Assignment:
Blume, L. B., & Zembar, M. J. (2007). Middle childhood to middle adolescence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson [Vital Source e-reader].
"Physical Development in Middle Adolescence"In this chapter, the author discusses the physical transformations that typically occur during middle adolescence, including puberty, brain development, and motor development. Focus on how physical development progresses from early to late middle adolescence, as well as how brain development influences adolescents' reasoning abilities.
"Cognitive Development in Middle Adolescence"In this chapter, the author explains how the ability to think and process information develops during middle adolescence. Focus on how cognitive development progresses from early to late middle adolescence, how reasoning and decision-making abilities develop, and how intelligence is conceptualized and assessed during this time period.
Steinberg, L. (2007). Risk taking in adolescence: New perspectives from brain and behavioral science. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16(2), 55-5 9.
In this article, the author discusses possible reasons why adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behavior than are older adults. Focus on the implications of cognitive neuroscience for the prevention of risk-taking in adolescents.
Required Media
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Understanding the Adolescent Brain, Part 1 [Video file].
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
In this video, Dr. Judy Willis and Dr. Mary-Helen Immordino-Yang discuss characteristics of the adolescent brain. Focus on the behavioral implications of adolescent brain development.
Directions:
Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and between 2 to 3 paragraphs in length.
- Identify three aspects of physical development that happen during middle adolescence and explain how each differs in a 13-year-old versus an 18-year-old.
- Identify three aspects of cognitive development that happen during middle adolescence and explain how each differs in a 13-year-old versus an 18-year-old.
- Explain how intelligence typically is assessed during adolescence, and if and how these scores are significant. Identify at least one alternative view of intelligence, and explain its merits and limitations.