Exam 1 – Adolescent Development Study Guide
(WITH ANSWERS)
Q: What stage do adolescents enter according to Piaget?
A: Adolescents enter the Formal Operational stage, allowing abstract and hypothetical thinking.
Q: What is metacognition?
A: Thinking about and monitoring one’s own cognitive processes.
Q: What is selective attention?
A: Focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others.
Q: What is divided attention?
A: The ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Q: What is the imaginary audience?
A: The belief that others are constantly watching and judging you.
Q: What is the personal fable?
A: The belief in personal uniqueness and invulnerability.
Q: Why are adolescents more prone to risk-taking?
A: Because reward systems mature earlier than impulse control systems.
Q: What is puberty?
A: A biological process involving hormonal changes and physical maturation.
Q: What is the HPG axis?
A: The hormonal system that initiates puberty.
Q: How does puberty affect sleep?
A: It delays melatonin release, shifting sleep later.
Q: What is relativism?
A: Understanding that rules and beliefs depend on context.
Q: What is synaptic pruning?
A: Removal of unused neural connections to increase efficiency.
Q: What is brain plasticity?
A: The brain’s ability to change with experience.