Developmental Psych Module 6

healthy dieting vs. anorexia

-healthy dieting: attempt to control weight, your self-esteem is based on more than just weight and body image, you view weight loss as a way to improve your health and appearance, your goal is to lose weight in a healthy way -anorexia: anorexia is an attempt to control your life and emotions, your self-esteem is based entirely on how much you weigh and how thin you are; you view weight loss as a way to achieve happiness, becoming thin is all that matters, health is not a concern

signs and symptoms of anorexia

-hiding habits-makes it hard at first for friends and family to spot the warning signs -when confronted, one may try to explain away their disordered eating and wave away concerns -an anorexia progresses, people close to you won't be able to deny their instincts that something is wrong

adolescence

-idea of a transition period between childhood and adulthood did not always exist -historically, children were considered adults after completing a rite of passage -period of adolescence is now widely accepted, at least in most post-industrial cultures -the onset of adolescence is marked by puberty, and the ending is a little more difficult to define since adolescence ends when an adult role is assumed -in many societies today, assuming a full adult role is frequently pushed back, usually so that educational and personal pursuits can first be obtained

bulimia recovery tip 3: learn to tolerate unpleasant feelings

-identify the emotion you're feeling -accept the experience you're having -dig deeper -distance yourself from emotions

four identity statuses

-identity diffusion: no crisis, no commitment -identity moratorium: yes crisis, no commitment -identity foreclosure: no crisis, yes commitment -identity achievement: yes crisis, yes commitment

purging type (subtype II)

-individual does engage in binge-eating and purging behaviors -dieting and purging in this subtype result in the individual having a dangerously low body mass index -weight loss is achieved by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics

restricting type (subtype I)

-individual does not engage in either binge-eating or purging behavior, instead, weight loss occurs due to diet (restricting calories-following drastic diets, fasting, exercising to excess) or exercise -

identity moratorium

-the adolescent is in the midst of a crisis but has not made a commitment to a particular identity -adolescents in this status are exploring and considering (ex: an academic major) but have not yet decided

appearance and body image symptoms (anorexia)

-dramatic weight loss: rapid, drastic weight loss with no medical cause -feeling fat, despite being underwight: you may feel overweight in general or just "too fat" in certain places, such as the stomach, hips, or thighs -fixation on body image: obsessed with weight, body shape, or clothing size; frequent weigh-ins and concern over tiny fluctuations in weight -harshly critical of appearance: spending a lot of time in front of the mirror checking for flaws; there's always something to criticize; you're never thin enough -denial that you're too thin: you may deny that your low body weight is a problem, while trying to conceal it (drinking a lot of water before being weighed, wearing baggy or oversized clothes)

suicide statistics

-10th leading cause of death in US -in 2018, 48,344 american died by suicide -in 1928, there were 1.4M estimated suicide attempts -age-adjusted suicide rate in 2018 was 14.2 per 100,000 individuals -rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men -in 2018, men died by suicide 3.56x more often than women -on average, there are 132 suicides per day -while males accounted for 69.67% of suicide deaths in 2018 -in 2018, firearms accounted for 50.57% of all suicide deaths -in 2018, suicide rates were higher among adults ages 45-54 years (20.04 per 100,000) and 55-64 (20.20 per 100,000), with the rate highest among adults ages 52-59 (21.56 per 100,000) -younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults -in 2018, adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 had a suicide rate of 14.45

steps to bulimia recovery

-admit you have a problem -talk to someone -stay away from people, places, and activities that trigger the temptation to binge or purge -address any underlying mood disorder -seek professional help

getting help for anorexia

-admit you have a problem: admit that your relentless pursuit of thinness is out of your control and acknowledging the physical and emotional damage that you've suffered because of it -talk to someone: it can be hard to talk about what you're going through, especially if you've kept your anorexia a secret for a long time; find a good listener and someone who will support you as you try to heal -stay away from people, places, and activities that trigger your obsession with being thin: may need to avoid looking at fashion or fitness magazines, spend less time with friends who constantly diet and talk about losing weight -seek professional help: the advice and support of trained eating disorder professionals can help you regain your health, learn to eat normally again, and develop healthier attitudes about food and your body

juvenile delinquency (criminal behavior prior to adulthood)

-adolescent boys are far more likely to engage in juvenile delinquency than adolescent girls; male aggression is often more violent -female aggression is usually limited to simple assault, such as pushing, or spitting -two patterns of delinquency: adolescence-limited and life-course persistent

complications of depression

-alcohol and drug abuse -academic problems -family conflicts and relationship difficulties -involvement with the juvenile justice system -suicide attempts or suicide

bulimia recovery tip 4: challenge dysfunctional thoughts

-all-or nothing thinking -emotional reasoning -musts, must-nots, and have to's: rigid rules -labeling -catastrophizing: worst case scenario -put thoughts on witness stand

spermarche/menarche

-average age of spermarche, or age of onset for sperm emission, is now 13 in north america -average age of menarche, or the first menstrual period, is now 12 1/2; this is a lower average than used to occur in the 1800s and earlier -average age of a girl's first period in the united states and europe was about 16 a century ago today it's closer to 13 -since the early 20th century, the average age of menarche has dropped; although, it has now plateaued (fewer historical records are available for spermarche) -this decreases in the average age is known as a secular trend, affecting most members of a society; secular trend for menarche is the decreasing age at which girls experience their first period; this secular trend has been observed since about 1900 globally in countries when they modernize and have more accessible food -it is thought that improved nutrition increases critical body mass, which is what is triggering younger menarche -although the average age of menarche has now stabilized, there is some debate still as to whether these trends are completed or whether they will continue to some extent -the role of obesity is also being considered in possible continuing trends

