Psychology 103#2studyguide

Rite of passage

A ceremony or ritual that marks an individual's transition from one status to another. Most rites of passage focus on the transition to adult status.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

A disability in which children consistently show one or more of the following characteristics: (1)inattention, (2) hyperactivity, and (3) impulsivity.

Asperger's disorder

A relatively mild autism spectrum disorder in which the child has relatively good verbal language, milder nonverbal language problems, and a restricted range of interests and relationships.

Narcissism

A self-centered and self-concerned approach toward others.

Least restrictive environment)/mainstreaming

A setting that is as similar as possible to the one in which children who do not have a disability are educated.

Autistic disorder

A severe autism spectrum disorder that has its onset in the first three years of life and includes deficiencies in social relationships, abnormalities in communication, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.

IEP (Individualized education plan)

A written statement that spells out a program specifically tailored to a child with a disability.

Depression and suicide in adolescence

Adolescents and emerging adults have a higher rate of depression than children. Female adolescents and emerging adults are more likely to have mood and depressive disorders than their male counterparts. Adolescent suicide is the third leading cause of death in U.S. adolescents.

Bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder in which the individual consistently follows a binge-and-purge pattern.

Anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder that involves the relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation.

Adolescence and the evolution of friendship in that stage of development

Beginning in early adolescence, however, teenagers typically prefer to have a smaller number of friendships that are more intense and intimate than those of young children. The pressure to conform to peers is strong during adolescence, especially during the eighth and ninth grades. Cliques and crowds assume more importance in the lives of adolescents than in the lives of children.There is a dramatic increase in the psycho- logical importance and intimacy of close friends in early adolescence. Friends became increasingly important in meeting social need (Harry Stack Sullivan).

Gender stereotypes

Broad categories that reflect our impressions and beliefs about females and males.

Harry Stack Sullivan and his contribution to the study of adolescence

Harry Stack Sullivan (1953) was the most influential theorist to discuss the importance of adolescent friendships. During adolescence, said Sullivan, friends become increasingly important in meeting social needs. In particular, Sullivan argued that the need for intimacy intensifies during early adolescence, motivating teenagers to seek out close friends. If adolescents fail to develop such close friendships, they experience loneliness and a reduced sense of self-worth.

Intimacy in friendships

Self-disclosure and the sharing of private thoughts

Self-efficacy

The belief that one can master a situation and produce favorable outcomes.

Self-esteem

The global evaluative dimension of the self. Self-esteem is also referred to as self-worth or self-image.

Amygdala

The region of the brain that is the seat of emotions.

Critical thinking

Thinking reflectively and productively, as well as evaluating the evidence.

Adolescent egocentrism

the heightened self-consciousness of adolescents. David Elkind (1976) points out that adolescent egocentrism has two key com- ponents—the imaginary audience and personal fable. The imaginary audi-ence is adolescents' belief that others are as interested in them as they themselves are, as well as attention-getting behavior—attempts to be noticed, visible, and "on stage." For example, an eighth-grade boy might walk into the classroom and think that all eyes are riveted on his spotty complexion. Adolescents sense that they are "on stage" in early adolescence, believing they are the main actors and all others are the audience. According to Elkind, the personal fable is the part of adolescent egocentrism involving a sense of uniqueness and invincibility (or invulnerability). For example, 13-year-old Adrienne says this about herself: "No one understands me, particularly my parents. They have no idea of what I am feeling." Adolescents' sense of personal uniqueness makes them feel that no one can understand how they really feel. As part of their effort to retain a sense of personal uniqueness, adolescents might craft a story about the self that is filled with fantasy, immersing themselves in a world that is far removed from reality. Personal fables frequently show up in adolescent diaries.