Chapter 3 - Cognitive changes Flashcards
1
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Early [4]
A
- Concrete thinking
- Sexual identity and orientation development
- Body image
- Peer identification
2
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Middle [5]
A
- Abstract thinking
- Moral development
- Religious & political views
- Invicinbility
- Romantic interests
3
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Late [4]
A
- Better impulse control
- Further development of middle adolescence tasks
- Autonomy
- Vocational development
4
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Secular trend [1]
A
the observation that children today tend to start puberty earlier than kids did in the past
5
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Precocious puberty [2]
A
- Girls: Signs like breast or pubic hair before age 8.
- Boys: Genital development before age 9.
6
Q
What is thelarche? [2]
A
- the onset of breast development in girls.
- Associated with early puberty, often influenced by various factors.
7
Q
Cognitive & Psychosocial changes - Causes of precocious puberty [4]
A
- Health
- chemicals (endocrine disruptors = early physical changes)
- nutrition, obesity
- family stress
8
Q
Decrease in age of menarche [3]
A
Age of menarche has decreased in Western countries due to:
- Better nutrition (more balanced diets).
- Components in foods like soy.
- Increased body fat % and obesity.
9
Q
The secular trend - Other influences [3]
A
- Presence of a stepfather may affect puberty timing due to exposure to non-biologically related male pheromones (but this is not fully understood).
- Family stress and conflict can also play a role.
- Socioeconomic status (SES) and stress levels impact the timing of puberty.
10
Q
Implications of Early vs. Late Pubertal Maturation - Health Risks [2]
A
Early maturation may lead to problems like:
- cardiovascular disease
- cancer
11
Q
Piaget in Binet’s Lab [3]
A
- Worked with standardized tests of logical reasoning.
- Focused on children who gave incorrect answers.
- Observed that children reason differently at different ages.
12
Q
[3] Key Concepts of Piaget’s Theory
A
All children go through the same stages in the same order.
3 Main Processes:
- Assimilation: fitting new information into existing knowledge.
- Accommodation: changing existing concepts to fit new experiences.
- Equilibration: balancing new information with existing knowledge.
13
Q
Cognitive Development: Piaget’s Theory - [4] Stages
A
- Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years)
- Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)
- Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years)
- Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)
14
Q
Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years) [3]
A
- Focus on sensory perceptions and motor skills
- Object permanence: understanding that objects still exist even when not seen.
- Language acquisition begins.
15
Q
Preoperational Stage (2-7 years) [2]
A
- Development of symbolic thinking (like playing pretend) but egocentric (seeing only their own perspective).
- Meta-cognition: awareness of one’s own thinking.
16
Q
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) [4]
A
- Logical thinking develops
- Reversibility: understanding that actions can be reversed.
- Conservation: knowing that objects can change shape but remain the same.
- Decentration: focusing on multiple aspects of a problem.
17
Q
Formal Operational Stage (11+ years) [2]
A
- Abstract thinking: can think about possibilities and hypothetical situations.
- Competence-Performance Gap: Difference between understanding a concept and being able to show it.
18
Q
What is the Wason Selection Test in relation to Piaget? [3]
A
- Problem using four cards: dog, fish, number 2, and number 5.
- Rule: “If a card has a fish, it must have an odd number on the other side.”
- Those in the formal operations stage can solve it; those in concrete operations struggle.
19
Q
[3] Critiques of Piaget’s Theory
A
- Small Sample Size: Based on a limited number of children.
- Cultural Bias: His findings may not apply to all cultures.
- Strictly Sequential Stages: Development may not always follow the exact order of stages.
20
Q
What are the [10] NEGATIVE psychosocial implications for early vs late pubertal maturation among GIRLS?
A
- depressed mood
- negative body image
- disordered eating
- substance abuse
- deliquency
- aggressive behaviour
- school/parents problems
- victims of bullying
- risky sexual activity
- increased adult expectations
21
Q
What are the [4] POSITIVE psychosocial implications for early vs late pubertal maturation among GIRLS AND BOYS ?
A
- More popular
- Less likely to have difficulties with peers
- More socially skilled / Better self-esteem (boys
- Favorable body image (sometimes)
22
Q
What are the [8] NEGATIVE psychosocial implications for early vs late pubertal maturation among BOYS?
A
- Negative body image
- Disorded eating
- Substance abuse
- Deliquincy behaviour
- School problems (grades)
- Victims of bullying
- Risky sexual activity
- Increased adult expectations
23
Q
Biology & Hormones Factors Affecting Sleep Patterns - Cortisol [1]
A
Stress hormone that increases during puberty.
24
Q
Biology & Hormones Factors Affecting Sleep Patterns - LH (Luteinizing Hormone) [1]
A
Its secretion increases during sleep in adolescents, playing a role in reproductive health.
25
**Biology & Hormones** Factors Affecting Sleep Patterns - **Melatonin** [4]
* Hormone **secreted** by the **pineal gland**.