causes of depression

-brain chemistry: neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of your brain and body; when these chemicals are abnormal or impaired, the function of nerve receptors and nerve systems changes, leading to depression -hormones: changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression -inherited traits: depression is more common in people whose blood relatives, such as a parent or grandparent, also have the condition -early childhood trauma: traumatic events during childhood, such as physical or emotional abuse, or loss of a parent, may cause changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible to depression -learned patterns of negative thinking: teen depression may be linked to learning to feel helpless, rather than learning to feel capable of finding solutions for life's challenges

identity vs. identity confusion (james marcia)

-built upon erik erikson's psychosocial stages -subdivided into four identity statuses that show the progression of how an adolescent might come to develop an identity -marcia divided each of these models according to commitment or what erikson called "crisis" and marcia called "exploration" -crisis/exploration: a period of exploration and decision-making -commitment: a plan of action -in real life, individuals often move in and out of these statuses; decisions made one day may change later, however, a knowledge of these general patterns and possible outcomes is often helpful in working with teens who need some direction

physical signs and symptoms (bulimia)

-calluses or scars on knuckles or hands from sticking finger down throat to induce vomiting -puffy "chipmunk" cheeks causes by repeated vomiting -discolored teeth from exposure to stomach acid -not underweight: usually normal weight or slightly overweight; underweight while purging might indicated purging type of anorexia -frequent fluctuations in weight by 10lbs or more

helping someone with anorexia

-can't force the person to get better -gently express your concerns and let the person know that you're available to listen; listen without judgement, no matter how out of touch the person sounds -think of yourself as an outside-there isn't a lot you can do to solve their condition; ultimately their choice to decide when they are ready -encourage your loved one to get help: the longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the harder it is on the body and the more difficult it is to overcome, so urge your loved one to see a doctor as soon as possible -seek advice from a health professional: even if your friend or family member won't -be a role model for healthy eating, exercising, and body image: don't make negative comments about your own body or anyone else's -don't act like the food police: a person with anorexia needs compassion and support, not an authority figure standing over the table with a calorie counter -avoid threats, scare tactics, angry outbursts, and put downs: keep in mind that anorexia is often a symptom of extreme emotional distress and develops out of an attempt to manage emotional pain, stress, and/ or self-hate; negative communication will only make it worse

bulimia treatment

-cognitive behavioral therapy: helps individuals change the unrealistically negative thought they have about their appearance and change their eating behaviors -interpersonal psychotherapy: helps individuals improve the quality of their relationships, learn how to address conflicts head-on and expand their social networks

adolescent problem behaviors

-contrary to what was formerly thought in developmental theory, adolescence is typically not a time of storm and stress" or major angst, however, some teens do engage in problem behaviors -adolescence is a common time for some types of mental disorders to present themselves -includes juvenile delinquency and depression and suicide

causes and treatment of eating disorders (ppt)

-cultural imperative for thinness:eating disorders more common in countries emphasizing thinness; most common among middle/upper class -family: profile of anorexic's family: successful, hard driving, concerned with external appearances -psychological issues: feel lack of personal control, low confidence, preoccupation with how they appear to others -treatment: ideally, early education and prevention; more important for anorexia to break patterns of behavior

bulimia recovery tip 1: break the binge and purge cycle

-cycle: 1. tension and cravings 2. binge eating 3. purging to avoid weight gain 4. shame and disgust 5. strict dieting -quit trying to diet -purging does not prevent weight gain (calorie absorption begins when you put food in your mouth), only reinforces eating -vomiting won't eliminate more than 50% of calories consumed; laxatives get rid of only 10% of calories eaten and are less effective; diuretics don't get rid of any calories

suicide

-depression is a risk factor -now the 3rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds in the US -girls are more likely to attempt suicide, but boys are more likely to successfully complete suicide since they tend to use more lethal means -two patterns of suicidal teenagers: teens who are intelligent, somewhat perfectionist, and fairly isolated and teens who are impulsive and engage in numerous risky behaviors -common triggers for suicide in teens include a relationship break p, getting in trouble, or family problems for which the parent blames the teen -warning signs: sad, withdrawn, more irritable, anxious, tired, or apathetic; changes in sleep patterns or eating habits; erratic or reckless; if a child is talking about dying

food behavior symptoms (anorexia)

-dieting despite being thin: following a severely restricted diet; eating only certain low-calorie foods; banning "bad" foods such as carbohydrates and fats -obsession with calories, fat grams, and nutrition: reading food labels, measuring and weighing portions, keeping a food diary, reading diet books -pretending to eat or lying about eating: hiding, playing with, or throwing away food to avoid eating; making excuses to get out of meals ("i had a huge lunch" or "my stomach isn't feeling good" -preoccupation with food: constantly thinking about food; cooking for others, collecting recipes, reading food magazines, or making meal plans while eating very little -strange or secretive food rituals: refusing to eat around others or in public places; eating in rigid, ritualistic ways (cutting food "just so", chewing food and spitting it out, using a specific plate"

social consequences of pubertal timing

-early girls: delinquency, negative body image, eating disorders, substance use, early sexual behavior, attention from older males; shorter/stockier build -early boys: popularity with girls and male peers, sports success, taller and stronger, appear older; not as many negative consequences-more mature physically may translate to delinquency by hanging out with older peers -late girls: may feel left out initially -late boys: substance abuse and problem behaviors; may end up in rejected peer category

