PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 4 SECTION 2 NOTES

Formal Operations (Piaget)- adolescences start thinking like an adult in the sense of answering hypothetical questions. “What if…” Understanding this allows the adolescence to understand abstract principles and deal with analogies and metaphors. Rationalization- a process where an individual seeks to explain an emotion or behavior in a way that will preserve their self-esteem. Being able to think about why you failed a test

Looking back on Kohlberg's stages of Moral Development, a lot of people never get past stage 4 – Law and Order (establish authority). If they do reach stage 5 they are concerned with if the law is fair because they feel that laws must change as the world changes. Individuals who reach stage 6 have the same thought process in questioning if the law is fair, but they feel that moral laws are much more important than a written law. Moral development depends on multiple factors such as the relationship an adolescence has with their parents. College = More moral development

Erickson’s theory of the identity crisis Identity Crisis- a period of inner conflict during which adolescents worry intensely about who they are. Physiological changes, cognitive development, the opposite sex It’s an inner conflict between being unique and fitting in. Adolescents need to organize their life in an acceptable way to society but still need to express their self. Role confusion Self-conscious