adolescence

Question 1

erikson stage for adolescence

Answer 1

identity vs role confusion
success= make sense of various things in life to form coherent character
failure= identity diffusion

Question 2

key feature of Piaget’s formal operations stage, how is it unlike his other stages?

Answer 2

ability to think abstractly

not uniformly attained

Question 3

define social adolescence

Answer 3

conflict of being physically mature but still psych/socially dependent on family

Question 4

2 peaks for divorce

Answer 4

1st 2 years of marriage

teen rearing years

Question 5

impacts of divorce (2)

Answer 5

shift away from the nuclear family (single parent families) and increased poverty

Question 6

what is the health paradox?

Answer 6

although teens are stronger, faster, more agile there is a 200% increase in mortality in teen years compared to childhood

Question 7

why does the health paradox occur?

Answer 7

increase in risk taking, sensation seeking behaviors related to trying to fit in and self exploration lead to increased accidents, suicides, homicides, depression and eating disorders

Question 8

etoh and tobacco in adolescence

Answer 8

onset of behaviors with long term health consequences

Question 9

what is the physiologic basis for the health paradox?

Answer 9

imbalance between systems for regulation (pre-frontal cortex) and sensation seeking (subcortical dopamine system)

Question 10

roles of the pre-frontal cortex

Answer 10

right vs wrong, now vs later, consequences, lessons

Question 11

role of subcortical system

Answer 11

reward system (dopamine) for attaining pleasure, novelty, fear, pain

Question 12

role of dopamine

Answer 12

motivation/reward, please/euphoria, motor fine-tuning, compulsion, perseveration

Question 13

pathway of DA from subcortical to cortical areas

Answer 13

VTA –> nucleus accumbens –> frontal cortex

Question 14

what makes the imbalance between these 2 systems worse? what is there increased risk for?

Answer 14

stress makes imbalance worse (decreased prefrontal, increased dopamine), increased risk for abuse

Question 15

4 reasons for changes in circadian rhythms in teenagers

Answer 15

1- peers/social influence
2-electronics/light exposure
3- overshceduled lives
4- weekend circadian meltdowns

Question 16

effects of inadequate sleep (8)

Answer 16

fatigue, irritability, inattention, depression, problems regulating affect, compounded effects of intoxicating agents, direct effects on learning/consolidation, metabolic problems

Question 17

describe typical female development

Answer 17

• 2 years before males
• growth of breasts/pubic hair, widening of hips
• peak height at age 13
• menarche at age 13
• irregular, ovulatory periods

Question 18

risks of early female maturation, pathological adaptations

Answer 18

unwanted attention, teen pregnancy

adaptations- decreased socialization

Question 19

describe typical male development

Answer 19

• development/growth of penis and testes
• deepening of voice
• pubic/axillary hair
• later height spurt than females

Question 20

masturbation in early vs late adolescence

Answer 20

early- nebulous/absent fantasy, more for release of anxiety

late- focus on fantasy more, goals of affection and pleasure

Question 21

stages of coming out (7)

Answer 21

1- realization
2- guilt/fear
3- attempts to change 
4- denial 
5- disclosure 
6- socialization/integration 
7- acceptance/positive identifications