girls maturation

-early: girls who enter puberty earlier are at higher risk for problems such as early sexual activity, eating disorders, and poor body image; early maturing girls start and stop their growth spurt before others, therefore, they may attract romantic attention at a young age, but may also be more likely to be dissatisfied with their figures -early: increased risk of a range of psychosocial problems, including depression, substance use and early sexual behavior -late: while some late-maturing girls may not enjoy having a more boyish figure in early adolescence, they do not have to deal with the psychosocial effects of early maturation (and increased fat distribution) during the pivotal time of early adolescence; this puts them at less risk, therefore, for body image problems

boys maturation

-early: there are many social advantages to maturing earlier as a boy; they may be more likely to have successful relations with peers and a positive self-image, however, they may be a little more prone to some at-risk behaviors; looking like an adult at a young age may result in others treating them as adults, which may encourage teens toward engaging in mature activities before they are emotionally ready -late: late maturing boys may be at risk for some social and behavioral problems if physical attributes result in them being rejected by their peers

anorexia recovery tip 4: develop a healthier relationship with food

-even though anorexia isn't fundamentally about food, over time you've developed harmful food habits that can be tough to break -developing a healthier relationship with food entails: getting back to a healthy weight, starting to eat more food, changing how you think about yourself and food -let go of rigid food rules: they're a temporary illusion and are controlling -get back in touch with your body: with anorexia, you have learned to ignore your body's hunger and fullness signals; may not recognize them anymore; goal is to get back in touch with internal cues, so you can eat based on you physiological needs -allow yourself to eat all foods: don't make any foods off limits, eat whatever you want, but attention to how you feel physically after eating different foods; what you eat should leave you feeling satisfied and energized -get rid of your scale: instead of focusing on weight as a measurement of self-worth, focus on how you feel; make health and vitality your goal, not a number on the scale -develop a healthy meal plan: nutritionist or dietician can help -getting past your fear of gaining weight: thought of gaining weight is frightening and you may be tempted to resist; fear is a symptom of anorexia; reading about anorexia or talking to other people who have lived with it can help; also helps to be honest about your feelings and feasr

keys problems that can lead to child violence (james garbarino)

-failure for the child to develop a secure attachment with a parent figure: can result in the child showing a deficit in empathy toward others because the lack of a healthy attachment early in life; may harm one's future emotional development -depression: acting out may be a sign of depression in adolescent boys in particular -abandonment by a parent: similar to the lack of a secure attachment, a traumatic separation from a parent early in life is associated with increased violent tendencies in the child; abandonment can harm the child's self-esteem and rejection from a parental figure can leave lasting damage; sometimes abandonment comes in the form of the parent's severe drug abuse

anorexia treatment

-family can play a key role-family therapy: enlist parents' aide in getting their children to eat again -early in treatment, clinicians invite family to share a picnic meal; gives a sense of family meal patterns and allows them to suggest ways parents can get child to eat more -in weekly sessions, the parents then describe what they've fed their child and what's working well -the approach also helps strengthen the children's feelings of independence by gradually letting them take control of their eating; clinicians also help family learn how to help the child cope with the challenges of adolescence -in contrast to current treatment, the approach is relatively short-term; relies mostly on outpatient treatment and is successful over the long-term -one study found that 2/3rds of patients regained normal weight without hospitalization; most showed big improvements in psychological functioning; parents became less critical of each other and their children

medical treatment for anorexia

-first priority in anorexia treatment is addressing and stabilizing any serious health issues -hospitalization may be necessary if you are dangerously malnourished or so distressed that you no longer want to live; may also need to be hospitalized until you reach a less critical weight

formal operational stage (piaget)

-follows concrete operations and is the final stage of cognitive development -characterized by the ability to engage in abstract thinking and hypothetico-deductive reasoning, which is a systematic and scientific type of thinking -hypothetio-deductive reasoning -adolescents are able to regularly engage in abstract thinking at this stage -tested using the pendulum problem (length, weight, height, force) -adolescents are able to engage in scientific thinking; seen in concrete operations; kids are able to think rationally, which is a big change from childhood, and continues here -adolescents are able to think rationally and systematically

purging signs and symptoms

-going to the bathroom after meals -using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after eating; taking diet pills or using the sauna to sweat out water weight -smell of vomit -excessive exercising

key protective factors

-good problem solving abilities -strong connections-family, friends -restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide -cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and that support self-preservation -relatively easy access to appropriate clinical intervention-psychotherapy, family therapy, medication -effective care for mental, physical, and substance use disorders

risk factors for depression

-having issues that negatively impact self-esteem, such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying or academic problems -having been the victim or witness of violence, such as physical or sexual abuse -having other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder, anorexia, or bulimia -having a learning disability or ADHD -having ongoing pain or chronic physical illness such as cancer, diabetes or asthma -having certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic -abusing alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs -being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender in an unsupportive environment -family issues: have a parent or grandparent with depression, bipolar or alcohol abuse problems -having a family member who dies by suicide -having a dysfunctional family and family conflict -having experienced recent stressful life events, such as parental divorce, parental military service or the death of a loved one

