Exam 1 Vocab Flashcards
Menarche
The time of first menstruation, one of the most important changes to occur among females during puberty
Endocrine system
The system of the body that produces, circulates, and regulates hormones
Hormones
Highly specialized substances secreted by one or more endocrine glands
Glands
Organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways to particular hormones
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons
Specialized neurons that are activated by certain pubertal hormones
Set point
A physiological level or setting (e.g., of a specific hormone) that the body attempts to maintain through a self-regulating system
Feedback loop
A cycle through which two or more bodily functions respond to and regulate each other, such as that formed by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the gonads
Pituitary gland
One of the chief glands responsible for regulating levels of hormones in the body
Hypothalamus
A part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland
Gonads
The glands that secrete sex hormones: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries
Testes
The male gonads
Ovaries
The female gonads
Androgens
A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes, but in higher levels among males than females following puberty
Estrogens
A class of sex hormones secreted by the gonads, found in both sexes, but in higher levels among females than males following puberty
HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) axis
The neurophysiological pathway that involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the gonads
Adrenarche
The maturation of the adrenal glands that takes place during adolescence
Cortisol
A hormone produced when a person is exposed to stress
Leptin
A protein produced by the fat cells that may play a role in the onset of puberty
Organizational role (of hormones)
The process through which early exposure to hormones, especially prenatally, organizes the brain or other organs in anticipation of later changes in behavior or patterns of growth
Activational role (of hormones)
The process through which changes in hormone levels, especially at puberty, stimulate changes in the adolescent’s behavior, appearance, or growth
Adolescent growth spurt
The dramatic increase in height and weight that occurs during puberty
Peak height velocity
The point at which the adolescent is growing most rapidly
Epiphysis
The closing of the ends of bones, which terminates growth after the adolescent growth spurt has been completed
Secondary sex characteristics
The manifestations of sexual maturity at puberty, including the development of breasts, the growth of facial and body hair, and changes in the voice
Tanner stages
A widely used system that describes the five stages of pubertal development
Pheromones
A class of chemicals secreted by animals that stimulate certain behaviors in other members of the species
Secular trend
The tendency, over the past two centuries, for individuals to be larger in stature and to reach puberty earlier, primarily because of improvements in health and nutrition
Cross-sectional study
A study that compares two or more groups of individuals at one point in time
Longitudinal study
A study that follows the same group of individuals over time
Delayed phase preference
A pattern of sleep characterized by later sleep and wake times, which usually emerges during puberty
Melatonin
A hormone secreted by the brain that contributes to sleepiness
Basal metabolism rate
The minimal amount of energy used by the body during a resting state
Body mass index (BMI)
A measure of an individual’s body fat, the ratio of weight to height; used to gauge overweight and obesity
Disordered eating
Mild, moderate, or severe disturbance in eating habits and attitudes
Anorexia nervosa
An eating disorder found chiefly among young women, characterized by a dramatic and severe self-induced weight loss
Bulimia
An eating disorder found primarily among young women, characterized by a pattern of binge eating and extreme weight loss measures, including self-induced vomiting
Binge eating disorder
An eating disorder characterized by a pattern of binge eating that is not accompanied by drastic attempts to lose weight
Adolescent health care
A field of study and health care devoted to understanding the health care needs of individuals during the second decade of life
Graduated driver licensing
A licensing system in which full adult driving privileges are not granted all at once to teen drivers, but phased in over time
Deductive reasoning
A type of logical reasoning in which one draws logically necessary conclusions from a general set of premises, or givens
Metacognition
The process of thinking about thinking itself
Imaginary audience
The belief, often brought on by the heightened self-consciousness of early adolescence, that everyone is watching and evaluating one’s behavior
Personal fable
An adolescent’s belief that he or she is unique and therefore not subject to the rules that govern other people’s behavior
Cognitive-developmental view
A perspective on development, based on the work of Piaget, that takes a qualitative, stage-theory approach
Sensorimotor period
The first stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget, spanning the period roughly between birth and age 2
Preoperational period
The second stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget, spanning roughly ages 2-5
Concrete operations
The third stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget, spanning the period roughly between age 6 and early adolescence
Formal operations
The fourth stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget, spanning the period from early adolescence through adulthood
Information-processing perspective
A perspective on cognition that derives from the study of artificial intelligence and attempts to explain cognitive development in terms of the growth of specific components of the thinking process (such as memory)
Selective attention
The process by which we focus on one stimulus while tuning out another
Divided attention
The process of paying attention to two or more stimuli at the same time
Working memory
That aspect of memory in which information is held for a short time while a problem is being solved
Long-term memory
The ability to recall something from a long time ago
Autobiographical memory
The recall of personally meaningful past events
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
A technique used to produce images of the brain, often while the subject is performing some sort of mental task
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
A technique used to produce images of the brain that shows connections among different regions
Brain structure
The physical form or composition of the brain
