Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Physical growth and maturation Neurological growth Psychological changes

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development• Abstract thinking

Information Processing Perspective More sophisticated working memory and faster

processing ability Quantitative advances in long-term memory

Working Memory and Processing Speed• Have adult-like working memory and processing speed,

enables them to process information efficiently Content Knowledge, Strategies, and Metacognitive

Skill• Greater knowledge of the work facilitates

understanding and memory of new experiences• Better able to identify task-appropriate strategies and

monitor effectiveness of those strategies Problem Solving and Reasoning

• Solve problems analytically by relying on math or logic, able to detect weaknesses in scientific evidence and logical arguments

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Cultural variations Gilligan’s Progression of Moral

Development

Created narratives of moral dilemmas and studied the reasoning process that people underwent when considering the problem

All possible choices have both positive and negative consequences

Classic (1969) story of Heinz and his dying wife Presented narratives to people of different ages Developed stages of moral reasoning to reflect

qualitative changes at different stages

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral ReasoningLevel 1 Preconventional

LevelPunishment and Reward

• Stage 1 Obedience Orientation

Obedience to authority

• Stage 2 Instrumental Orientation

Nice behavior in exchange for future favors

Level 2 Conventional Level Social Norms• Stage 3 Interpersonal Norms Live up to others’

expectations• Stage 4 Social System

MoralityFollow the rules to maintain order

Level 3 Postconventional Level

Moral Codes

• Stage 5 Social Contract Adhere to a social contract when it is valid

• Stage 6 Universal Ethical Principles

Personal moral system based on abstract principles

Kohlberg’s theory is very Western and reflects Judeo-Christian values not shared in all cultures, leading to different responses to moral dilemmas.

Gilligan also noted that women might have different motivations behind their moral reasoning than men.• Women = emphasis on concern for others• Men = emphasis on justice

• Stage 1: Preoccupation with one’s own needs• Stage 2: Caring for others, especially those in

need• Stage 3: Uniting of caring for others and caring

for self; caring for all

Factors that can promote more sophisticated moral reasoning: • Noticing one’s current thinking is inadequate• Observing others reasoning at a more advanced

levels• Discuss moral issues with peers, teachers,

parents• Involvement in a religious community that

connects adolescents to a network of caring peers and adults

• Not all people achieve the highest stages of moral reasoning