brain development

-infancy is a key time of brain development, due to the growth and pruning occurring -adolescence is another period of major growth -brain maturation happens all through childhood as well-infancy and adolescence are simply time points with very distinctive and extensive growth-overproduction followed by pruning; second period of overproduction technically happens in early puberty, around ages 11 or 12, when the overproduction of neural connections is concentrated in the frontal lobe of the brain; the child's learning and new experiences coincide with much brain growth throughout childhood, resulting in overproduction by ages 11 to 12, which is then followed by pruning, which will occur throughout the teen years and twenties -neural pathways also become myelinated during this time-fatty sheath that covers neurons and speeds up conduction of messages; myelination starts occurring at teh end of infancy and continues throughout childhood, and ends at end of adolescence-means that cognitive processing becomes faster by the end of adolescence -final key aspect of brain development at this time involves a shift from using the limbic system for judgement and decision making to using the frontal lobe; recall that judgement and decision-making are key tasks of the frontal lobe; adolescent brains (and younger) actually function differently and use the emotion-center (limbic system) of the brain instead when decisions are being made-obvious implications for day-to-day life functioning and may partly explain difficulties adolescents and children have with impulse control and emotion regulation; an important part of the the maturation process between adolescence and adulthood is this shift, as a more adult-type of processing begins to occur -full development is thought to occur by approximately age 30, although studies continually are showing that brain development takes far longer than used to be thought

binge eating signs and symptoms

-lack of control over eating -secrecy surrounding eating -eating unusually large amounts of food -disappearance of food -alternating between overeating and fasting

anorexia recovery tip 2: learn to tolerate your feelings

-learn to tolerate your feelings -identifying the underlying issues that drive your eating disorder is the first step toward recovery, but insight alone is not enough; ex: following restrictive food rules makes you feel safe and powerful; when you take that coping mechanism away, you will be confronted with the feelings of fear and helplessness your anorexia helped you avoid -reconnecting with your feelings can be extremely uncomfortable; it's why you may feel worse at the beginning of your recovery; but the answer isn't to return to the destructive eating habits you previously used to distract yourself; it's to learn how to accept and tolerate all of your feelings, even the negative ones

life-course persistent delinquency

-life-course persistent delinquency is far more problematic and is often reflective of troubles that start long before adolescence -combination of biological and social factors likely contributed to a child showing aggressive behaviors; these behaviors then continue and expand in adolescence, and in adulthood the individual may become a repeat offender

early puberty, early stress

-many of the social factors that can prompt mental health problems have themselves been linked to the early onset of puberty-namely early life stress, absence of fathers in the home, high family conflict and lower socioeconomic status -hypothesized that unstable environment could signal the body to become sexually mature at earlier ages -the kids who go through early puberty aren't random -some research suggest that early puberty might compound the problems associated with early adversity to boost the risk of depression and other mental health problems even higher; these risk factors may be additive -family factors and early maturation seem to interact to increase the risk of early substance use; but family factors alone did not fully account for the effects of early maturation on substance use; it may be part of the equation, but it's not the only factor -on the other hand, some research suggests that early puberty might be a less significant risk factor for some kids from disadvantaged backgrounds; study of siblings and twins to explore interplay between genetics, pubertal timing, and environmental factors; found that girls who were genetically predisposed to early puberty were more likely to experience depressive symptoms, but the pattern only held up among girls from higher socioeconomic backgrounds; overall, children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds had higher rates of depression -to explain that pattern, medle suggests that girls from these disadvantaged communities have had to navigate a series of risk factors well before puberty, and might have already developed a maladaptive response to stress; for kids from more resource-rich backgrounds, early puberty might be their first brush with emotional difficulty -african american girls go through puberty earlier than girls of european descent, with the average for hispanic gils falling somewhere in between, and asian americans developing last; though african american girls are typically the first to develop, there's evidence that they are less likely to experience the negative effects of early puberty than theur european american peers; might be related to social and cultural expectations applied to young women in different communities

adolescence-limited delinquency

-more common and benign -teens engage in delinquent behavior but then become more responsible in adulthood

anorexia causes and effects

-no simple answers to the causes of anorexia -complex condition that arises from a combination of many social, emotional, and biological factors -although our culture's idealization of thinness plays a powerful role, there are many other contributing factors: body dissatisfaction, strict dieting, low self-esteem, emotional difficulties, perfectionism, troubled family relationships, history of physical or sexual abuse, other traumatic experiences, family history of eating disorders

bulimia causes and effects

-no single cause of bulimia -while low self esteem and concerns about body weight and body image play major roles, there are many other contributing factors -may have trouble managing your emotions in a healthy way and use eating as an emotional release, bingeing and purging when you feel angry, depressed, stressed, or anxious

depression prevention

-no sure way to prevent depression -take steps to control stress: increase resilience and boost self-esteem to help handle issues when they arise -reach out for friendship and social support -get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem -maintain ongoing treatment, if recommended

identity achievement

-occurs when an adolescent has gone through a crisis and is committed to a course of action -exploration occurs before a decision is made -research indicates that adolescents who are identity-achieved often have high self-esteem and are more likely to have an internal locus of control-they feel more in control of their own destiny and believe that they have the tools to accomplish their long-term goals -foreclosure and diffusion, on the other hand, may be harmful is this status is retained long-term -inflexible thinking patterns may characterize foreclosed individuals, and the diffused individuals may be apathetic about the future (which may result in risky behaviors)

