Psych 133A Adolescent Development Questions & Answers

Psych 133A Adolescent Development Questions & Answers What is self- concept? Domains of self- concept? - ANSWER-Ability to assess one's traits and competencies across various domains. Different domains of self- concep ...

Psych 133A Adolescent Development Questions & Answers What is self- concept? Domains of self- concept? - ANSWER-Ability to assess one's traits and competencies across various domains. Different domains of self- concept: academic, physical, social, athletic What affects the instability of academic self- concept? - ANSWER-Transitions from elementary to middle school- children transition to a different grading system, different environment, different teachers. Transition again to high school; students are tracked and put with others like them When are gender and ethnicity most salient? - ANSWER-When they are mistreated because of group membership, in a minority Salience of gender identity, sexual identity, ethnic identity, interest- specific identities across development - ANSWER-- Gender identity: early & late childhood - Sexual identity: early/mid adolescence - Ethnic identity: early adolescence (earlier for ethnic minorities) Interest- specific: early adolescence Value x Competence = esteem (James) Factors that determine salience of identity - ANSWER-1) Value x Competence = esteem (james) 2) Feedback source: adult authority -> peer approval (becomes more salient than the feedback from parents). i.e., sexual identity may be salient b/c it gains peer approval 3) Gender (girls may become feminists, boys might be pressured by homophobia or performance pressure) Why does low self- esteem not help explain aggressive behavior or dropping out? - ANSWER-- Determinants of self- esteem: perceived physical appearance, perceived physical ability. + whatever you think is really important, parental praise - What impacts your self esteem is what you care most about (if you don't care about school, you can be bad at school and dropout and still have a high self- esteem) - Aggressive behaviors in middle school fueled by the desire to be dominant and popular. Kids may gain self- esteem through dominance and popularity by bullying others Why should we care whether teens have friends or not? How are friendships related to other relationships during adolescence? - ANSWER-Friendships provide companionship, instrumental aid, emotional intimacy, opportunities to explore self. Mutual friendships correlated with less disruptive behavior, less victimization, greater school adjustment, greater support (look @ week 6 slide 13) Presence of a best friend during negative and positive experiences-- effects on cortisol levels and selfworth - ANSWER-When a friend is present, self- worth stays high during a negative experience, plummets if a friend if not with them. Cortisol levels are also lower when a friend is present during a negative experience, whereas cortisol levels increase if friend is on their own during a negative experience Who are likely to become, and stay friends? How does friendship stability change through development? What benefits are associated with diverse friends? - ANSWER-- Friendships begin through propinquity (proximity/availability) and homophily (similarity) - People with similar backgrounds, personalities, likes & dislikes are likely to stay friends - Childhood friendships are dependent on constancy in environment, early adolescent friendships have increased stability b/c of pubertal development & changes, mid- adolescence have increased stability b/c of selectivity; quality > quantity - Staying friends depends on interactions; greater conflict + resolution How do romantic relationships develop between early and late adolescence? - ANSWER-Romantic relationships develop when kids are not in gender segregated groups; coming in contact with the opposite sex. 2 critical ingredients: 1) exposure to potential partners 2) social norms