Chapter 9 Flashcards
(31 cards)
- Describe how adolescence is generally perceived by adults
generally negative stereotypes
How does life trajectory develop in adolesence
life trajectory is heavily influenced by ethnicity, cultures, gender, socioeconomic factors,
age and lifestyle
How do adolescence test their parents values?
acting out and testing the boundaries = how adolescents accept their parents’ values
Summarize the major events of puberty for boys and girls, including average
ages and how the sexes compare.
most noticeable changes for both boys and girls → increase in height and weight alongside
sexual maturation
- men: increase in body size, appearance of hair (pubic, armpit, facial, chest, etc.),
voice change
- women: marked weight and height gains, pubic hair growth, breast growth,
menstruation begins
How has the average age of menarche changed in the U.S. over time?
the average age of menarche has decreased in the U.S over time from ~14 to 12.5
Describe some consequences for body image and social relations based on
early or late maturation, for girls
girls: less happy with their bodies and have more negative perceptions
- early maturation = more confidence at a younger age, but make more bad decisions
lol. later maturation = less confidence → more comfortable with their body older
Describe some consequences for body image and social relations based on
early or late maturation, for boys
boys: early maturation = positive perceptions on themselves and more successful peer
relations. late maturation = stronger sense of identity, could have spent their time with life
development rather than preoccupied with their appearance
Use your knowledge of brain development during adolescence to explain the
emotional volatility characteristic of this stage.
corpus callosum: fibers connect the hemispheres → thicken
prefrontal cortex: involved in self-control, decision making, and reasoning, continues to
develop, but does not mature during adolescence
- HOWEVER, the amygdala (aka where big girl emotions are) matures earlier than
the prefrontal cortex
- thus why there is more emotional volatility. you feel more strong emotions but
cannot channel it in a healthy way / rationalize well
limbic system: where emotions and rewards are processed. almost completely developed
Summarize research on how sexual identity develops for gay and lesbian
individuals.
common thought: quietly struggle with same-sex attractions in childhood → don’t become
involved in heterosexual dating → gradually recognize their sexual identity in their late
adolescence
sexual identity involves activities, interests, styles of behavior, and an indication of sexual
orientation
- emerges in the context of physical factors, social factors, cultural factors + societal
factors
some do not recall being attracted to people of the same-sex and have a more abrupt
sense of this identity in their late adolescence
Discuss research on the timing of adolescent sexual behaviors, based on
ethnicity and activity.
57.3% of high school Seniors reported having experienced sexual intercourse vs. 30% of
high school Freshmen (??? what
male, African American + inner-city adolescents = more sexually active
Asian Americans = less sexually active RAH RAHHHHH
Is teenage pregnancy in the U.S. trending up, or down? How do our numbers
compare to other industrialized nations?
one of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing in the industrialized
world
- ex. teens are as sexually active in the Netherlands, but teenage pregnancy rates are
a lot lower
risk factors for adolescent pregnancy,
risk factors: early sexual activity (which can be caused by alcohol use, early menarche, and
not using contraceptives properly
health risks for adolescent pregnancy
risks: low birth weight, neurological problems, childhood illness (baby). the mother
drops out and usually never catches up economically
abstinence-only programs (don’t have sex!!):
abstinence-only programs (don’t have sex!!): has not shown to delay the initiation of
sexual intercourse or reduce HIV risk behaviors
What factors correlate to having sex earlier in life?
risk factors: early sexual activity (which can be caused by alcohol use, early menarche, and
not using contraceptives properly
What factors correlate to having less risky sexual behavior
What factors correlate to having sex earlier in life?
What is a protective factor in keeping boys and girls from engaging
in sexual intercourse?
better academic achievement
10.How do adolescents’ nutrition, exercise, differ from
childhood? How do these impact health?
health + exercise: 20% of 12-19 year olds are overweight, adolescents generally have
either good or poor health habits that continue until adolescence
10.How do adolescents’ sleep patterns, differ from
childhood? How do these impact health?
sleep patterns: incredibly poor. only 25% of U.S adolescents get 8 or more hours of sleep
on an average day
- low amounts of sleep + inconsistent sleep patterns = inattention, emotional and
peer-related problems, higher anxiety + levels of suicidal ideation
- factors: social media, electronics, caffeine, changes in the brain where melatonin is
released significantly later than childhood called “sleep phase delay”
11.What are the leading causes of death in adolescence? How does substance use
relate?
- unintentional injuries (almost half of all deaths)
- suicide
- homicide
drinking + driving = contributor to the leading causes of death in adolescence
vaping = gateway effect for cigarette smoking + marijuana use
- plays important role in preventing adolescent drug abuse
anorexia nervosa:
relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation
- includes restricted energy intake, presence of intense fear of gaining weight,
disturbance in how body weight is experienced
- ten times more likely in females
bulimia nervosa:
eating disorder where individuals binge eat before purging the food they
intake
- includes preoccupation with food, having an intense fear of gaining weight or
becoming overweight, depression / anxiety, distortion of body image despite
typically falling within a normal weight range
13.Discuss hallmarks of Piaget’s formal operational stage, and evaluate research
on its accuracy.
begins around age 11
formal operational thought: more abstract than concrete operational thought. includes
verbal problem-solving abilities, tendencies to think about thought, idealism +
possibilities, alongside more logical thought processes
hypothetical-deductive reasoning: the cognitive ability to develop hypotheses / best
guesses about ways to solve problems
research indicates that there is more individual variation than Piaget’s ideas + that culture
and education have stronger influences on cognitive development
14.Explain what is meant by “adolescent egocentrism,” and describe some features
of this phenomenon.
“adolescent egocentrism” = heightened self- consciousness of adolescents. basically main
character syndrome where they believe that everyone has their eyes on them at all times
- imaginary audience: belief that others are interested in them as they are, as well as
attention-getting behavior motivated by a desire to be noticed
- personal fable: involves a sense of uniqueness and invincibility