precocious puberty

-occurs when puberty beings at earlier ages -mental health risks associated with early puberty aren't exclusive to kids experiencing puberty before their 8th birthday -mental health problems are more likely to crop up when a child is developing normally, but is among the first in his or her peer group to begin the process -most kids want to fit in, so when a child develops earlier than his or her peers, there can be long-lasting effects on mental health -improved nutrition has been associated with earlier maturation -negative causes such as stress and obesity have been linked to early puberty -researchers are exploring whether endocrine-disrupting chemical, such as bisphenol A, an estrogen-mimicking compound once found widely in plastics, might be a factor in initiating puberty -the early kids go through puberty, the less likely they are to have developed strong coping skills -depression is associated with both age of onset of puberty and the tempo (duration) of transition

helping someone with bulimia

-offer compassion and support -avoid insults, scare tactics, guilt trips, and patronizing comments -set a good example -accept your limits -take care of yourself

new ways to find emotional fulfillment

-once you understand the link between your emotions and your disordered eating patterns, and can identify your triggers, you still need to find alternatives to dieting that you can turn to for emotional fulfillment -if you're depressed or lonely: call someone who always makes you feel better, schedule time with family or friends, watch a comedy show, or play with a dog or cat -if you're anxious: expend your nervous energy by dancing to your favorite music, squeezing a stress ball, or taking a brisk walk or bike ride -if you're exhausted: treat yourself with a hot cup of tea, go for a walk, take a bath, or light some scented candles -if you're bored: read a good book, explore the outdoors, visit a museum, or turn to a hobby you enjoy (playing guitar, knitting, shooting hoops, scrapboking)

bulimia nervosa

-overeating is more of a compulsion -characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by extreme efforts to avoid gaining weight, often by vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising to excess -vicious cycle of bingeing and purging can take a toll on your body and emotional wellbeing -can cause damage to your digestive system and create chemical imbalances in the body that harm the functioning of major organs, including the heart -most common among young women -not all bulimics purge: physically eliminating the food from your body by throwing up or using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics -if you make up for your binges by fasting, exercising to excess, or going on crash diets, this also qualifies as bulimia

bulimia recovery tip 2: develop a healthier relationship to food

-pay attention to your hunger -eat regularly, don't skip meals -don't restrict foods -focus o what you're eating

anorexia recovery tip 3: challenge damaging mindsets

-people with anorexia are often perfectionists and overachievers; they're the "good" daughters and sons who do what they're told, try to excel in everything they do, and focus on pleasing others; but while they may appear to have it all together, inside they feel helpless, inadequate, and worthless -all or nothing thinking: through this harshly critical lens, is you're not perfect, you're a total failure; you have a hard time seeing shades of gray, at least when it comes to yourself -emotional reasoning: you believe if you feel a certain way, it must be true; "i feel fat" means "i am fat" and "i feel hopeless" means you'll never get better -musts, must-nots, and have-tos: you hold yourself to a rigid set of rules ("i must not eat more than x number of calories" "i have to get straight A's" and beat yourself up if you break them -labeling: you call yourself names based on mistakes and perceived shortcomings; "i'm unhappy with how I look" becomes " I'm disgusting"; slipping up becomes " i'm a failure" -catastrophizing: you jump to the worst-case scenario; if you backslide in recovery, for example, you assume that there's no hope you'll ever get better -put your thoughts on the witness stand: identify destructive thought patterns that yo default to and challenge them: what's the evidence that this thought is true? not true?, what would i tell a friend who had this thought?, is there another way of looking at the situation or an alternate explanation?, how might I look at this situation if i didn't have anorexia

pendulum problem

-piaget would ask students what most influences the speed on the pendulum -would give different lengths of string and different weights -observe how students approach the problem -test students' success at thinking logically and systematically through the experiment, much like a scientist -furthermore, students were expected to come up with a hypothesis or prediction for what they think might affect the pendulum speed; four logical hypotheses: 1. length of the strong 2. weight of the object 3. how high the object is raised 4. how forcefully it's pushed -adolescents with hypothetical deductive reasoning should systematically go through each of these hypotheses while holding all others constant (weight, height, force) so that they can truly observe the cause of each single variable -however, few adolescents (or adults) achieve the level of hypothetico-deductive reasoning that piaget expected at this stage -piaget was slightly pessimistic about the age in which children achieve his mental activities -adults and teens can think logically and abstractly in situations that are more familiar to them; some types of training and life experience might better train adolescence to engage in hypothetico-deductive reasoining -consequences for being able to think abstractly -change in children's humor is tied to this step of development; ex: sarcasm is tied to ability to think abstractly, and use metaphor to have a hidden meaning -development of imaginary audience tied to this stage as well; ex: thinking people will notice if you have a bad hair day-increases self consciousness; becoming aware of things that are there or not there

risk factors for bulimia

-poor body image, particularly paired with strict dieting -low self-esteem, often stemming from depression, perfectionism, or critical home environment -stressful life changes -history of trauma or abuse

anorexia nervosa

-preoccupation with being thin, taking over eating habits, thoughts, and life -results in unhealthy, often dangerous weight loss -desire to lose weight may become more important than anything else -may lose the ability to see yourself as you truly are -most common among adolescent women, anorexia can affect women and men of all ages and is characterized by a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image -may try to lose weight be starving themselves, exercising excessively, or using laxatives, vomiting, and other methods to purge after eating -thoughts about dieting, food, and their body may take up most of their day, leaving little time for friends, family, and other activities that were once enjoyed -two types: restricting type and purging type -intense dread of gaining weight or disgust with how their body looks can make eating and mealtimes very stressful

