DEP 3005 Exam #2 Review

concrete operations (from about age 6 until early adolescence)

children become able to think logically, not just intuitively. They now can classify objects into precisely defined categories & understand that events are often influenced by multiple factors, not just one.

Synaptic pruning

the process through which unnecessary connections between neurons are eliminated, improving the efficiency of info processing

Cognitive Development

- According to Arnett, cognitive development is "changes over time in how people think , how they solve problems, and how their capabilities for memory and attention change." - A perspective on development, based on the work of Piaget, that takes a qualitative, stage- theory approach; children progress through stages of reasoning ability; every child goes through these stages in a specific order; the way children think & reason changes as they get older

Coerced-internalized false confessions (Michael Crowe):

- Believe they have actually committed the crime - 63% of a sample of 125 proven false confession cases were under 25 years old - Egocentrism imaginary audience

Life course persistent delinquency:

- Criminal activity that continues into adulthood - Much smaller portion of adolescents - Often commit crimes alone - More likely to have delinquent behavior prior to adolescence

Adolescent limited delinquency:

- Criminal activity that stops before 21 - Usually in groups & with friends - Not usually violent in nature

Coerced-compliant false confessions ( Brendan Dassey):

- Stress of physical custody & isolation - Interrogations press the inevitability of their conviction ("we know you did it") this is legal - Confess so that the whole thing is over (they can go home, avoid jail time)

Prefrontal cortex changes

- increases during adolescence - continued myelination which leads to cognitive advances - leads to greater efficiency in info processing - structural maturation isn't complete until mid 20s

Limbic system changes

- matures during early adolescence - dopamine & serotonin begin to function differently as a result: -adolescents are more responsive to stress -sensitive to rewards -more likely to engage in sensation seeking

Changes in gray matter (decreases (via synaptic pruning):

- overproduction/exuberance- very rapid increases in synaptogenesis - occurs during 2 periods of development: -shortly after birth & during early adolescence - synaptic pruning: process of eliminating unused neuronal connections, thus improving the efficiency of info. - Use it or lose it -Cortical thickness decreases across adolescence as synaptic pruning occurs

Parent child conflict during adolescence

40 % of adolescents report arguments with parents once/week; more frequent & intense btw mothers & daughters; conflict is highest in early adolescence, decreases slightly during middle adolescence, & is lowest during emerging adulthood -they argue about how they dress, curfew, friend choices, bedroom cleanliness (ex: "you can't wear that to school! People don't just go around dressed that way!"); problems with open communication between adolescents & parents; difficulty discussing sexual issues, disagreements over curfew, dress, friend choices may reflect parental concern about sexual behavior & risk they feel uncomfortable addressing explicitly

EEG

A technique for measuring electrical activity at different locations on the scalp

DTI

A technique used to produce images of the brain that shows connections among different regions

FMRI

A technique used to produce images of the brain, often while the subject is performing some sort of mental task.

Adult versus developmental plasticity

Adult plasticity- changes in brain circuits during adulthood, after the brain has matured. Developmental plasticity- extensive remodeling of the brain's circuitry in response to experiences during childhood and adolescence, while the brain is still maturing. (age of opportunity & risk)

Personal fable

An adolescent's belief that he or she is unique and therefore not subject to the rules that govern another people's behavior. (ex: there must be something unique about me, otherwise, why would everybody be so preoccupied with me; "you can't possibly understand what I'm going through")

Changes in white matter (via myelination, increases in speed/efficiency) increases):

As myelination is occurring, & the neurons that exist & are remaining are getting more efficient because of myelination, the white matter increases

Differences between the concrete operational and formal operational stages (what can those in the formal operational stage of development do that those in the concrete operational stage can?).

Concrete operational- children become able to think logically, not just intuitively. They now can classify objects into precisely defined categories & understand that events are often influenced by multiple factors, not just one; to solve a problem, they would have to draw it out. Formal operational- adolescents can think systematically about possibilities & hypotheses; begin to think scientifically & abstractly; can use reasoning ability to generate the answer to complex problems; problem solving & systematic planning.

