chapter 9 (part of): physical and cognitive development in adolescence Flashcards
genetic mechanisms for maturation
- identical twins resemble each other more that other siblings
- timing of menarche for mothers and daughters is correlated
environtmental mechanisms of maturation
- better nutrition= earlier puberty
- earlier menarche is seen in girls with much family conflict
psychological effect of body image
- adolescnence worry about this more than any other age
- girls worry about it more that boys
- girls are more likely to dislike their appearance
psychological response to menarche
- girls are pleased at signs of maturity
- irritated by period
- most girls know what to de because their moms told them already
- tell mom before friends
psychological response to spermarche
- boys are usually prepared through reading rather than parents
- they dont really tell anyone
moodiness in adolescence
- more moody than any other age
- mood changes depending on the environment
- relationship b\w mood and hormones is mild
psychological effect of early maturation in girls
- lack self-confidence
- less popular
- depressed
- behavioural problems
- smoke and drink
- engage in early sex
- teen pregnancy
- worse jobs
psychological effects of early maturation on boys
- some studies say that they date more and feel better about their physical capabilities
- some show that they are stressed about being off time
- some show that they’re stressed by puberty in general, but not the timing of it
- most studies say that any effects are temporary (unlike girls)
nutritional needs in adolesence
-teens need more calories, calcium, and iron
body mass index
an adjusted ratio of weight to height, used to determine if someone is overweight
risks of obesity in chldhood
- peer rejection
- low self esteem
- high blood pressure and diabetes
hereditary influence on obesity
weight correlates with biological parents, not adoptive
- genes may influence activity levels
- genes influence basal metabolic rate
the role invironment plays in obesity
- tv advertisement encourages consumption of fattening foods
- parents may encourage overeating when they tell kids to finish the food on their plates
what does an effective weight loss program for youth look like
- it focuses on, changing eating habits, encouraging activity rather than sedentary behaviour
- children learn to monitor these things with goals and rewards
- parents are trained to help kids with these things
- parents also monitor their owl lifestyle to be sure that they arent encouraging obesity in their child
anorexia nervosa
refusing to eat, along with the irrational fear of being overweight
bulimia nervosa
disease in which people alternate b\w binge eating and purging with vomiting and laxitives
risk factors for anorexia and bulimia
- hereditary
- history of eating probs (picky/pica)
- negative self esteem
- mood and anxiety dissorders
- overly concerned with weight
- history of dieting
risk factor of only anorexia
overprotective parents
bulimia specific risk factors
childhood obesity
risk factors for anorexia and bulemia in boys
- childhood obesity
- low self-esteem
- pressure from parents and peers to lose weight
- participation in sports that emphasize being lean
factors of effective anorexia and bulemia prevention programs
- enable youth to become involved and learn new skills such as how to resist socail pressure
- change attitudes towards thinness
- change behaviours such as dieting and overeating
physical activity in adolescence
- most are not active enough for health
- the amount that are sufficiently active decreases with age
- schools have been decreasing availability of p.e. classes
effects of participating in sports
- increases physical fitness
- enhanced self esteem
- learn to take initiative
- teamwork and competitiveness
- learn social skills
- cause injuries
- encourage the use of steroids
sleep in adolescence
- need about 9-10 hours per night
- more homework, part-time jobs, and social activities interfere with getting enough sleep
- lack of sleep can influence school performance, mood, and activities that require allertness
things that threaten well being in adolescence
- most are associated with risk taking behaviour (most teens underestimate personal risk)
- biggest risks include: impaired/reckless driving, risky tricks on skateboards and bikes, unprotected sex, use of illegal substances
piaget’s formal operational period
- teens are able to apply psychological operations to abstract entities as well as concrete ones
- capable of deductive reasoning (even when it involves things that arent facts)
2 questionable aspects of piaget’s formal operational period
- formal-operational thinking as a capacity
2. formal operations as an endpoint
improvement of information processing in adolescence
- adolescence is a time when cognitive processes are tweaked
- most abilities are in place, but there is room for improvement
working memory and processing speed in adolescence
-increased myelination gives teens the abilities of young adults
ways in which content knowledge, strategies, and metacognitive skill are better in adolescence
- they have more content knowledge than children, so they can learn from more experiences
- better at choosing and monitoring strategies for tasks
- can solve problems more analytially
- better at finding weaknesses in arguments
ways in which content knowledge, strategies, and metacognitive skill are held back in adolescence
- its greatly impacted by pre-existing beliefs
- teens are selective in using their reasoning skills, depending on the benifits to them at the time
lawrence kohlberg
studied moral reasoning
- did this by giving people moral dilemmas and asking them what the protagonist would do and why
- said that there were 3 basic levels of reasoning (each having two stages)
Kohlberg’s theory: preconventional level
- first level of reasoning, where moral reasoning is based on external forces
- obedience orientation (stage1): moral reasoning is based on the belief that adults know best
- instrumental orientation (stage 2): moral reasoning is based on the aim of looking out for ones own needs
Kohlberg’s theory: conventional level
second level, moral reasoning is based on societies norms
- interpersonal norms (stage3): moral reasoning is based on winning the approval of others
- social system morality (stage 4): moral reasoning is based on maintaining order in society
Kohlberg’s theory: postconventional level
morality is based on personal moral code
- social contact (stage 5): moral reasoning is based on the belief that laws are right and good
- universal ethical principles (stage 6): moral reasoning is based on moral principles that apply to everyone
things that back up Kohlberg’s theory:
- people more through his stages in that sequence
- there is a correlation b\w moral reasoning and moral behaviour
things that contradict Kohlberg’s theory:
- moral reasoning isnt always consistent (people may think in different ways at different times)
- reasoning beyond stage 2-3 isnt consistent across cultures
cultural differences in moral reasoning from Kohlberg’s theory:
-individual rights and justice (which he emphasized) are important in north american culture and judeo-christian theology but not in other cultures (hindus emphasize duty and responsibility to others)
gilligan’s argument against Kohlberg’s theory:
says that even in NA, the theory is male specific (males focus on justice, females focus on care)
-the difference however is actually very small
what promotes higher moral reasoning in teens
-exposure to more advanced moral reasoning
-discussing moral issues with someone at a higher level in moral reasoning
-involvement in religion (through doctrine, and seeing caring people)
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hormonal mechanisms of maturation
- pituitary gland releases growth hormone and signals other glands to release hormones
- elementary school: adrenal glands release androgens, which will produce body hair
- later: ovaries release estrogen, testes release testosterone