puberty

-pubertal growth spurt begins in early adolescence -in north america, the average age for this growth spurt is around age 10 for girls and age 12 1/2 for boys -girls typically finish growing by age 16, while boys continue to grow until nearly age 18 -during this time, adolescents typically add nearly 50% of their adult body weight -muscle mass also increases at this time for both boys and girls; however, this increase in muscle mass is much more notable in boys, while the female pubertal growth spurt results in girls adding fat to their arms, legs, and trunk area; since this process runs counter to Western societal views of ideal body proportions, many girls may become dissatisfied with their bodies at this time -domino effect occurs during puberty, with various hormones being released; these trigger the development of secondary sex characteristics -puberty isn't a single event, it's a process that can last four years or more; the things happening in the first year may be different than those in the last year -in girls, puberty typically begins with breast development between ages 8-13 and ends with menarche -in boys, puberty begins between ages 9-14, starting with growth of the sexual organs and ending with facial hair and a deepened voice

effects of bulimia

-putting your body and life at risk -most dangerous side effect is dehydration due to purging -vomiting, laxatives, and diuretics can cause electrolyte imbalances, most commonly in the form of low potassium, which can result in kidney failure -using ipecac syrup is also dangerous, and can cause sudden death -brain: depression, fear of gaining weight, anxiety, dizziness, shame, low self esteem -cheeks: swelling, soreness -mouth: cavities, tooth enamel erosion, gum disease, teeth sensitive to hot and cold foods -throat and esophagus: sore, irritated, can tear and rupture, blood in vomit -muscles: fatigue -stomach: ulcers, pain, can rupture, delayed emptying -skin: abrasion of knuckles, dry skin -blood: anemia -heart: irregular heart beat, heart muscle weakened, heart failure, low pulse and blood pressure -body fluids: dehydration, low potassium, magnesium, and sodium -intestines: constipation, irregular bowel movements, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal cramping -hormones: irregular or absent period

suicide attempts

-rate difference depending on demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and race; suicide occurs in all demographic groups -in US, no complete count of suicide attempt data is available; CDC gathers data from hospital son non-fatal injuries from self-harm as well as survey data -in 2015, (most recent year for which data is available), approximately 575,000 visited a hospital for injuries related to self harm -based on 2018 national survey of drug use and mental health, estimated that 0.5 percent of the adults aged 18 and older made at least one suicide attempt-->translates to approximately to 1.4 million adults; adult females reported a suicide attempt 1.5 times as often as males -based on most recent youth risk behaviors survey from 2017, 7.4 percent of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months; female students attempted almost twice as often as male students (9.3% vs. 5.1%); black students reported the highest rate of attempt (9.8%) with while students at 6.1%; approximately 2.4 percent of all students reported making a suicide attempt that required treatment by a doctor or nurse-for those requiring treatment, rates were highest for black students (3.4%)

key suicide risk factors

-recent or serious loss: death of a family member, pet, or friend, divorce of parents, breakup -psychiatric disorder: mood disorders such as depression, or trauma stress disorder -prior suicide attempts increase risk for another suicide attempt -alcohol and other substance use disorders -struggle with sexual orientation -family history of suicide -lack of social support -bullying: kids who are bullied and kids who bully others -access to lethal means, such as firearm and pills -stigma associated with asking for help -barriers to accessing services -cultural and religious beliefs

navigating towards adolescence

-researchers have found that children who learn better coping skills may be buffered from some of the negative effects of maturing young -study found that among girls who matured early, those who had lower executive functioning and those who experiences more reactivity to the stress hormone cortisol were more likely to experience maladjustment -found that kids with pre-existing emotional problems, poor coping mechanisms and family stressors have a particularly difficult time negotiating early puberty -during adolescence, those kids who are more able to respond adaptively to stressors, who engage in planful efforts to deal with problems or regulate emotions, seem to be protected from effects of early puberty on depression; we need to bolster kids' coping resources -not many resources designed specifically to help kids through pubertal development

depression help

-see a doctor if depression symptoms begin to interfere with teen's life or you have concerns about suicide and teen safety -depression symptoms won't likely get better on their own -seek help from a mental professional -call suicide hotline -reach out to friend or close loved one -contact minister or spiritual leader

pubertal timing

-some adolescents begin puberty much later or much earlier than their peers -boys and girls tend to respond differently to early and late maturation -findings are based on the Berkeley longitudinal study, as well as more recent research on adolescent maturation

stopping the cycle of violence

-teaching boys to feel and show empathy toward others: coping with one's own feelings and working toward understanding others can greatly reduce violent tendencies -protecting boys from violence, both in their physical environment as well as the digital environment: both types of violence play a negative role in boys' behavior -stimulate the boy's spirituality: similar to working empathy, finding meaning and purpose and thinking about higher-level moral thinking can be life-changing for at-risk boys -mentoring: sometimes all it takes is one trustworthy adult figure in a child's life to make a difference; figure can be older sibling, teacher, social worker, pastor, big brother, etc, but they must show that they care and model positive behaviors -education: better educational opportunities mean that the teen will have more options in life and higher earning potential, which can elevate them from difficult circumstances of their childhood; success at school also raises self-esteem, which can then tap into a positive emotional life for the teen -positive social support: similar to mentoring, positive social support overall is crucial for any child's wellbeing; sometimes the care and support of a gang is the reason why the teen goes down a negative path; they are simply looking for esteem and support; another social group needs to be present to counteract this; ex: church groups, sports teams, and engagement in the arts -teach androgyny: may seem odd, but at-risk teen subcultures emphasize "macho" behavior, thus, a child may engage in violent acts because they are trying to impress others or "act like a man"; important to model more prosocial ways of engaging with others and counteract this hyper-masculinized view of what it means to be a man

domino effect step 1 (puberty)