Gray and white matter

Gray matter- neurons & the connections among them White matter- the support structure for those neurons myelin sheath: provide insulation & increases the speed & efficiency of info transmission across the axon myelination: process of building myelin, occurs at different rates & in different regions during adolescence

Authoritarian

High demandingness/ low warmth/responsiveness Adult centered and rigid "because i said so/ my way or the highway" Strict rules and expectations, no warmth or communication, not trusting, punitive and harsh punishment, discourages communication, not flexible with rule conformity. Adolescent characteristics would be more dependent, less mature, less social skilled with peers, lower self confidence/self esteem, less curious.

Authoritative(the best parenting style)

High demandingness/ warmth/responsiveness EX. Mufasa from lion king Set boundaries/ rules, consistent with rules, flexible and child centered, warm, accepting, loving, supports self-regulation, encourages appropriate autonomy/ independence, Adolescents characteristics are responsible, socially skilled, academically successful, and creative/ intellectually curious

(Baumrind's parenting styles) Indulgent

High responsiveness, low demandingness. Essentially would rather be the child's friend rather than play the parental role. EX: Mrs. George (mean girl's mom) An adolescent characteristics would be that they do poorly in school or get in trouble, immature, less responsible, drugs & alcohol use, and would conform to peers

Information processing theory -know each aspect and how they change during adolescence

Information processing theory- attention, processing & memory; how people perceive, store, & remember info (ex: a computer)

Why is it important? (Piaget)

It enables them to understand that children's development is based on stages. The construction of identity and knowledge as one predicated upon the development of stages helps to explain the intellectual growth of children of all ages.

What is it? (Piaget)

Piaget's theory suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development

The pendulum problem

Task used to assess cognitive development. The participant is asked to work out what governs the speed of an object swinging on a piece of string.

Plasticity

The capacity of the brain to change in response to experience.

Selective attention

The process by which we focus on one stimulus while tuning out another. (examples: talking on the phone while there is construction around; listening to your friend while dogs barking; listening to this lecture rather than the music from your neighbors)

Divided attention

The process of paying attention to two or more stimuli at the same time. (ex: talking on the phone & watching a movie; listening to this lecture while you watch Netflix)

Metacognition

The process of thinking about thinking itself

Myelination

The process through which brain circuits are insulated with myelin, which improves the efficiency of information processing.

Neurotransmitters

The transfer of current across the synapse when a neuron fires is enabled by the release of chemicals

Metaphors

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. (ex: one bad apple spoils the whole bunch)

Status offense:

a violation of the law that pertains to minors but not adults (ex: skipping school, drinking alcohol, driving a car w/o license, driving past 11pm)

Family dynamics

a way of viewing family relationships & it basically states that families are more than simply a group of individual units; families represent a system of relationships that influence each other both directly & indirectly; changes in one unit can cause changes in the other. (direct & indirect individual relationships -siblings, parents, adolescence, sociocultural factors -extended fam, & change as children/parents age)

Response inhibition

ability to inhibit an inappropriate response (ex: told to push the button when they see one image, & refrain from pushing the button when they see a different image)

Adolescent egocentrism

ability to think about others thoughts comes to heightened awareness of the thoughts of others (ex: waking up early in high school & think "what does this person going to think of my hair/outfit or the way I'm dressed")

Complex thinking

adolescents begin to think more complex things like understanding metaphors, sarcasm, & metacognition

Abstract thinking

adolescents can think of abstract concepts like things they can't hear, see, touch or experience; begin to reason & debate about abstract ideas/concepts. (ex: time, faith, good vs. evil, politics & morality; who am I? Am I am a good person; think who they want to be).

formal operations (from adolescence through adulthood)

adolescents can think systematically & reason about what might be, as well as what it. This allows them to understand politics, ethics, & science fiction, as well as to engage in scientific reasoning.

Short term and working memory (duration and capacity)

attention is required; memory for info that's the current focus of your attention (ex: if I ask you to remember a string of numbers, you may remember it for 30 secs); short duration & limited capacity; type of short-term memory in which info that you're currently using to solve a problem (ex: multiple choice prob on a quiz)

The midlife crisis myth

better job security & financial stability, greater interpersonal flexibility, time of opportunity for positive change, could experience declines in physical functioning or feelings of personal health

Roper v Simmons

death penalty: raised the age from 16 to 18 (serious criminal offense) life sentence w/o parole? Varies by state

Problems with Piaget's theory

didn't rely on scientific evidence, used observations of his own children as a basis for his findings, findings were not diverse for that reason; vastly underestimates children's abilities; many adults don't use formal operational thinking all the time; not all adolescents are capable of using formal operational thinking; education gaps -those with better science training are better able to use this kind of reasoning.

