Adolescence and Adulthood Flashcards
Week 15
Cross - Sectional Design
Compares different people of different ages (cohorts)
Longitudinal Design
When a researcher follows a group of individuals over time
Defining Adolescence
Biologically defined at by the beginning of puberty
Synaptic Pruning
When brain eliminates synapses in order to create efficiency. Increase in myelination and loss of neural plasticity
Prefrontal Cortex
Finishes developing at age 25. Responsible for critical thinking, judgement, and decision making
Dopaminergic System
Early in adolescence, increase sensation seeking and reward motivation. In later adolescence the prefrontal cortex develops which increases self - regulation and planning skills
Psychological Control
Invalidating the adolescents feelings and pushing them to think in certain ways
Differential Susceptibility
Genetic factors that can make individuals more or less susceptible to environment factors
Homophily
Friends change from being mostly same sex to mixed sex. Also seek out similar peers
Deviant Peer Contagion
Individuals are more likely to engage in negative or risky behaviour when it has been approved by a peer
Crowds
Large groups based on stereotypes and reputations and interact with moderate frequency
Cliques
Smaller groups of people with similar characteristics and often exclusionary
Identity Foreclosure
When the adolescent seems willing to commit to some relevant roles, values or goals for the future, without exploring their options
Identity Diffusion
Does not attempt to explore or commit to any ideologies or roles
Identity Moratorium
When adolescent is actively looking at options, exploring various choice, but has not made a commitment to these choices
Identity Achievment
When the adolescent has made a commitment to a specific identity (gender, social roles, religion, politics)
Patterson
Early Starter vs. Late Starter differentiates anti social behaviour that starts in childhood vs adolescence. Early Starters at a greater risk for long - term behaviours extending into adulthood
Moffit
Distinguishes between anti social behaviour that is life - course persistent
Emerging Aduthood
New stage that describes development between the ages of 18 - 29 (marriage, financially dependent, etc)
Five features of Emerging Adulthood
- Identity Exploration
- Instability
- Self - focus
- Feeling - in - between
- Possibilites
Identity exploration
Looking at possibilities in careers and relationships
Instability
Establishing home away from parents, moving between relationships and jobs
Self - focus
Learning to make independent decisions
Feeling in - between
An adult, but completely stable in identity
Possibilities
Have high hopes for future prospects
Life Course Theories
Look at how historical periods, individual experiences and opportunities, and interactions with others, as well as social roles and norms influence aging
Life Span Theories
Place a greater focus on the individuals aging and individual differences
Fluid Intelligence
Ability to adapt and change overtime. Ability to deal with novel situations without past experience (peaks in early 20s)
Crystallized Intelligence
Refers to ability to gain knowledge and tackle problems based on past experience and acquired knowledge (long term memory)
Autobiographical Narratives
Story of our lives. Change as people get older and reflect about their life
Subjective Age
Age a person feels they are after early adulthood. Generally after age 40 people report feeling 20% younger than their chronological age
Convoy Model of Social Relationships
Perception that support is available when we need it
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
Our motivations for seeking social contact change as we age, and older adults limit their social life to prioritize time with their closest social contacts
Cognitive Changes with Aging
Recall and processing speed decline - no change in recognition