Brain function
Patterns of brain activity
Electroencephalography (EEG)
A technique for measuring electrical activity at different locations on the scalp
Event-related potentials (ERP)
Changes in electrical activity in areas of the brain in response to specific stimuli or events
Neurons
Nerve cells
Neurotransmitters
Specialized chemicals that carry electrical impulses between neurons
Synapse
The gap in space between neurons, across which neurotransmitters carry electrical impulses
Synaptic pruning
The process through which unnecessary connections between neurons are eliminated, improving the efficiency of information processing
Myelination
The process through which brain circuits are insulated with myelin, which improves the efficiency of information processing
Prefrontal cortex
The region of the brain most important for sophisticated thinking abilities, such as planning, thinking ahead, weighing risks and rewards, and controlling impulses
Parietal cortex
A region of the brain that is especially important for working memory
Temporal cortex
A region of the brain that is especially important for social cognition
Limbic system
An area of the brain that plays an important role in the processing of emotional experience, social information, and reward and punishment
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
The outer and upper areas of the front of the brain, important for skills such as planning ahead and controlling impulses
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
The lower and central area at the front of the brain, important for gut-level decision making
Orbitofrontal cortex
The region of the brain located directly behind the eyes, important for the evaluation of risk and reward
Response inhibition
The suppression of a behavior that is inappropriate or no longer required
Functional connectivity
The extent to which multiple brain regions function at the same time, which improves during adolescence
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter especially important in the brain circuits that relate the experience of reward
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that is especially important for the experience of different moods
Zone of proximal development
In Vygotsky’s theory, the level of challenge that is still within the individual’s reach but that forces an individual to develop more advanced skills
Hypothalamus
A part of the brain that controls the functioning of the pituitary gland
What do androgens and estrogens have to do with the hypothalamus?
It responds to the levels of sex hormones circulating in the body
The HPG axis is set to maintain certain levels of androgens and estrogens
When sex hormone levels reach the set point, the hypothalamus responds by inhibiting its stimulation of the pituitary gland
When adolescents start feeling sexual attraction, what triggered it?
Adrenarche or menarche
Which is not part of the feedback loop?
Thyroid hormone
The simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and _____ stimulates rapid acceleration of height and weight during puberty
Androgens
Who is at a greater risk for developing body dissatisfaction?
Early maturing caucasian female
Which term allows individuals to suspend their beliefs about something in order to argue something abstractly?
Hypothetical thinking
What is the imaginary audience?
When everyone thinks someone is watching them
What is personal fable?
The belief that they are invincible and unique
What does the limbic system do?
Regulates emotions, processes social information, and is implicated in the rewards system
What is the average IQ score?
100
What is scaffolding?
Structuring a learning so that it is just within reach of the student
Who talks about scaffolding?
Vygotsky
Compared to childhood, rewards seeking and sensation seeking during adolescence is _____ than in childhood
Higher
According to the inventionist theory, adolescence was not considered a distinct transitional theory until?
The 19th century, after the industrial revolution
Late 19th century adolescents spend _____ time working than their parents
Less
One finding that emerged from the competence to stand trial research was what?
Found that 20% of 14 and 15 year olds were not competent to stand trial
What is a barmitzvah?
An initiation ceremony making the young person’s transition into adulthood
What type of ceremony is there for menarche?
Transition ceremony
Who is likely to have limited educational and occupational success, which will affect the transition into adulthood?
All of these people
What is the reason for an imbalance or inequilibrium in the family during adolescent years that revolves around the parents as well?
Identity crisis of parents
Which characteristic is shown more among ethnic minorities?
Demandingness
Are siblings more likely to be close in low SES or high SES families?
Higher SES families
What is the scientific study of genetic influence on behavior?
Behavioral genetics
What cannot explain the difference between siblings?
Time entering puberty cannot explain the difference
According to behavioral genetics, siblings who are different from each other and go through puberty at different stages of time _____
Get along better because they feel unique
What kind of pants do Luigi and Mario wear?
Denim, denim, denim
Sternberg’s triarchic theory
Sternberg’s three-part theory of intelligence
He argued that a thorough assessment of an individual’s intellectual capabilities requires that we look at three distinct but interrelated types of intelligence:
1) Componential intelligence, which involves our abilities to acquire, store, and process information (closest to what is measured on IQ test)
2) Experiential intelligence, which involves our abilities to use insight and creativity (creativity)
3) Contextual intelligence, which involves our ability to think practically (street smarts)
Social redefinition
The process through which an individual’s position or status is redefined by society
What is it called when children are not sentenced as results?
Juvenile delinquency
Which court case deals with whether or not adolescence are more blamable than adults?
Roper v. Simmons
Generation gap
Often a gap between teenagers and adults in matters of personal taste, most clearly evident in styles of dress, preferences in music, and patterns of leisurely activity
Unlike basic values, which develop gradually over time and are shaped from an early age, preferences and tastes for things like clothing, music, and hairstyles are far more transitory and subject to current fads and fashions
Because adolescents spend a great deal of time with their friends
Teenagers’ preferences are likely to be shaped to a large measure by forces outside the family
Where do we find most of the difference between adolescents and their parents?
