Lecture 15

Question 1

Adolescence intro

Answer 1

Age of adolescence is not specified it’s from puberty through to adulthood

Uncertainty as
onset of puberty varies
age of reaching adulthood varies

Question 2

What characterises adolescence

Answer 2

Biological changes

cognitive performance changes family relationship changes

Question 3

Neurological and cognitive development

Answer 3

Could ask three questions

question one easy to observe behaviour change but what about biological changes in brain

question two does brain change if so how and where

question three can attribute behaviour changes to changes in the brain

Question 4

MRI data neurological development

Answer 4

Giedd et al 2011

Total cerebral volume peaks just prior to adolescence in females 10 years and during adolescence in males 14 years

Question 5

Why white matter matters neurological development

Answer 5

Making sense of the world demands the making of links in the brain hence importance of myelination process

Lenroot et al 2007

• White matter Increases especially during adolescence corpus callosum made up of white-matter and connects hemispheres possibly accounts for the increase of cognitive functions in memory of language and attention
• Market development in childhood and adolescence age 4 to 24

Question 6

Why white matter matters continued neurological and cognitive development

Answer 6

Advances in MR technologies allows for closer examination, diffusion tensor imaging can detect anisotropy of axons (increases anisotrophy, increase mem Lang iq)
-anisotrophy shows Development trend prior to adult hood

Question 7

Brain and behaviour

Answer 7

Can we correlate structural changes with behavioural changes very difficult evidence to date slight often on nonhumans even then cross-sectional not longitudinal

what can we expect you in adolescence increase white-matter, white-matter increases functioning of brain, increase anisotropic white-matter correlates with an increase IQ and cognitive resource

Question 8

Neurological change=cognitive change

Piaget theory

Answer 8

Piaget theory- adolescents actively construct their understanding of themselves and world around them
Stages- Concrete operational 7 to 11 , formal operations 11+ (adolescent is the shift)

Formal- Thought becomes orientated towards the possible as distinct from current reality. thinking becomes more abstract opportunity for hypothetical thinking emerges

Question 9

Piaget continued

Answer 9

Hypothetical thinking allows individuals to imagine how the world could be and how this may be achieved
this thinking impact perception of the degree of difference between world as it is in the world I would like it to be
Adolescence brings possibility to anticipate all possible outcomes due to the outcomes being hypothetical -link between imagination and logic systems transforms worldview

Question 10

Just hypothetical thinking emerge during childhood

Answer 10

Young children engage in make-believe play Is this hypothetical thinking

1) use imagination to create counter to reality scenario
2) infer consequences of being in the scenario
3) grasp distinction between imagined and real world

Question 11

Is it possible to conclude hypothetical thinking is reflected in Childs play

Answer 11

No

1) concrete materials are needed adolescence bring mental workspace
2) adolescence brings capacity to imagine and compare multiple possible scenarios
3) uni directionality between two worlds children use real world knowledge to inform imagine scenarios but not vice versa

Question 12

Evidence of developmental differences

Answer 12

Guttentag and Ferrel2008 children and teens and adults told story, person will get a gift from whichever box they choose. person picks box a and that’s good gift but great gift is in box b.

all three groups inferred regret On part of the person
only teens and adults said they hoped box B is empty as they are only able to imagine hypothetical conditioning where regret can be avoided

Question 13

Self identity theory one

Answer 13

Freuds psychosexual theory five stages of development
oral 0 to 1’
Anal 1-3
Phallic 3-5 
Latency 5-12/13
Genital 13+ - adolescence onset 

The Libido changes location within body over the course of development results in a concentration of energy localised in zone, results in tension. Release of tension possible of stimulation applied to areas where energy is located

Question 14

Freuds theory continued

Answer 14

Adolescences to primary tasks 1)replacement of pregenital - drives sexual primacy, major force influencing behaviour

2) resolution of Oedipal conflicts- Detachment from parents and establishment of a mature hetero sexual relations

Question 15

Freud role of ego

Answer 15

Ego develops= development of ideas about self
job of ego is to control sexual tension in a way that is socially and personally acceptable
ego finds the balance between competing drives ID and super ego

Question 16

Problem is in resolving danger of connecting newfound drives with previous love

Answer 16

Previously loved objects e.g. parents and siblings which demands a change in personality to do this adolescent must discard for love objects and distance themselves from them belief systems, attitude and morality( things formally shared with parents)
new beliefs must be acquired typically found in peers as understand them more
Peers provide the setting which newfound sexual drives might be played out discussed and resolved

Question 17

Ericksons psychosocial theory

Answer 17

It’s built on Freuds earlier contentions emphasis on psychosocial development not psychosexual

Prior to adolescence individuals will hopefully have a well-developed sense of who are

Arrival of puberty this knowledge of self becomes challenged they look and feel different and the world looks different

Question 18

Ericksons theory continued

Answer 18

Question that dominates adolescence mind is the search for identity/who am I?

The answer to this question is one self-definition, if can define the way that satisfies himself and societal norms then identity is both personally and socially adapted

Question 19

Ericksons how is self identity achieved

Answer 19

• Know what you believe in
• Know attributions you hold
• know what your ideals are

-If a positive identity is not found then identity crisis – try out different identities

Where to find out identity – e.g gap years