FEM 3101

Developmental Psychology : Children and

1
Adolescents

ADOLESCENT
SEMESTER 2 (2019/2020)

DR. NELLIE BINTI ISMAIL

nellie@upm.edu.my/03-97697081
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COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
 COGNITIVE
DEVELOPMENT
• Mental activities
• Cognitive development
• Organization and thinking process
• Reasoning abilities
 CHANGES IN THE
ADOLESCENT STAGE
Changes in the adolescent stage:
• Language ability
• Ability in making decision
• Memory and reasoning capacity
 PIAGET’S STAGES OF
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
 PIAGET’S THEORY
FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE (12 & ABOVE)

• FORMAL OPERATIONS period is

the stage during which people develop
the ability to think abstractly.
• Piaget asserted that children
enter this stage at the beginning
of adolescence
 FORMAL
OPERATIONAL STAGE
• In adolescent Formal Operational stage,
cognitive development increases markedly:
• Hypothesis testing (scientific & matured)
• Understand complex and abstract issues.
• Predict & Planning
• Long term planning

• Teens begin to use formal operations to solve

problems
 CRITICISMS OF PIAGET'S
THEORY AND APPROACH

• Research finds individual differences in cognitive abilities

not universal.
• Some researchers suggest that cognitive development is
more continuous, less step-like than Piaget proposed.
• Piaget underestimated the skills of infants and young
children.
• Piaget focused only on thinking and knowing, missing
other kinds of intelligence.
 CRITICISMS OF PIAGET'S THEORY
AND APPROACH

• According to Piaget - adolescents capabilities of using

principles of logic unfold gradually, throughout early
adolescence (approximately ages 12 to 15). But not
everyone achieves formal operational skills (some studies
estimate that 25%-50 % of college students do not).
• Social values/culture also influence the achievement of
these skills
• Isolation, level of formal education, level of scientific
sophistication in the community.
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPROACHES
TO COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

• Information Processing Perspectives

assert that one of the key reasons that
mental abilities advance during
adolescence is the growth of
metacognition.
• The growth of METACOGNITION,
the ability to think about one's own
thinking process and their ability to
monitor their cognition.
 EGOCENTRISM IN
ADOLESCENT THINKING
• ADOLESCENT EGOCENTRISM is a stage of self-
absorption where the world is seen only from one's own
perspective.
• Thus adolescents are highly critical of authority figures,
unwilling to accept criticism and quick to find fault with
others.
• Adolescent egocentrism helps explain why teens often
think they’re the focus of everyone’s attention!
 ADOLESCENT EGOCENTRISM
LEADS TO TWO DISTORTIONS
• IMAGINARY AUDIENCE - where
adolescents think they are the focus of
everyone else's attention.
• Constructing elaborate scenarios about
other’s thoughts/intentions

• PERSONAL FABLES - the belief that the

adolescent is unique and exceptional and
shared by no one else
• No one understands me
• Risk taking behavior
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• Video:
• Imaginary Audience
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g45seRlUrpU
 ADOLESCENT STAGE
• More complex thinking process - abstract thinking
• Reasoning ability  based on available principles
• Can compare and debate issues
• Able to think the process of thinking
• Thinking ability of a child and adolescent/ adult
differs  more complex.
 .
COGNITIVE CHANGES IN
ADOLESCENT
• Systematic thinking ability
• Cognitive changes gradually
• Development towards formal operation differs for
different individual  because their perceptions
towards the world around them is different.
• Issues related to emotions  can hinder adolescent
to think complex issues.
• Implication  can be positive or negative
 INDICATOR INFLUENCING ADOLESCENT
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: EARLY
ADOLESCENT

• More complex thinking  focused more on

personal decision making (relates to home and
school environment), such as:
a. Home/school work
b. Questions rules, authority, standard in society
c. Giving opinion towards certain topic of interest
 that relates to their everyday chores/living
• Best sports/games?
• Good looking?
• Change rules?
 INDICATOR INFLUENCING ADOLESCENT
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: MIDDLE
ADOLESCENT
Thinking process increases and more developed  covers
issues related to philosophy and the future:
a. Questions asked are more advanced
b. Analysis ability better
c. Think and form own code of thinking (what’s right?)
d. Thinking of other alternatives and form own identity
(Who am I?)
e. More systematic thinking style  consider their goals
in life (What do I want?)
f. Think about the future  long term planning.
g. Thinking ability are more systematic  influence
behavior towards others.
 INDICATOR INFLUENCING ADOLESCENT
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: LATE
ADOLESCENT
• More complex thinking process  focused on
personal decision making but less self-centered.
• Issues such as:-
a. Global / advance issues  (justice, history, politics &
patriotism)
b. Form own ideas about certain topics/issues.
c. Like to debate.
d. Thinking  more geared towards career development.
e. Started thinking about their role in society.
 FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTHY
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
• Involve them in discussions.
• Encourage them to share ideas
and opinions.
• Help them to set their goals.
• Encourage them to think of
future possibilities.
• Encourage and praise them 
where appropriate.
• Assist them in making decision.
 HOW COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT DURING ADOLESCENT
CAN INFLUENCE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP?

• Changes during adolescent (physical, social, mental)

 impact on their lives
• Consequent  Adolescent – Parents Conflict
 REASONS FOR PARENTS-CHILD
CONFLICT
• Individuation period
• Adolescent set own identity that are
different from parents.
• De-idealization
• Now adolescent are aware that parents are
not always right/perfect (started to think
what’s logic and what’s not).
• Advance in reasoning
• Abstract and logical thinking ability 
reasoning ability.
• More interested in the concept of
justice, rights, equility
• Adolescents can think and questions rules
set by parents.
 CONCLUSION
• Even though conflicts always occurs but it is not harmful.
Most of the time will not threaten parents-child relationship.
• In fact, conflict during adolescent is “simply a part of
becoming an adult”.
• Light (1990)  studies showed, some adolescent do…
• Admire their parents.
• Discuss problems with parents.
• Seek advise and opinion from parents
• Love and feel loved by their parents
• Feel treasured and respected by parents.