Lecture 8: Adolescent development 1: Psychological factors Flashcards
What are the 4 ecological systems suggested by Bronfenbrenner which influence the individual
Microsystem: immediate social contacts
Mesosystem: network of interwoven interlinking microsystem
Exosystem: the larger community in which adolescent lives
Macrosystem: overarching social context
What are the risks associated with micro and mesosystems - leading to poor behaviour
- Few or no links between microsystems
- Microsystems endorse different values
- Mesosystem endorses deviant delinquent behaviour conflicting with the macrosystem
What are the risks associated with macrosystems - leading to poor behaviour
- A divergence of values between society and the values of the micro/meso system (immigrant families)
- Where macrosystem values create risk ie media culture
What is the two psychosocial stages of early (highschool) and late adolescence (uni)
early: group identity vs alienation
late: individual identity vs identity confusion
- both to do with solidifying the moral, personal, ethnic identities
What is identity confusion vs identity crisis
Confusion: State in which adolescents appear unsure, fickle and directionless
Crisis: Temporary feeling of confusion and distress as adolescents experiment with alternatives before settling on values and goals
What is identity
well organised conception of self, made up of values, beliefs and goals
How does white matter change in the brain from childhood to adolescence
Increased white matter through steady increase in brain myelination throughout development to adulthood,
How does grey matter change in the brain from childhood to adolescence
Increases just before puberty then decreases in adolescence
- change in size and complexity of neurons by overgrowing then pruning of amgydala , temporal and parietal lobes
- causing restructuring in brain structure (esp. prefrontal and frontal lobes- empathy, decision making)
What is amygdala and temporal and parietal lobes associated with
Amygdala: fight/flight response to fear
Temporal + Parietal lobes: emotional maturity, integration of memory and audiovisual/tactile input
Why do adolescents make risky decisions
The subcortical limbic system- amgydala (emotions) and nucleus accumbens (reward) develops faster than prefrontal cortex (self control/ judgement)- thinking differs under condition of high arousal.
While they can evaluate risk, they bias themselves to view reward far greater than consequence due to less life experience.
What is the emotional development of adolescence
Increased sensitivity to feelings, self conscious, exploratory behaviour, sexual motivation, with gradual improvement in emotion control
Independence - both imagined and actual.
What are some cognitive skills you get in adolescence
- Reason hypothetically,
- think about thinking
- plan & future orientation
- decision making
- performance under stress
Better logical and probabilistic reasoning than adults
When can adolescents give consent and what is the best
Dependent on cognitive capacity- maybe at 14
Best if family are involved in major decision making and ongoing care - but requires careful negotiation. But act in the best interests of adolescent.
What are optimum factors that help teenagers grow that parents can put in place
Allow choices- skill development
Encourage discussion- values clarification
Space to reflect - discover self
Space to hang out with friends- develop identity: try out roles and ideas
Be given roles and responsibilities - participate in society and develop accountability
Opportunities to have fun- cultivate capacity to enjoy life
What approach is best in addressing mental health problems in youth
Fortifying protective factors rather than just treating the illness.
These are
- supervision, knowing trouble free friends, success in academic/ extracurricular and strong bonds with prosocial institutions
