Adolescence
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Transcript of Adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence
The only thing consistent about The only thing consistent about adolescence is adolescence is inconsistencyinconsistency
The wonder years…The wonder years…
Importance
• The ages 10-15 are transitional period for children from childhood to adolescence.
• Physical, emotional, social and cognitive
• The adolescents are kept in the dark :– Social conditioning– Cultural implications
So, they get their information from sources that are equally ‘incompetent’
The adolescent brainThe adolescent braina growth spurt (over-confidence)
a period of pruning (use it or loose it)
Development of Prefrontal Cortex– information synthesis – Planning & organization, – working memory, – mood modulation
Implications– Meta-cognition - Begin to think about
thinking.– Sustained learning - Influences learning for
the rest of life.– Hardwiring - More time for intellectual
activities. – Risk takers – Innovative, explorers
Mirror neurons
• ( in early childhood – baby see, baby do )
• In adolescence – hardwiring built around ‘role models’
Circadian cycle
• Melatonin (of pineal glands) – a sleep regulator, is secreted 2 hrs. later.
• Exceeding sleep needs (9 hrs)
• Sleep deficiency – Greater Cortisol (a stress hormone)– Lesser processing of glucose
(obesity & type 2 diabetes)
Implications
• Binge drinking– Blackouts & memory loss– Violence– Downward social class drift– Can drink more, Can be affected more
• Nicotine can permanently damage Hippocampus
• Cannabis – can have more, more cognitive memory problems
The four L’s of building adolescent identity
• Love and caring– Make it visible consistently
• Laughter– Be humorous, share your adolescence
• Limits– Help set goals and solve problems
• Linkages– Make healthy connections to the outside world