identity is defined along two dimensions: • Exploration • Trying out all the options • Commitment • Deciding on the option that suits the best.

11. EXPLORATION VS. COMMITMENT E X P L O R A T I O N ACHEIVED MORATORIUM DIFFUSED FORECLOSED DIFF COMMITMENT

12. Identity & Personality Identity achievement • attainment of identity: self-understanding in accord with past experiences and future plans • Willing to reconsider values and goals of parents and culture, accepting some, rejecting others

13. Identity Moratorium • Adolescents that are exploring their options but have not made a commitment • Like achieved adolescents, they are Willing to reconsider values and goals. • Unlike diffusion, the attempt to fill the role they are in, which however is temporary

14. IdentityForeclosure Those who adopt parents’ or society’s roles and values whole, without questioning or analysis, are said to be in foreclosure, They have not considered their choices and have not independently defined their own identity. Many adolescents go through a period of foreclosure before attaining identity achievement.

15. Identity Diffusion Those who seem not to know or care what their identity is are said to be in a state of identity diffusion. They have few commitments to anyone’s goals or values and are often apathetic about taking on any role. Most teens experience diffusion at some point, but not as a permanent state.

16. Identity, risk-taking and influencing factors • Identity and risk-taking • Different identity statuses have different reasons for engaging in risk-taking behaviors • Factors effecting Identity • Culture, Family, Peers

17. Culture • Provides values, ethics, social structures and customs that ease the transition from childhood to adulthood. • Persons with special personality traits can become the prophets, freaks, and criminals, depending on the place and time. • In changing times, where consensus and continuity is rare, identity formation is difficult.

18. Family • Generation Gap: distance between generations in values, behaviors, and knowledge—and understanding • adolescents often loosen ties to family • adolescents need to become psychologically separate • Generational stake • Teenagers might see parental restrictions as a means of control and domination. • Parent-adolescent conflict depends on the age, gender and cultural context.

19. Contd… • Girls are more likely to rebel • Mexican and Asian Americans are likely to rebel in late adolescence • Best to use authoritative parenting. • Families high in conflict and low in support are hard on adolescent no matter how other factors are.

20. Peers • Teenagers construct a peer system that reflects their growing psychological, biological and social-cognitive maturity and helps them adapt to the social ecology. • Share the same concerns and provide company- emotional & social support. • Expose to different values and beliefs.

21. Peer Pressure • Social pressure to conform to one’s friends or contemporaries. • Considered negative as peers encourage each other to defy adults. • Isn’t necessarily negative. Can promote higher grades and accomplishments. • Is more likely to be negative in periods of uncertainty.

22. Problems: Depression & Suicide • Depression is anger turned inwards • Twice more likely in girls than in boys • Major depression occurs in 15-20% of teenagers • Results from environmental & genetic factors • Loss of appetite, concentration, sleep & energy.

23. Contd…. • Constant feelings of sadness, frustration, learned helplessness, hopelessness & worthlessness • Depression precedes suicide • Sex-ratio is 5:1 • Suicide is preplanned and thoughtful.

24. Contd… • Two types of Personality Characteristics • More likely to internalize depression, are highly intelligent, solitary, withdrawn & unable to meet their high expectations • More likely to externalize depression, have antisocial tendencies, acting-out tendencies • Treatment: antidepressants and therapy

25. Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa • Anorexia: loss of appetite • More common in females • Loss of 25-50% of body weight • Menarche does not occur or stops

26. Contd…. • Physical Symptoms • Refusal to maintain minimal body weight • Malnutrition resulting in pale skin & brittle nails • Extreme sensitivity to cold • Shrinking of heart muscle, brain damage, kidney failure and loss of bone mass

27. Contd…. • Psychological Symptoms • Intense fear of gaining weight • Distorted body image & low self-esteem • Over-controlling parents, high expectations • Obsession with perfection, high standards • Excellent performers & ideal individuals

28. Contd…. • Bulimia Nervosa • Binge eating followed by deliberate vomiting & strict dieting • Sense of lack of control over eating during eating • Pathological fear of gaining weight

29. Contd…. • Eroded enamel, stomach & throat • Bulimics be can of normal, under or over weight • Impulsive, lonely, unhappy, and anxious • Emotionally unavailable & disengaged parents