Final Exam Flashcards

Question

Changes to Dopamine Production and Release in Adolescence

Answer 1

In adolescence, there is an increase in dopamine production and release. Because dopamine produces feelings of reward, this helps to explain an increase in thrill-seeking as risk-taking behavior in adolescence.

Answer 2

For females, Menarche (the onset of the menstrual cycle) occurs during pubescence. For males, the best measure of the beginning of their pubescence is by looking at their body proportions, but this is still not very reliable.

Answer 3

Females tend to have more body fat, which prepares them for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Males have more muscle mass.

Answer 4

Females reach their adult height by 15-16, and males reach their adult height by 18.

Answer 5

There is an asynchronous sequence of body development, where the first part of the body to grow is the external limbs, which throw off proportions.

Answer 6

The maturation of the endocrine system, the gradual increase of the release of sex hormones, and genetic influence all affect when children will begin pubescence.

Answer 7

Extreme levels of body fat may either delay or hasten the menstrual cycle onset. Stressful family experiences can cause slightly earlier menarche. Living with a non-related male may also cause earlier menarche because the endocrine system may pick up on the presence of a potential mate.

Answer 8

Females begin pubescence before men. Racially, black females begin menarche sooner than white females (possibly environmental). Over time, menarche has gotten earlier and earlier because we eat healthier and have better healthcare, but we may also be more obese than before.

Answer 9

The direct effects vs. indirect effects model essentially shows that hormones are not directly responsible for changing behaviors in adolescence. What they do control is appearance, which then may influence behavior.

Answer 10

Because they experience pubescence at the same time as late-maturing girls, they have many females attracted to them compared to their peers. There is, however, a disconnect between how old they look and how mature their mind is, which may lead to poor decisions.

Answer 11

Since they are the very last ones to experience pubescent changes, they tend to focus more on their intellectual and cognitive strengths than on their physical looks.

Answer 12

This group experiences the toughest challenges because they are the very first ones to experience pubescence. It is hard to manage caring for their menstrual cycle that early, especially when none of their peers are in the same boat. While they may feel self-conscious or miserable on the inside, others view them as attractive and as having a higher social status.

Answer 13

This group falls in the middle of everyone experiencing puberty. They have no differences in how people perceive them, and they have the benefit of receiving wisdom and support from the peers who have gone before them.

Answer 14

American culture teaches that you need to look good all the time, and if you are ugly, it is your own fault. Our culture is especially harsh on females.

Answer 15

Restricting food intake severely with no stopping point. Some symptoms include the development of lanugo (fine hair over the body), and lower metabolic rate. Some risk factors include being an adolescent or in the LGBTQ community. ARFID is also in this category. These restrictive disorders are driven by anxiety, not body dissatisfaction.

Answer 16

Binge/purge cycle. Some symptoms include esophagus and tooth damage, depression, or isolation. This can result from a loss of control and using food as a coping strategy.

Answer 17

Habitual unhealthy eating habits due to psychological, emotional, or social reasons that don’t classify as disorders. (may indicate that a disorder may arise in the future).

Answer 18

Reasoning is based on universal principles and logic.

Answer 19

A type of hypothetical thinking that is top-down logic based on already known principles. This emerges in addition to the already gained principle of induction (bottom-up logic).

Answer 20

The logical expansion of both induction and deduction allows for reasoning about abstract and unobserved reasoning. (Think of the pyramid and the thumb video answers)

Answer 21

This is an outside perspective on oneself, and their interactions based on what unspecified “others” think.

Answer 22

When adolescents believe every move is analyzed by others.

Answer 23

When adolescents create a personalized narrative of their life in which the world revolves around them, and no one else understands what they do. This also causes them to ignore advice.

Answer 24

This is when adolescents analyze relationships in the context of broader social systems. They can recognize that others are not always socially aware, and consider others’ personalities, values, and histories when understanding their perspective.

Answer 25

The change from elementary school to middle school is hard on females because they have just begun pubescence, so there are a lot of changes happening for them. For boys, they have not begun to mature yet, so they feel and look out of place. It is hard to go from top dog in elementary school to doormat in middle school, and the faster-paced classes cause a learning curve. This is also their first year without recess or breaks.

Answer 26

The change from middle school to high school is tough on boys because this corresponds with their onset of pubescence. The big switch from middle to high school is the increased focus on the future. This also brings experimentation and exposure to adult ideas, with a larger and more diverse group of ages.