Mutual perspective taking

early adolescents begin to understand that both they & the person they're interacting with are able to take multiple perspectives

Synaptogenesis

increases in connections among neurons

sensorimotor period (from birth until about age 2)

infants know the world through their senses & through their actions. For example, they learn what dogs look like & what petting them feels like.

Indifferent-

low demandingness, low warmth (does not care or not really involved with the child's life. They are passive/ dismissive, pose few demands or rules, do not monitor or supervise, detached, not warm, distant, and withdrawn. Adolescent characteristics are impulsive, delinquent behavior, early experimentation of drugs and sex, low academic acheivement, low social competence, poor self-regulation

Serotonin

neurotransmitter important for the experience of mood states (ex: depression & anxiety)

Dopamine

neurotransmitter involved in reward pathways (ex: good grades, likes on a post, gambling)

Processing speed

older adolescents process the info necessary to solve the problem faster than early adolescents, who, in turn, process information faster than preadolescents. This increase in the speed of information processing occurs mainly in early adolescence (example: the difference in speed btw a 9-year-old & a 12-year- old is greater than that btw a 12-year-old & a 15-year-old, which, is greater than that btw a 15-year-old & an 18-year-old)

Frontal cortex

part of the brain that is involved in stopping you from doing it; behaviors that are controlled by this part of the brain are planning what you're going to buy before going to the store & stopping yourself from getting drunk if you have a problem.

Causes of parent child conflict

physical changes & puberty; cognitive ability; peers & friends

Accommodation

process by which people adapt current knowledge structures in response to new experiences -they change their schemas to fit this new info. (ex: "see a father with long hair" -dads can have long hair too)

Assimilation

process by which people translate incoming info into a form they can understand -they use their existing schemas to interpret new info. (ex: "see a father with long hair" -that guy must not be a dad)

Piaget's theory of cognitive development

proposed a series of stages; the way that children think & reason changes with each stage; they are driven to learn different aspects of info in each stage.

Social and conventional system perspective taking

realization that social perspectives are influenced not just by interactions with each other but also their roles in society (ex: debating whether or not the mother should steal food for the family, her perspective & what the shop owner will think of it; adolescents take on arguing about gun reform or values of human rights)

The limbic system

region of the brain which involves the amygdala (with experiencing, processing emotions) & involved in feelings of reward & punishment

Sensory memory (duration and capacity)

shortest duration & large capacity; can take an immense amount of information but only stays in sensory memory for short duration

Neuron

specialized cells that are the basic units of the brain's info system

Changes in family function and needs during adolescence

strained finances, changes in schedule & time spent with family, changes in adolescent's need for personal care

Long term memory (duration and capacity)

the ability to recall something from a long time ago; unlimited duration & capacity

Metalizing

the ability to understand someone else's mental state

Imaginary audience

the belief that everyone is watching and evaluating one's behavior

Optimistic bias

the belief that the negative consequences of risky behaviors are more likely to happen to others than they are to you (ex: Billy cheats on a test & doesn't think he'll get caught; Beth smokes cigars, knowing it causes cancer; Jim drinks & drives because he doesn't think he'll get into a car accident)

Autobiographical memory

the recall of personally meaningful past events. (ex: attending prom)

Sarcasm

the use of irony to mock or convey contempt; the meaning of a speaker's statement is communicated by a combination of what is said, how it is said, and the context in which it is said; it is an important way for adolescents to make sense of their social worlds, cope with difficult situations, diffuse difficult topics of convo. with humor, & to joke and laugh with friends. (ex: If I turned to you during a boring lecture, rolled my eyes, and said, in an exaggeratedly earnest tone, "This is the most interesting lecture I've ever heard")

Criminal offense

things that are illegally for everyone, no matter what age you are

Perspective Taking

thinking about people, social relationships, & social institutions

Social cognition

thinking about people, social relationships, & social institutions

preoperational period (from about age 2 until about age 5)

toddlers & young children acquire the ability to internally represent the world through language & mental imagery. They also begin to be able to see the world from other people's perspectives, not just from their own.

Schema

understanding & filtering info from the world around you; a framework of understanding; we change our schemas as we grow & develop, we adapt our understanding of the world (Piaget believed that we develop by changing schemas). (ex: moms have long hair; dads have short hair)