Look for Cognitive development in adolescents - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: RESEARCH PAPER LOOK FOR COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENTS Research Paper look for Cognitive Development in Adolescents Name: Course Instructor: Date of Submission: Table of Contents Research Paper Look for Cognitive Development in Adolescents Introduction Cognitive development in human beings is one of the most interesting topics that can be studied. This is because it not only realistic but also practical because it involves observation. It was developed by the famous scholar namely Piaget who sought to find the process which the humans use in acquiring knowledge and eventually utilizing it in the aspect of their daily lives. More often than not, the initial intelligence by young people is acquired from within the family setting as Commons (2002) observes. This paper is however going to focus on the cognitive development of human in the context of teenagers with their peers. It is said that teenagers display their true character when they are comfortable and have less fear of punishment and reprisal from their parents. This is most probable when with their friends and confidants. In addition to that, the paper is going to base its interpretation based on the observations that are to be made at a cinema hall that couples up as a fast food and snack outlet. II. Description of Setting The observation took place at a popular fun zone just opposite the main highway junction that leads to various places. This zone experiences a high traffic of youngsters who converge to have fun in the movies, boutique and food court where some grab a quick pizza or French fries as they socialize. The main building faces the front of the zone and has frontal balcony where people can sit and have coffee while watching everything and everyone below. The majority of the population on a normal weekend mid-morning consists of teenagers who range from the age of thirteen to about nineteen. Because of the security of the place and the openness, it is presumed that parents can let the teenagers interact on their own without having much interference. This creates a perfect setting for research because one can observe the happenings without interfering with them. The timing is also important because in the morning, the teenagers are highly energetic but as the noon approaches, there is a lower energy display among the youngsters. The study timing was from about 11 a.m. to about 2 p.m. in the afternoon. III Observation of the Adolescent Group Number of adolescent males and females It is observed that the number of female teenagers were almost double than that of younger boys. It was also observed that more females came in pairs or as larger groups while the younger teenage bouts came with fewer or smaller groups than their female counterparts. Approximate age of adolescents or range of ages Most of the youngsters at the court were approximately in their late teens. It was hard to estimate their ages because some of them might have been in larger bodies than their actual age. It was also observed that younger teenage boys (10-13) were more than their female counterparts. However, they seemed to be in a company of someone older. Pre-pubescent or post-pubescent The prepubescent were not as much in number as their fellow counterparts especially in their teenage years. However, those who were present seemed to be very excited and were characterized by frequent fights cries and intolerable to some extent. It was also noticed that both the male and female kids at this ages were being watched by their guardians who were at the line on the food court or seated next to the observation table. It was observed that their interaction with other totally new counterparts was quite fact and it was not long before they began playing and causing trouble for everyone. The post pubescent teenagers on the other hand were more composed in behavior but seemed restless in their own way as Fieldman (2008) also writes. Frequent pacing up and down the fun zone was one off their favorite pastime. The fifteen year old boys were hanging in packs and seemed to look for things they could not find anywhere. The girls were on the other hand not as free as their male counterparts. All of them could hardly stand in the line where they could be visible by everyone in the court. Those standing in the food line court or went to the cinema were either accompanied or did so fast. Ethnicity The majority of the prepubescent were Caucasian who were accompanied by their parents. Although they were problematic, it was observed that they were left unattended by their parents who kept a close watch from a far. The least number were the Asian kids who were barely fifty. They all hanged out with their parents with little discomfort than anyone else in the court. However, the black kids were the most outgoing. Some kids of about thirteen or fourteen could be heard talking freely with one another. However, it was observed that the kids that were at the prepubescent interacted with one another freely regardless of the ethnicity. In fact, in the afternoon when most of them were tired or hungry, collaborated to make everyone shift their attention to them because of the chorus of cries they were producing. The older teenagers approximately of about 15 to 18 years of age also portrayed some characteristics worth noting. As matter of fact, they hang out with their fellow ethnic mates. Although some Caucasians interacted with African counterparts and vice versa, it was clear that the ethnic factor played a big role in the interactions. Appearance: clothing, hairstyle, earrings, piercing, tattoos, etc The majority of the adolescents and post pubescent all displayed fashion. The most notable fashion oriented teenagers were of black origin that sported expensive clothes and shoes. The tattoos were limited at that point in time but those who spotted them were female Caucasians and Black males. Hairstyles carried the day because of their fancy nature. The older males sported Mohawks and other opted for blondes. The girls of all races were notably sporting almost similar hairstyles whereby the sides of the heads were braided while the majority of the top of the head was left freely. Activity or activities the group is engaged in The three sections that the observation was to be classified were the prepubescent, the adolescents and the post adolescents who were on the fun zone. The prepubescent group was largely interested in face painting and the food that was being served. They played in unison with minimal friction with one another. The adolescents were interested in each other and the movie that was in shifts. Majority of them were hanging out with no clear intention or need to carry out. They were the best dressed regardless of the age or race. Most of their talking was based on music and some of them especially the males could be spotted mimicking popular entertainers with the expressions on the hands and faces. They were very particular on the type of the food they chose to consume with their