adolescent cognitive development 1

In this unit, you had a chance to learn about how the adolescent brain develops. Apply what you have learned to one of the possible decisions faced by adolescents below:

• Whether or not to engage in sexual activity with a dating partner.
• Whether or not to drink alcohol.
• Whether or not to cheat on an assignment.
• Whether or not to get a summer job.
• Whether or not to get into a physical fight.

For your chosen topic, address the following:

• Describe the factors that influence an adolescent’s cognitive development and decision-making processes.
  • Include relationship, cultural, and environmental factors.
• Identify the biological and cognitive perspectives of adolescent development.
  • Describe how the biological and cognitive perspective would explain an adolescent’s decision making.
• Identify family patterns that may influence cognitive development.
  • Describe how family patterns might explain an adolescent’s cognitive development and decision making.

Submission Requirements

• Communication: Apply critical thinking and communication skills concerning adolescent psychology in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful.
  • Use higher order thinking skills that go beyond simply summarizing issues.
  • Your writing should contain no grammatical or spelling errors.
• Resources: Be sure to support the paper with concepts from your assigned reading. Include at least two peer-reviewed, scholarly resources, which are no more than five years old.
• APA Guidelines: Use current edition APA style and formatting for your writing and references.
  • Cite course materials and supplemental journal articles using APA style in-text references and a reference list.
  • Consult study resources to help you in writing and formatting your paper.
• Length: Your paper should be 2–3 pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages.
• Size and Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.