Answer 27

Females are more likely to have higher verbal fluency, amount of time devoted to studying, overall GPA, and graduation and college acceptance rates. Males are more likely to have better mental rotation skills, standardized math test scores, interest in math and science, and academic self-confidence. Boys tend to be academic risk takers, while girls are more perfectionists.

Answer 28

The nature perspective explains these differences based on brain organization, where males have more activity in their right cortex (spatial processing). This perspective also uses hormones as an explanation, where there seems to be a correlation between higher levels of testosterone and better spatial processing skills.

Answer 29

The nurture perspective explains these differences based on socialized stereotypes, like how genders are marketed in toys. This may also include family wishes and school experiences.

Answer 30

These programs aim to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields by providing a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Answer 31

Erikson believed the conflict at this age was identity vs. identity confusion. The most important part is both figuring out your identity through your values and beliefs, and then integrating them into your life.

Answer 32

This state is when you don’t know your identity, and you don’t care about finding it. Low commitment and exploration.

Answer 33

This state is when you made a choice about your identity without thinking about it first. High commitment and low exploration.

Answer 34

This state is when you are currently in the process of thinking about your identity. Low commitment and high exploration.

Answer 35

This state is when you know your identity after a long period of thinking about it. High commitment and exploration.

Answer 36

How and to what extent a person psychologically identifies as a man or a woman.

Answer 37

It shows how there are many different parts that make up one’s gender identity, and all of these parts may not be synchronous or stereotypical. For example, someone may have female primary sex characteristics but may only be sexually attracted to females and romantically attracted to anyone. There are so many different combinations that may make up one’s gender identity, because even within sexual and romantic characteristics, there are many sub-categories.

Answer 38

Stage 3 is when moral decisions are made based on maintaining relationships and social approval.

Answer 39

Stage 4 is when moral decisions are based on following expectations, rules, and laws to maintain social order and organization.

Answer 40

Stage 5/6 is when someone lets their conscience take over, and feels a personal responsibility to the good and well-being of others, and upholding civil and human rights. By late adolescence, most people have reached their full potential for moral judgement and maturity and may end up in one of the stages.

Answer 41

1. The behavioral aspect is when they start doing things on their own, without adults controlling everything. 2. The psychological/emotional aspect is when they manage their feelings and self-confidence alone 3. The value aspect is when they form their own beliefs that aren’t handed down from parents.

Answer 42

The psychoanalytic perspective believes that conflict and turbulence are necessary to achieve detachment. This is not supported by research.

Answer 43

The dynamic systems perspective believes that there are many reasons that the parent-child relationship shifts during adolescence, including pubertal maturation, cognitive development, and social changes. Authoritarian parenting may come in handy during this time because there is mutual respect and support/and flexibility. The quality of time spent doesn’t change, only the quantity.

Answer 44

These are when a group of people of the same age have their “own culture” in a sense, including specific types of clothes, music, slang, etc.

Answer 45

Crowds are large groups defined loosely by members’ common activities, appearance, and social status, which can be very stereotypical. You do not need to know everyone in your crowd. Examples include nerds, jocks, etc.

Answer 46

Cliques are smaller groups of friends that occur in crowds, which are defined by common interests, regular interactions, and familiarity.

Answer 47

Friendships usually begin as intimate mutual sharing, which begins in middle childhood. Then, these friendships change to autonomous interdependence, where you value your friends and their differences. You also recognize that you have many friends who fill different needs.

Answer 48

Dating typically begins in a group context, which serves more as a label than a real relationship. Communication is indirect, and partners are usually chosen based on crowd membership. Then by late adolescence, couples start spending alone time with each other, and partners are selected on physical attraction, similar interests, and personality. Most relationships do not last beyond adolescence because people change a lot, and it is a huge transition period.

Answer 49

These usually develop gradually with age, and normally occur within a dating relationship. This development is hard to generalize because not all adolescents participate in sexual relationships. On average, the loss of virginity occurs after the age of 15.

Answer 50

Some societies expect different things. This may also chalk down to individual beliefs or values.

Answer 51

Boys tend to report more sex and report beginning at a younger age than girls. This disconnect may be due to the response to different social pressures.

Answer 52

Usually, black people report engaging in sexual relations before white people do.

Answer 53

Comprehensive safe sex programs aim to provide early knowledge and comfort in using safe sex methods. This is not correlated with an increase in sexual activity.

Answer 54

Abstinence-focused programs aim to postpone sexual activity. These are associated with higher rates of unplanned pregnancy and STDS.

Final Exam Flashcards

(78 cards)