friends. Some of them were making dangerous stunts with their bicycles and skateboards The late adolescents could be seen hanging out in couples and were more than composed. One particular couple was kissing in front of an old woman who was probably in her seventies. Although she left quietly, it was business as usual with the two. All this observations were made in a period of three and half hours. Once the movie time was over, still some of the teenagers were hanging out in the court and talking in parts while the very little ones were being taken away. The non-verbal body language amongst the teenagers indicted they could interact in a more personal way had they not been in an open place. I V. Interpretation Physical Development These were the most notable features that any ken observer could see. The children just before puberty were smaller in size and had no facial hair. Most of them were speaking in the soprano voice and it was hard to differentiate between a boy and girl without looking at them physically a point noted by Cherry (2012). However, the physical features for girls were beginning to show in some girls. Several little girls approximately of twelve to thirteen years of age were beginning tom show signs of breasts and other female features. It was also noted that some of them were trying to hide them because of their perception of embarrassment by the society. For their male counterparts, a little bit of facial hair was beginning to grow and they kept touching and stoking their little chins or show off their friends. It was a contrast since the girls were not particularly showing signs of pride in their bodily development. One interesting thing that was noted is that girls who were at this age were taller than their male counterparts were. Their body sizes were much bigger than the boys of the same age and could have confused them to be age older. It was also very interestingly noted that the food of choice for most of these kids was fast food and snacks that are notably with high sugar content. The observation contradicts with the recommendations of the health practitioners who advocate for proper balanced diet amongst these youngsters (Shaffer, 2004). This is why unfortunately the majority of the children under observation were overweight. For the older and late adolescents, their clothes and other physical dimensions were less flamboyant and their choice of activity indicated the lesser aggression than their little counterparts just as Commons (2002) also notes. However so, these were only observations made at a span of two hours and might not be constant. Cognitive Development The observation that was made was in line with the cognitive development that was being taught by Jean Piaget. This is because the intellectual development could be studied and quantified amongst these youngsters. He teaches that intelligence is both in the figurative and operative positions (Shaffer, 2004). The operative intelligence is the one which is active and represent how the young mind understands the world and what the interests are in the mind. The figurative on the other hand represents perceptions and mental imagery which the teenagers are able to create in their own world. This is why he sums up his theory with the two aspects of accommodation and assimilations of ideas by the mind. The observations which were made also confirmed the operational stages which Piaget breaks down to show the growth and development of the intelligence that the youngsters and the other growing adults show at each point (Fieldman, 2008). The very young adolescents seemed to be okay with everything and their actions were driven by instincts. This is why there were occasional cries and fights amongst the ten year olds. The operational stages teenagers and the other older kids were able to compose themselves and dint show aggressiveness as the younger ones did. The 7-11 year olds who are in the concrete operational stage or the prepubescent stage demonstrated a primary level of using logic in their actions Cherry (2012). It is through this that they interacted easily with the other ethnic and racial kids with minimal judgment or fear of reprisal. This was unlike the early adolescents who were crowding in their own turf because of the stereotypes that they might have heard from the rest of the society. The older teenagers had a more intense interaction with not only their gender but on the aspects of the opposite sex. Psychosocial & Social Emotional Developmental The observation among the young teenagers especially on the psychological needs was very interesting. This is because of the fact that it was observed that some teenagers seemed to be either too restless or too dormant at a particular point in time. Erikson teaches that at this point in time of a teenager’s life they experience a whirlwind of emotions such as autonomy versus shame and doubt, identity versus role confusion (Commons, 2002). Through this the stability of intelligence and self worth is achieved as time passes by. This is the psychological and emotional journey that any teenager passes through. On the other hand, Kohlberg talked about moral development and the growth of behavior on the human beings. One notable aspect that was observed in the court was the young couple fondling explicitly in the presence of a grand old lady. They felt no urge to stop or look for privacy. They were evidently in the Kohlberg’s pre-conventional stage of self-interest and little regard for others opinion. To them the old lady dint matter by then because of the fact the fact that despite of the advanced age they dint save the sight for her. V. Conclusion The observations were conducted in an open mini-park which is a popular weekend site for teenager. It is at this point that various observations were made in a span of two hours but taught a lot about the development of teenagers based on theories that have been fronted. The interpretations were surprisingly accurate according to Piaget, Kohlberg and Eriksson teachings on the stages of cognitive developments in adolescents. Ultimately, human beings have an interesting way of growing and development both in physical and moral standings. This is why it is only responsible for guardians to understand these happenings. References Commons, M.L. (2002). Organizing Components into Combinations: How Stage Transition Works Journal of Adult Development, (9) 3 pp. 34. Shaffer, R. (2004). Social and Personality Development New York: Wadsworth Publishing. Cherry, K.(2012). Personality Development: Major Theories of Personality Development Retrieved 12 March 2012 from . Fieldman, R, S. (2008). Adolescence In The Family Context. Boston: Pearson VII. Appendix: Observation Log Gathering place Fun Park, Sunday 10 March 2012, 11 am-2 pm Number of observed About 50 Age 10-19 years Ethnicity Asian ,Caucasian, Black Appearance Fashionable, Updated, bold Activity Interactions by the movie stand, food court, socializing Communication Verbal and non-verbal Interaction outside group Relatively positive Interaction in group Very positive Risky behavior Risky Bike stunts Read More