Module 26: Expected Development in Adolescence

Question 1

White Matter in Adolescence

Answer 1

+ A steady increase in white matter, nerve fibers that connect distant portions of the brain, permits faster information and better communication across hemispheres
+ Increase in white matter occurs early in women than men

Question 2

What makes cognitive processing in adolescence more efficient?

Answer 2

By mid- to late adolescence, young people have fewer but stronger, smoother, and more effective neuronal connections, making cognitive processing more efficient

Question 3

Where does development of the brain begin?

Answer 3

Development of the brain starts at the back and moves forward

Question 4

What is a biological explanation for why adolescents tend to seek thrills and novelty?

Answer 4

The underdevelopment of frontal cortical systems by comparison may help explain why adolescent tend to seek thrills and novelty and why many of them find it hard to focus on long-term goals

Question 5

What is the biological explanation behind peers exerting a stronger influence in adolescence?

Answer 5

Peers tend to exert a stronger influence in adolescence in part because of a heightened neurobehavioral susceptibility to social reward cues and concurrent immaturity in the cognitive control system

Question 6

Formal Operations

Answer 6

+ the highest level of cognitive development adolescents enter according to Piaget
+ Adolescents move away from their reliance on concrete, real-world stimuli, and develop the capacity for abstract thought
+ They can now use symbols to represent other symbols, hidden messages, imagine possibilities, create hypotheses

Question 7

What age do children enter formal operations?

Answer 7

Usually around 11 yrs old

Question 8

Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning

Answer 8

+ methodical, scientific approach to problem solving, and it characterizes formal operations thinking
+ involves ability to develop, consider, and test hypotheses

Question 9

What is Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning attributed to?

Answer 9

Piaget attributed it to a combination of brain maturation and expanding environmental opportunities

Question 10

School

Answer 10

offers opportunities to learn info, master new skills, and sharpen old skills

Question 11

What are educational practices based on?

Answer 11

Educational Practices are based on the assumption that students are, or can be motivated to learn

Question 12

What subjects are boys most likely to fail in?

Answer 12

Boys are more likely to fail to achieve a baseline of proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science

Question 13

What subjects do girls do better in?

Answer 13

Girls do better on verbal tasks that involve writing and language usage

Question 14

What subjects do boys do better in?

Answer 14

Boys do better in activities that involve visual and spatial functions helpful in math and science

Question 15

Spillover

Answer 15

experiences in different contexts influence each other

Question 16

What makes a good middle or high school?

Answer 16

A good middle or high school has an orderly, safe environment, an adequate material resources, a stable teaching staff, and a positive sense of community

Question 17

When do adolescents become more satisfied with school?

Answer 17

Adolescents are more satisfied with school if allowed to participate in making rules, if they feel supported from teachers and other students, and if the curriculum and instruction are meaningful and appropriately challenging and fit their interests, skill level, and needs

Question 18

Dropout Reasons

Answer 18

✓ Low teacher expectations
✓ Differential treatment
✓ Less teacher support
✓ Perceived irrelevance of the curriculum to culturally under-represented groups

Question 19

What do Self-Efficacy Beliefs help shape?

Answer 19

Self-Efficacy beliefs help shape the occupational options students consider and the way they prepare for careers

Question 20

Service Learning

Answer 20

form of education that promotes social responsibility and service to the community