PSYCHOLOGY 2340 CHAPTER 6 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE
2026
What physical changes do adolescents experience? - Answers The adolescent years are marked by a
physical growth spurt that mirrors the rapid growth rate of infancy. Girls' growth spurts begin around
age 10, roughly two years earlier than boys' growth spurts. The most significant event during
adolescence is the onset of puberty, which begins for most girls at around 11 and boys around 13. As
puberty begins, the body begins to produce male or female hormones at adult levels, the sex organs
develop and change, menstruation and ejaculation begin, and other body changes occur.
What are the consequences of early and late maturation? - Answers For boys, early maturation can
lead to increased athleticism, greater popularity, and a more positive self-concept. Late maturation
can put boys at a physical and social disadvantage which can affect self-concept and have lasting
consequences.
For girls, early maturation can lead to increased popularity and an enhanced social life, they can also
experience embarrassment over changes in their bodies that differentiate them from their peers. Girls
who mature late may suffer neglect by their peers of both sexes, but ultimately they appear to suffer
no lasting ill effects and may benefit from late maturation.
What are the nutritional needs and concerns of adolescents? - Answers Nutritional needs same as
adults, but obesity and eating disorders are most like to develop in this stage of life.
What are the major threats to the well-being of adolescents? - Answers Drug, alcohol, and tobacco
present the biggest threat at this age.
What dangers do adolescent sexual practices present, and how can these dangers be avoided? -
Answers STDS and teen pregnancy are the biggest dangers and can be prevented by safe sex practices
and communication between sexual partners.
How does cognitive development proceed during adolescence? - Answers Cognitive growth is rapid -
gains in abstracted thinking, reasoning, and the ability to view possibilities in relative rather than
absolute terms.
Piaget - Formal Operational Stage
What aspects of cognitive development cause difficulties for adolescents? - Answers This stage
promotes a form of adolescent egocentrism and self-absorption, making it hard to accept criticism
and tolerate authority figures.
What factors affect adolescent school performance? - Answers Academic performance is linked in
complex ways to socioeconomic status and to race and ethnicity. Both gender and ethnicity affect the
incidence of dropping out.
How much of an influence does the Internet have on adolescent learning? - Answers The educational
benefits of the internet are many, but it also introduces adolescents to objectionable material and
online gambling.
How does the development of self-concept, self-esteem, and identity proceed during adolescence? -
Answers Adolescent self-conceptions become complex
Composed of:
Actual self
Possible self (ideal self, feared self)
False self
Discrepancy between actual self and ideal self can lead to feelings of failure and depression
Multiple dimensions of self-esteem
What role does religion and spirituality play during adolescence? - Answers Adolescents in
industrialized societies are less religious than those in traditional cultures
U.S. higher religiosity than most developed countries
Ethnic differences
Religious involvement provides protective factors
Less depression, lower rates of premarital sex, drug use, and delinquent behavior
What dangers do adolescents face as they deal with the stresses of adolescence? - Answers A major
danger faced is depressing, affecting more girls than boys.
How do relationships between adolescents and their parents change? - Answers The search for
autonomy may change between teenagers and their parents temporarily creating conflict in some
2026
What physical changes do adolescents experience? - Answers The adolescent years are marked by a
physical growth spurt that mirrors the rapid growth rate of infancy. Girls' growth spurts begin around
age 10, roughly two years earlier than boys' growth spurts. The most significant event during
adolescence is the onset of puberty, which begins for most girls at around 11 and boys around 13. As
puberty begins, the body begins to produce male or female hormones at adult levels, the sex organs
develop and change, menstruation and ejaculation begin, and other body changes occur.
What are the consequences of early and late maturation? - Answers For boys, early maturation can
lead to increased athleticism, greater popularity, and a more positive self-concept. Late maturation
can put boys at a physical and social disadvantage which can affect self-concept and have lasting
consequences.
For girls, early maturation can lead to increased popularity and an enhanced social life, they can also
experience embarrassment over changes in their bodies that differentiate them from their peers. Girls
who mature late may suffer neglect by their peers of both sexes, but ultimately they appear to suffer
no lasting ill effects and may benefit from late maturation.
What are the nutritional needs and concerns of adolescents? - Answers Nutritional needs same as
adults, but obesity and eating disorders are most like to develop in this stage of life.
What are the major threats to the well-being of adolescents? - Answers Drug, alcohol, and tobacco
present the biggest threat at this age.
What dangers do adolescent sexual practices present, and how can these dangers be avoided? -
Answers STDS and teen pregnancy are the biggest dangers and can be prevented by safe sex practices
and communication between sexual partners.
How does cognitive development proceed during adolescence? - Answers Cognitive growth is rapid -
gains in abstracted thinking, reasoning, and the ability to view possibilities in relative rather than
absolute terms.
Piaget - Formal Operational Stage
What aspects of cognitive development cause difficulties for adolescents? - Answers This stage
promotes a form of adolescent egocentrism and self-absorption, making it hard to accept criticism
and tolerate authority figures.
What factors affect adolescent school performance? - Answers Academic performance is linked in
complex ways to socioeconomic status and to race and ethnicity. Both gender and ethnicity affect the
incidence of dropping out.
How much of an influence does the Internet have on adolescent learning? - Answers The educational
benefits of the internet are many, but it also introduces adolescents to objectionable material and
online gambling.
How does the development of self-concept, self-esteem, and identity proceed during adolescence? -
Answers Adolescent self-conceptions become complex
Composed of:
Actual self
Possible self (ideal self, feared self)
False self
Discrepancy between actual self and ideal self can lead to feelings of failure and depression
Multiple dimensions of self-esteem
What role does religion and spirituality play during adolescence? - Answers Adolescents in
industrialized societies are less religious than those in traditional cultures
U.S. higher religiosity than most developed countries
Ethnic differences
Religious involvement provides protective factors
Less depression, lower rates of premarital sex, drug use, and delinquent behavior
What dangers do adolescents face as they deal with the stresses of adolescence? - Answers A major
danger faced is depressing, affecting more girls than boys.
How do relationships between adolescents and their parents change? - Answers The search for
autonomy may change between teenagers and their parents temporarily creating conflict in some
