Part 3: Adolescent Development

Question 1

How does physical development play a role into adolescence development?

Answer 1

Adolescence technically begins with puberty when sex organs mature. it has important implications for the way adolescents feel about themselves

Question 2

How does cognitive development play a role in adolescence development?

Answer 2

Usually by adolescence, children are in the formal operational stage. They begin to reason hypothetically and deduce consequences. This can lead to greater understanding and comprehension of broad moral principles

Question 3

Who is Lawrence Kohlberg and how did he contribute to moral development?

Answer 3

Lawrence Kohlberg believe that moral reasoning helps guild our judgments and behavior.

He proposed dilemmas to help people reason at different levels (not to be confused with Erikson’s psychosocial stages). His theory assumes that people move through levels in a fixed order (pre-conventional, conventional, post-conventional)

Question 4

Define pre-conventional.

Answer 4

Perform actions based on rewards or punishment. Very selfish and self-centered morality. Usually young children

Question 5

Define conventional.

Answer 5

Interested in plastering others and doing what is right by social laws. Consider more than self…think of family, loves ones and society as a whole

Question 6

Define post-conventional.

Answer 6

Use higher reasoning to guide behavior. They think about terms of justice, equality, and basic human rights when making decisions. Kohlberg didn’t think that many people made it to this level of reasoning

Question 7

Who is Erik Erikson and how did he contribute to social development?

Answer 7

He specifically contributed to psychosocial development which is a development throughout the life span. He created a specific task or dilemma that must be resolved per stage. Our personality is profoundly influenced by our experience with others. He created the stages of psychosocial development

Question 8

In early adulthood, describe the social development.

Answer 8

Age range is 20-65. Early adulthood is often centered around careers.

“Midlife transitions” also takes place.
—one may question his/her life and accomplishments (40s)

Marriage, children, and family is a focal point

Question 9

In late adulthood, describe the physical changes.

Answer 9

—thinning and graying hair
—skin wrinkling 
—slight loss in height 
—senses are less sensitive
—reaction time slows 
—changes in physical stamina

Question 10

Describe the genetic programming theories of aging in late adulthood.

Answer 10

Built-in time line to the reproduction of human cells

Question 11

Describe the wear-and-tear theories of aging in late adulthood.

Answer 11

Mechanical functions that the body simply stop working efficiently as people age

Question 12

Describe the cognitive changes in late adult hood. Does memory decline with old age?

Answer 12

—Skills relating to fluid intelligence do show declines in old age yet skills relating to crystalized intelligence remain steady
—neural processing slows down, thus it takes longer to process the memories
*memory loss tends to be limited to episodic memory…other types are largely unaffected by age
*if person stays active (mentally & physically) memory loss seems nonexistent
—some memory loss is due to diseases (Alzheimer’s)

Question 13

Describe the disengagement theory of aging in the social world of late adulthood.

Answer 13

Aging produces a gradual withdrawal from the world on physical, psychological and social levels

This provides opportunity for increases reflectiveness and decreased emotional investment

Question 14

Describe the activity theory of aging.

Answer 14

People who age most successfully are those who maintain the interests, activities and level of social interaction they experienced during middle adulthood

Question 15

Describe the 5 stages of grief. Who developed them?

Answer 15

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

—see these stages when dealing with many of the traumas we encounter in life
—a person does not necessarily go through all five stages, they can go through one or two
—just because you go through each stage does not mean that you are done grieving — you can go back and forth between stages

Question 16

Describe trust vs. mistrust. What is the resolution? Age range?

Answer 16

• “Can i trust the world?”

Brith-1yr

Dependent on others to meet physical needs and need for love
◦ If parents care and you become “attached” you’ll develop a sense of trust and predictability
◦ Inconsistent or lacking care will cause infant to develop a sense of mistrust or paranoia

Resolution: Hope

Question 17

Describe autonomy vs. shame and doubt. What is the resolution? Age range?

Answer 17

1- 3 yrs

• “Do I have some control over my life ?”
◦ If parents set boundaries yet let child make some decisions, they will develop a “will” or a sense of independence
◦ If over restricted, children will be unable to assert themselves yet if parents are too lenient, children become overly demanding and controlling — child will also have a sense of shame, self-consciousness

Resolution: sense of will

Question 18

Describe initiative vs. guilt. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 18

3 - 6yrs

• “Am I capable of doing things for myself?”

Imagination developing, curious…asserting independence
◦ If parents react “+” to these items, child will feel confident to take risks and have self-confidence
◦ If parents react “-“ , child will lack self-sufficiency, have low self-esteem, and fear punishment

Resolution: development with a sense of purpose

Question 19

Describe industry vs. inferiority. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 19

6-12

• “Am I capable of doing things socially?”

Compare self with others in social and academic aspects
◦ Feel that can do tasks, have a sense of pride and that do fit it
◦ Feel inferior or not as good as others

Resolution: sense of competence

Question 20

Describe identity vs. role. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 20

Adolescents: 12 - 18yrs

• “Who am I and where is my place in this world?”

Going through the transaction from child to adult…trying to discover who you are, what your strengths are and what kind of roles you are best suited for
◦ Have a sense of who you are and a commitment to future adults roles
◦ Confusion over what role to play can lead to an unstable identity and adoption of a socially unacceptable roles
• Pressures to identify with what one wants to do with one’s life are acutely felt
◦ Separate selves from parents
◦ Tend to rely more on peer group
◦ Pivotal time period in a person’s life…paving the way for continues growth and future development of personal relationships
• Erikson believed that had to “find self” and figure out role before could truly feel and express love

Resolution: knowing who you are

Question 21

Describe intimacy vs. isolation. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 21

20-40

• “Can I love and be loved?”

Pondering entering into a close, loving relationship
◦ Develop intimacy and a sense of connectedness
◦ Develop isolation — draw into self and avoid close emotional contact

Resolution: feeling loves

Question 22

Describe generativity vs. stagnation. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 22

40-60

• “Am I productive and giving something back to the world”

Sense that making a difference through children, job, community involvement, etc.
◦ happy with life and feel made a difference, a sense of accomplishment
◦ Feel worthless and preoccupation with own needs (mid-life crisis)

Resolution: care or caring

Question 23

Describe integrity vs. despair. Resolution? Age range?

Answer 23

60+

• “Has it all been worth it?”

Review life
◦ Look back at life happily, have strong sense of self-acceptance
◦ Develop a sense of despair, look back at life with frustration, regret and disappointment

Resolution: wisdom

Question 24

What are some criticisms of Erickson’s psychosocial stages?

Answer 24

—lacks empirical support
—questions have been raised if some of these stages can happen at the same time
—psychosocial crisis resented in males and not females
—Changes in social expectations — some of the ages in these stages may have shifted when the crisis occur