Personal taste
Authoritarian parenting
High demandingness Low responsiveness Adult-centered, autocratic, rigid Strict rules and expectations Unilateral decision making Little warmth or communication Expects obedience, distrusting Punitive punishment Discourages open communication
Authoritative parenting
High demandingness High responsiveness Child-centered, democratic, flexible Establish firm behavioral guidelines Engage adolescent in decision making Warm, accepting, involved, trusting Monitoring Supports assertiveness, responsiveness, and self-regulation Encourages psychological autonomy
Indifferent parenting
Low demandingness Low responsiveness Adult-centered, passive, dismissing Pose few demands on the adolescent Poor or little communication Do not monitor or supervise behavior Detached, distant, withdrawn, absent
Indulgent parenting
High responsiveness Low demandingness Child-centered, indulgent, appeasing No guidelines, non-directive Avoid confrontation, rarely discipline adolescent Warm, accepting, nurturing Over-involved, blurred roles Few rules or expectations
Scaffolding
Structuring a learning situation so that it is just within the reach of the student
Social cognition
The aspect of cognition that concerns thinking about other people, about interpersonal relations, and about social institutions
Mentalizing
The ability to understand someone else’s mental state
Theory of mind
The ability to understand that others have beliefs, intentions, and knowledge that may be different from one’s own
Social conventions
The norms that govern everyday behavior in social situations
Behavioral decision theory
An approach to understanding adolescent risk taking, in which behaviors are seen as the outcome of systematic decision-making processes
Which parenting style is the best?
Authoritative
Sensation seeking
The pursuit of experiences that are novel or exciting
Social redefinition
The process through which an individual’s position or status is redefined by society
Age of majority
The designated age at which an individual is recognized as an adult
Statutory rape
Sex between two individuals, even when it is consensual, when at least one of the persons is below the legal age of consent; in the United States, the specific age of consent varies from state to state
Inventionists
Theorists who argue that the period of adolescence is mainly a social invention
Child protectionists
Individuals who argued, early in the 20th century, that adolescents needed to be kept out of the labor force in order to protect them from the hazards of the workplace
When siblings are treated differently, research shows that they ____
Get along better
Teenager
A term popularized about 50 years ago to refer to young people; in connoted a more frivolous and lighthearted image than did “adolescent”
Youth
Today, a term used to refer to individuals ages 18-22; it once referred to individuals ages 12-24
Initiation ceremony
The formal induction of a young person into adulthood
Status offense
A violation of the law that pertains to minors but not adults
Juvenile justice system
A separate system of courts and related institutions developed to handle juvenile crime and delinquency
Criminal justice system
The system of courts and related institutions developed to handle adult crime
Cohort
A group of individuals born during the same general historical era
Quinceanera
An elaborate sort of “coming-out” celebration for adolescent girls that is practiced in many Latino communities
Bar Mitzvah
In Judaism, the religious ceremony marking the young person’s transition to adulthood
Scarification
The intentional creation of scars on some part or parts of the body, often done as part of an initiation ceremony
Female genital mutilation
The cutting or removal of the clitoris, performed in some cultures as part of the initiation of female adolescents
Baby boom
The period following World War II, during which the number of infants born was extremely large
Continuous transitions
Passages into adulthood in which adult roles and statuses are entered into gradually
Discontinuous transitions
Passages into adulthood in which adult roles and statuses are entered into abruptly
Collective efficacy
A community’s social capital, derived from its members’ common values and goals
Self-fulfilling prophecy
The idea that individuals’ behavior is influenced by others’ expectations for them
Family systems theory
A perspective on family functioning that emphasizes interconnections among different family relationships (such as marital, parent-child, sibling)
Midlife crisis
A psychological crisis over identity believed to occur between the ages of 35 and 45, the age range of most adolescents’ parents
Familism
An orientation toward life in which the needs of one’s family take precedence over the needs of the individual
Generational dissonance
Divergence of views between adolescents and parents that is common in families of immigrant parents and American-born adolescents
Parental responsiveness
One of the two important dimensions of parenting; responsiveness refers to the degree to which the parent responds to the child’s needs in an accepting, supportive manner
Parental demandingness
One of two important dimensions of parenting; refers to the degree to which the parent expects and insists on mature, responsible behavior from the child
Authoritative parents
Parents who use warmth, firm control, and rational, issue-oriented discipline, in which emphasis is placed on the development of self-direction
Authoritarian parents
Parents who use punitive, absolute, and forceful discipline, and who place a premium on obedience and conformity
Indulgent parents
Parents who are characterized by responsiveness but low demandingness, and who are mainly concerned with the child’s happiness
Indifferent parents
Parents who are characterized by low levels of both responsiveness and demandingness
Shared environmental influences
Nongenetic influences that make individuals living in the same family similar to each other
Nonshared environmental influences
The non genetic influences in individuals’ lives that make them different from people they live with
Sibling rivalry
Competition between siblings, often for parental attention
Sibling deidentification
The process through which siblings deliberately try to be different from each other
Foster care
A placement in a temporary living arrangement when a child’s parents are not able to provide care, nurturance, or safety
