Lecture 3 Flashcards
What are some key changes in adolescent cognition?
1) thinking about possibilities
2) Deductive reasoning
3) Hypothetical reasoning
What is deductive reasoning?
Can start to generate conclusions from generalities
What is hypothetical thinking?
If then thinking. Critical for perspective taking and planning ahead (what would happen if I did this??)
What type of thinking are adolescents better at than children?
Abstract thinking (morals, laws, democracy, honesty). Children are better at thinking in concretes
What is metacognition?
Can monitor your own thinking which is imperative for critical thought.
What is adolescent egocentrism?
Adolescents seem more self-absorbed due to an increase in self thought
What is the imaginary audience?
The idea that your behaviour is the focus of everyone around you
What is the personal fable?
The belief that your experience is unique-increases individuality but can create a problem when it comes to risk taking (this would never happen to me)
What do adolescent egoism and the personal fable create?
Metacognition
What does thinking in multiple dimensions help the adolescent to do?
Perspective taking, acting differently in different situations, promotes identity
What can the development of relativism do?
Help the adolescent’s ability to argue and think about other possibilities. May cause conflict with caregivers cuz adolescent is beginning to argue against the “absolute” authority of parents
What is social cognition?
Thinking about people, social relationships-allows for development of theory of mind.
What is theory of mind?
The realization that what you are thinking and feeling is not the same as what others are. Thinking about social relationships and morality, understanding that social norms are not absolute, critical for perspective taking.
How do adolescents begin to understand individual and collective rights?
They know that the common good can sometimes override individual rights
When is early adolescence?
Age 11
When do cognitions start to emerge in adolescence?
9-10, and are mostly online around age 15
What is the information processing theory?
Explains cognitive development in terms of growth of specific components of thinking-specific thinking components that change during adolescence.
How does attention change during adolescence?
Longer attention spans for focusing and learning-development of selective attention and divided attention.
How does memory change during adolescence?
Better working memory, long term memory, and autobiographical memory. `
What is the reminiscence bump?
Events from adolescence are remembered better (due to adolescents having stronger emotions)
What is the quadratic growth pattern?
Adolescents are faster at information processing than both children and adults (peaks around 15)
What kinds of things continue developing until around age 25?
Decision making, planning, coordinating, cognition and emotions.
What happens to the brains grey matter during adolescence?
Growth of neurons and synaptic pruning. Elimination of unnecessary synapses
Where does pruning happen in the adolescent brain?
Prefrontal cortex
