Cognitive Development

1
Adolescence

• Cognitive Development

2
Conceptions of Adolescence

• Biological perspective (G. Stanley Hall)
• Biologically-determined period of
  storm-and-stress
• Physical changes create psychological conflict
• Social perspective (Margaret Mead)
• Turmoil not typical 2 increase in problems
• Cultural research suggest turmoil is socially
  determined

Both nature and nurture!
3
When does adolescence begin end?

• Puberty is the physical transition to adulthood
• Around 11 or 12 yrs
• Girls 2 yrs before boys
• Industrialized nations
• Early 11-14
• Middle 14-18
• Late 18-21
• Emerging adults 21 to ??
• Non-industrialized societies have shorter
  transition to adulthood

Do you like being labeled as an adolescent?
4
Piagets Theory

• Formal operational stage (12)
• Hypothetico-deductive reasoning develop general
  theory deduce specific hypotheses
• Task pendulum problem

What influences the speed with which a pendulum
swings?
5
Piagets Theory

• Formal operational stage (12)
• Hypothetico-deductive reasoning develop general
  theory deduce specific hypotheses
• Task pendulum problem

What influences the speed with which a pendulum
swings?

• Hypotheses
• Length of string
• Weight of object
• Height of object
• Force on object

School-aged children unsystematic do not notice
all possibilities
Adolescents vary one factor at a time while
holding others constant
6
Piagets Theory

• Formal operational stage (12)
• Propositional thought assess logic of verbal
  statements without real-world circumstances
• Task Poker chip problem

Are the following statements true, false, or are
you uncertain?

• Either the chip behind the box is green or it is
  not green.
• The chip behind the box is green and it is not
  green.

• True
• False

• Uncertain
• Uncertain

7
Piagets Theory

• Formal operational stage (12)
• Propositional thought assess logic of verbal
  statements without real-world circumstances
• Task Poker chip problem

Are the following statements true, false, or are
you uncertain?

• Either the chip is green or it is not green.
• The chip is green and it is not green.

• True
• False

• True
• True

8
Limitation of Theory

• Are all people capable of formal operations?
• 40-60 of college students fail tasks
• Experience with the subject matter
• Village tribal societies less likely to master
  formal operations
• Piagets theory is not completely correct!
• Scientific Reasoning

What influences chances of solving tasks?
9
Consequences of Abstract Thought

• Argumentativeness use facts, ideas, hypotheses
  to build ones case
• Can promote cognitive
  development via scaffolding
• Self-consciousness self-focusing reflect on
  own thoughts, make evaluate judgments
• Imaginary audience
• Personal fable

10
Why do adolescents say

• Personal fable
• Imaginary audience
• Personal fable

• It wont happen to me.
• Everyone is looking at me!
• Mom, you dont understand.

11
Consequences of Abstract Thought

• Idealism criticism enables them to define own
  values but also criticize others
• Sometimes go to the extreme
• Planning decision making monitor own behavior
  evaluate options, but
• Too many options are difficult to handle
• Poor or risky decision making can occur
• Gender differences learning in school

12
Video Inside the Teenage Brain

• What part of the brain is still developing in
  adolescence?
• What are the behavioral outcomes of brain
  development?
• Why do adolescence feel misunderstood?
• Describe adolescent sleep patterns and how it
  affect daily life?