-the hypothalamus is a key regulatory center in the brain -hypothalamus and pituitary gland are located near each other in the brain -in addition to monitoring body heat, water, and nutrient levels, it also regulates glands and hormones given its role in also regulating sexual behavior -hypothalamus slowly produces gonadatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) beginning in middle childhood -production really ramps up after middle childhood and is thought to be associated with the protein leptin, which is stored in fat cells -the current hypothesis is that pre-pubertal growth spurts results in pre-teens achieving a certain threshold of body fat (approximately 19% of total body composition) -leptin levels subsequently increase, and this triggers the hypothalamus to start greater GnRH production -this hypothesis is supported by evidence of underweight individuals not achieving puberty and overweight individuals being more likely to start puberty early -hypothalamus -->GnRH --> pituitary gland --> releases FSH, LH --> blood stream --> increased production of sex hormones

domino effect step 3 (puberty)

-these sex hormones are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development, pubic hair growth, testicular growth, etc. -at this point and afterward, males have more androgens, and females have more estrogens -adolescents vary regarding the age at which the first visible signs of puberty occur around the time of the pubertal growth spurt -in north america, breast growth typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls, and the growth of testes and the scrotal sac occurs between ages 9 1/2 and 13 1/2 in boys -these are the first visible signs of secondary sexual characteristics

identity diffusion

-this adolescent has not had a crisis, so they have not come to any decisions about her identity nor is she committed to any course of action -adolescents/adults who remain in identity diffusion are essentially "lost" and floundering since this status would be most akin to erikson's identity confusion -adolescents in this status have neither explored nor decided upon an aspect of their identity such as vocational identity

bulimia nervosa (ppt)

-typically develops 16-19 years of age -primary feature: binging (marked by uncontrollability) -secondary feature: compensation -third feature: overly-concerned with body shape -note: purging is an inefficient method to reduce weight; vomiting reduces about 50% of the calories consumed; laxative/related methods have little effect on weight -most bulimics are within 10% of normal body weight or overweight

anorexia nervosa (ppt)

-typically starts in adolescence -core feature: intense fear of obesity and a relentless and successful pursuit of thinness -obsessive preoccupation with being then -dramatic weight through severe caloric restriction and/or purging -persons with anorexia are never satisfied with weight loss -exert control over multiple things in their own life -body image issues overlap with other disorders -eating disorders are more common in countries that put an emphasis on being thin

anorexia recovery tip 1: understand this is not really about weight or food

-understand this is not really about weight or food -food and weight-related issues are in fact symptoms of a deeper issue: depression, anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, pressure to be perfect, or feeling out of control-problems that no amount of dieting or weight loss can cure -in order to overcome anorexia, you first need to understand that it meets a need in your life; ex: you may feel powerless in many parts of your life, but you can control what you eat; saying "no" to food, getting the best of hunger, and controlling the number on the scale may make you feel strong and successful, at least for a short while; you may even come to enjoy your hunger pangs as reminders of a "special talent" that most people don't possess -anorexia may also be a way of distracting yourself from difficult emotions; when you spend most of your time thinking about food, dieting, and weight loss, you don't have to face other problems in your life or deal with complicated emotions; restricting food may provide an emotional numbness, anesthetizing you from feelings of anxiety, sadness, or anger, perhaps even replacing those emotions with a sense of calm or safety -unfortunately, any boost you get from starving yourself or shedding pounds is extremely short-lived, and at some point, it sill stop working for you at all; dieting and weight loss can't repair the negative self-image at the heart of anorexia; the only way to do that is to identify the emotional need that self-starvation fulfills and find other ways to meet it -"i feel fat": while your weight usually remains quite constant over the course of, say, a week, feelings of fatness can fluctuate wildly; often, feeling fat is a mislabeling of other emotions, such as shame, boredom, frustration, or sadness; in other words "i feel fat" really means " i feel anxious" or "i feel lonely"; and those feelings are unlikely to ever be changed by a diet

puberty and mental health

-university of illinois at urbana-champaign -followed more than 160 boys and girls for three years -found that girls who matured earlier than their peers had increased rates of depression that persisted over the course of the study -found that while early maturing boys initially had lower levels of depression than later maturing boys, over time they showed signs of increased anxiety, negative self-image and interpersonal stress -by the end of the 3 year study period, the boys' rates of depression were almost as high as those of the early-maturing girls -other research suggests early puberty is particularly hard on girls -in boys, early maturation has been linked to both internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety) and externalizing symptoms (such as tobacco use), rather than to eating disorders -among adolescent girls, early puberty is associated with more depressive disorders, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders and disruptive behavior disorders -of those disorders, the clearest and most consistent link is between early puberty and depression in girls; for many women, puberty seems to be a key period in the development of depression -in childhood, boys and girls have roughly the same rates of depression, but adult women are 2-3x more likely to be depressed as men; discrepancy doesn't exist at the beginning of puberty, but is present by middle puberty

purging symptoms (anorexia)

