middle childhood adolescence

Question 1

the concrete operations stage

Answer 1

decentration - can focus on two or more dimensions of a problem at once

reversibility of thought - can mentally reverse or undo actions

transformational thought - can understand the process of change from one state to another

sees shift in understanding drive from perceptual salience to logical reason

seriation - ability to arrange items mentally along quantifiable dimensions

Transivity - understanding of relationships among elements in a series

less egocentrism

classification abilities improve

Question 2

formal operations stage

Answer 2

formal operations are
mental actions on ideas
- permit systematic and scientific thinking about problems, hypothetical ideas and abstract concepts

contribute to positive aspects of adolescence development
- sense of identity, complex thinking, appreciation of humour

contribute to negative aspects of adolescent development

• confusion adolescent idealism and rebellion agains ideas that are not logical
• thought can also lead to adolescent egocentrism

Question 3

brain development

glial cells

Answer 3

nourish , protect and physically support neurons and are thought to be particularly critical in brain development

Question 4

functions of the prefrontal cortex

Answer 4

executive fucntions 
working memory 
planning and organisaiton 
inhibitory control
selfmonitoring
insight and judgement 
cognitive flexibility 
selective and sustained attention