Adolescent Development

Research Paper # 115493

Psychology > Child and Adolescent

An overview of cognitive, social, and behavioral adolescent development.

4,181 words () | 9 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the relationship of biological, cognitive, and social development during adolescence is very complex and how the process of puberty is one that involves a number of "genesis" experiences. In particular, it looks at how the onset of puberty also has important psychological effects and how the social implications that accompany physical differences are pretty severe. The paper also discusses how there are many differing theories in the regulation and ability to learn in adolescence and how cognitive regulation shows the interrelatedness of the three areas of biological, cognitive and social.

From the Paper:

"Class size and school size are both important topics. Experts agree that the ideal size of a school for an adolescent is 501-100 students (Steinberg, 208). Class size and school size, however, is supposed to have the least amount of effect on the student compared to expectations, classroom time, and teacher-student interaction (Steinberg, 219). Small class size many benefit very young students, but as children reach adolescence, the typical class size range from 20-40 doesn't appear to have any impact on learning (Steinberg, 208). There is a correlation between school size and number of activities available to the student. The more activities a student is involved in, the more sense of belongingness he/she will have. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Arnett, J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from late teen through the twenties. New York: Oxford University Press.
Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(1), 56-95.
Benedict, R. (1934) Patterns of Culture.
Duncan et al. (1985). The effects of pubertal timing on body image, school behavior, and deviance. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 14, 227-236; in Steinberg, 2008.
Ge et al. (2002). Contextual amplification of pubertal transition effects on deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior among African American children. Development Psycholgy, 38(1), 42-54; in in Steinberg, 2008.