-using diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics: abusing water pills, herbal appetite suppressants, prescription stimulants, ipecac syrup, and other drugs for weight loss -throwing up after eating: frequently disappearing after meals or going to the bathroom; may run the water to disguise sounds of vomiting or reappear smelling like mouthwash or mints -compulsive exercising: following a punishing exercise regimen aimed at burning calories; exercising through injuries, illness and bad weather; working out extra hard after bingeing or eating something "bad"

domino effect step 2 (puberty)

-when GnRH reaches the pituitary gland, it stimulates the gland to produce hormones called gonadotropins, which include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) -FSH stimulates maturation of ovarian follicles as well as aids sperm production -LH triggers production of sex hormones, androgens and estrogens, into the bloodstream

social pressures

-when kids develop early, the way they act and think doesn't always match the way they look -other kids and adults might make erroneous assumptions about what they are capable of -these kids have levels of cognitive, social, and emotional development completely consistent with their age, but physically, they look older; mismatch is though to be cause of difficulties -cultural connotations might make puberty particularly hard for girls; being sexually mature brings specific challenges for young women, in particular, there are changes in thinking of yourself as sexually desirable or physically attractive that are emphasized for girls are puberty -when girls mature early, they seem to have several disadvantages right away; they compare themselves more negatively to their peers; they're more anxious and less confident in their relationships with family and friends; more likely to hang out with friends, often older, who engage in risky behaviors such as early sexual behavior and substance use; such peer influence seems to be a major risk factor for mental health problems among early-maturing kids -if you're hanging around peers who are engaging in risky behaviors, you're more likely to engage in the same kinds of behaviors -parents might grant kids who look physically older more freedom than perhaps their actual age would suggest

identity foreclosure

-when the adolescent has made a commitment but had not had a crisis -it's called foreclosure because it may be a premature decision that did not include exploration of possible alternatives -adolescents in this status may choose a career or political beliefs based on what others tell them without considering their own thoughts

using mindfulness to cope with difficult emotions

-when you start to feel overwhelmed by negativity, discomfort, or the urge to restrict food, take a moment to stop whatever you're doing and investigate what's going on inside -identify the emotion you're feeling: is it guilt? shame? helplessness? loneliness? anxiety? disappointment? fear? insecurity? -accept the experience you're having: avoidance and resistance only make negative emotions stronger; instead, try to accept what you're feeling without judging yourself -dig deeper: where do you feel the emotion in your body? what kids of thoughts are going through your head? -distance yourself: realize that you are not your feelings; emotions are passing events, like clouds moving across the sky; they don't define who you are -once you learn how to accept and tolerate your feelings, they'll no longer seem so scary; you'll realize that you're still in control and that negative emotions are only temporary; once you stop fighting them, they'll quickly pass

adolescent depression

-while adolescent boys are more likely to engage in juvenile behavior, adolescent girls (and women overall) are far more likely to be treated for depression -persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities -affects how teenagers think, feel, behave, and can cause emotional, functional, and physical problems -issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations, and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens -emotional symptoms: feelings of sadness, crying spells for no apparent reason, frustration or feelings of anger even over small matters, feeling hopeless or empty, irritable or annoyed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, loss of interest/conflict with family and friends, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism, extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure and need for excessive reassurance, trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things, ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak, frequent thoughts of death, dying, or suicide -behavioral changes: tiredness and loss of energy, insomnia or sleeping too much, changes in appetite-decreased and weight loos or increased craving and weight gain, use of alcohol or drugs, agitation or restlessness, slowed thinking, speaking or body movements, frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches, social isolation, poor performance at school or frequent absences, less attention to personal hygiene or appearance, angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behavior, or other acting-out behaviors, self-harm-cutting, burning, excessive piercing or tattooing, making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt

effects of anorexia

-while the causes of anorexia are uncertain, the physical effects are clear -when your body doesn't get the fuel it needs to function normally, it goes into starvation mode and slows down to conserve energy -essentially, your body begins to consume itself; if self-starvation continues and more body fat is lost, medical complications pile up and your body and mind pay the price -brain and nerves: can't think right, fear of gaining weight, sad, moody, irritable, bad memory, fainting, changes in brain chemistry -hair: hair thins and gets brittle -heart: low blood pressure, slow heart rate, fluttering of the heart (palpitations), heart failure -blood: anemia and other blood problems -muscles and joints: weak muscles, swollen joints, fractures, osteoporosis -kidneys: kidney stones, kidney failure -body fluids: low potassium, magnesium, and sodium -intestines: constipation, bloating -hormones: periods stop, bone loss, problems growing, trouble getting pregnant; if pregnant, higher risk for miscarriage, having a c-section, baby with low birthweight, and post-partum depression -skin: bruise easily, dry skin, growth of fine hair all over body, get cold easily, yellow skin, nails get brittle

pubertal timeline

For girls in North America, the average age of the pubertal growth spurt begins around ages 8-13, with an average age of 10. Breast development begins and girls gain weight and fat around their arms, legs, and torso. The end of the pubertal growth spurt for girls is menarche, which occurs around ages 12-16, with an average age of 12 1/2. Girls are usually done growing around age 16. For boys, puberty begins around ages 9-14, with an average age of 12 1/2. Sexual organs begin to grow, followed by increased muscle mass and fat gain, and then facial hair growth and a deepening of the vocal cords occurs. Spermarche occurs around an average age of 13. Boys are usually done growing around age 18.

eating disorders

while early maturing girls are not the only adolescents at risk for eating disorders, certain individuals are more likely to have eating disorders -some eating disorders actually involve eating a large amount of food -eating disorders are classified as mental disorders