Adolescent egocentrism
A characteristic of adolescent thinking that leads young people (ages 10 - 13) to focus on themselves to the exclusion of others.
Rumination
To think obsessively about something, perhaps to the point that a past experience or current fantasy captures the mind, making further action difficult
Imaginary audience
The other people who, in an adolescents egocentric belief, are watching and taking note of their appearance, ideas, and behaviour. This belief makes many teenagers very self-conscious.
Personal fable
An aspect of adolescent egocentrism characterized by an adolescents belief that that their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are unique, more wonderful, or more awful than anyone else’s
Invincibility fable
An adolescents egocentric conviction that they cannot be overcome or even harmed by anything that might defeat a normal mortal, such as unprotected sex, drug abuse, or high speed driving.
Formal operational thought
In Piaget’s theory, the fourth and final stage of dignities development, characterized by more systemic logical thinking, and by the ability to understand and systematically manipulate abstract concepts.
Hypothetical thought
Reasoning that includes propositions and possibilities that may not reflect reality
Deductive reasoning
Reasoning from a general statement, premise, or principle, through logical steps, to figure out (deduce) specifics. (Also called top down reasoning)
Inductive reasoning
Reasoning from one or more specific experiences or facts to reach (induce) a general conclusion. (Also called bottom-up reasoning)
Dual processing
The notion that two networks exist within the human brain, one for emotional processing of stimuli and one for analytical reasoning.
Intuitive thought
Thought that arises from an emotion or a hunch, beyond rational explanation, and is influenced by past experiences and cultural assumptions.
Analytic thought
Thought that results from analysis, such as systemic ranking possibilities and facts. Analytic thought depends on logic and rationality.
Secondary education
Literally, the period after primary education (elementary or grade school) and before tertiary education (college) it usually occurs from about ages 12 to 18, although there is some variation by school and nation.
High stakes test
An evaluation that is critical in determining success or failure. If a single test determines whether a student will graduate or be promoted, it is a high stakes test.
Stereotype threat
The thought a person has that one’s appearance or behaviour will be misread to confirm another persons oversimplified, prejudiced attitudes.
Growth mindset
An approach to understanding intelligence that holds that intelligence grows incrementally, and thus can be increased by effort. Those who subscribe to this view believe they can master whatever they seek to learn if they pay attention, participate in class, study, complete their homework, and so on.
Fixed mindset
An approach to understanding intelligence that sees ability as an innate entity, a fixed quantity present at birth. Those who hold this view do not believe that effort enhances achievement.