* Regulates the **sleep-wake cycle**.
* Its production is **suppressed/delayed** during puberty.
* **Affects kisspeptin**, which helps **trigger the onset of puberty**
26
**Biology & Hormones** Factors Affecting Sleep Patterns - **Body temperature** [1]
There may be a **delay** in body temperature regulation during puberty, which **can affect sleep**.
27
[2] **Psychosocial** Factors Affecting Sleep Patterns
* **Eating Habits**: what you eat can influence how well you sleep.
* **Physical Activity**: regular physical activity can improve sleep quality.
28
Information Processing Model: [4] Areas of Improvement in Adolescence
1. Attention
2. Working memory
3. Processing speed
4. Organization
29
Information Processing Model - Attention [2]
* **Selective** Attention: ability to focus on one specific thing while ignoring distractions.
* **Divided** Attention: ability to pay attention to two or more things at the same time.
30
Information Processing Model - Working memory [4]
* **Working** Memory: short-term memory used for tasks and problem-solving.
* **Long-Term** Memory: storage of information for a longer period.
* **Autobiographical** Memory: better at remembering personal life events.
* **Reminiscence** Bump: tendency to recall more experiences from adolescence and young adulthood.
31
Information Processing Model - Processing speed [2]
* Ability to process and solve problems faster.
* The biggest increase in processing speed occurs in early adolescence.
32
Information Processing Model - Organization [2]
* Use of organizational strategies to solve problems effectively.
* Helps **improve memory and understanding**.
33
Brain Development Stages [3]
1. Overproduction of Synapses (0-2 years)
2. Pruning
3. Myelination
34
Brain Development Stages - Overproduction of synapes [1]
Rapid growth of connections between neurons in early childhood.
35
Brain Development Stages - Pruning [2]
* Occurs in **gray matter**.
* **Unused neurons** are discarded, making the brain more **efficient**.
36
Brain Development Stages - Myelination [4]
* Occurs in **white matter**
* Myelin is a **fatty substance** that **protects neurons**, speeding up **communication** between them.
* Stimulated by puberty and life experiences.
* Skills and habits formed during adolescence often continue into adulthood.
37
Age of Opportunity [3]
* The brain's **ability to change** in response to experiences.
* **Developmental Plasticity**: Major **re-modelling and maturation of neural structures** that are shaped by experience.
* **Adult Plasticity**: minor changes occur after development is complete.
38
[3] Brain areas that change in adolescence
* Prefrontal cortex
* Amygdala
* Hippocampus
39
Prefrontal cortex [3]
* Acts as the brain's "CEO."
* Responsible for: planning, memory, mood regulation and organization
* More focused but may act without thinking.
40
Amygdala [2]
* Involved in emotional responses like fear, love, and anger.
* Plays a role in memory related to emotions.
41
Hippocampus [2]
* Functions like a filing cabinet for memories.
* Important for forming new memories and learning.
42
[5] key cognitive milestones
1. Thinking about **possibilities**
2. **Abstract concepts**
3. Thinking about **thinking**
4. **Multidimensionality**
5. Adolescent **relativism**
43
Thinking About Possibilities [4]
* **Hypotheticodeductive reasoning**
* From a hypothesis → conclusion
* uses “if/then” thinking
* Can move easily from **specific scenarios** & general ideas
* Start thinking about **future career** possibilities
* **Mentalizing** (understand other people’s perspectives and mental states)
44
Abstract concepts [2]
* **Abstract reasoning** (thinking about complex ideas like politics, philosophy & religion)
* **Interpersonal relationships** (understanding and navigating social interactions becomes more sophisticated)
45
Thinking about thinking [2]
* **Metacognition**: reflecting on one’s own thoughts and behaviors.
* Involves **self-awareness** and **self-consciousness**.
* **Decision-Making**: can analyze choices more critically but may also feel **self-absorbed.**
46
Thinking about thinking - Egocentrism [3]
* **Imaginary audience**: the belief that everyone is focused on their behavior and opinions.
* **Personal fable**: feeling that one’s experiences are unique and that others cannot understand them.
* **Invincibility**: The belief that what happens to others won’t happen to me.
47
Multidimensionality [2]
* Thinking in more complex ways about oneself and others.
* Understanding double entendres or sarcasm.
48
Adolescent Relativism [2]
* Viewing things as relative rather than absolute.
* Skepticism about accepting "facts" as absolute truths.
49
The social brain - Social sensitivity [2]
* Heightened awareness of social cues and peer influence.
* Greater brain activity when interpreting others' emotions, like facial expressions.
50
The social brain - Mental State Attribution [1]
Ability to understand things like sarcasm and perspective-taking.
51
Peer Pressure & the Brain [3]
* Adolescents are more vulnerable to peer pressure and substance use due to:
* A greater desire for rewards.
* Increased susceptibility to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
