Explanation:
The brain's frontal lobe is responsible for many higher cognitive functions, including impulse control, decision-making, judgment, and critical-thinking skills. During adolescence, the frontal lobe undergoes significant development and maturation, which can impact these abilities. This period of brain development can also make teenagers more susceptible to risk-taking behavior, as they may not fully understand the consequences of their actions.
Explanation:
The symptoms described in the statement are consistent with mood-congruent psychotic features, a type of specifier used in diagnosing mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder. When an individual with depression experiences psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that are consistent with the typical themes of their depression (such as personal inadequacy, guilt, disease, death, nihilism, or deserved punishment), they are said to have mood-congruent psychotic features. This specifier is important because it can impact treatment approaches and medication selection.
Explanation:
According to Lawrence Kohlberg's theory, the first stage of moral development is the pre-conventional stage, typically observed in young children. Children make decisions based on avoiding punishment or seeking rewards in this stage. So a child who refrains from stealing a cookie out of fear of punishment is exhibiting behavior characteristic of this stage.
Explanation:
The statement refers to the time frame for the diagnostic criteria for Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), also known as dysthymia. Criterion A for PDD requires that an individual experience a depressed mood most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years (or one year for children and adolescents). This mood disturbance must not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode during the first two years of the disorder. In addition to the persistent depressed mood, individuals with PDD may experience other symptoms, such as low self-esteem, poor appetite or overeating, insomnia or hypersomnia, low energy or fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and hopelessness.
Explanation:
According to the activation-synthesis theory of dreams, dreams are a result of the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity that occurs during sleep. This theory suggests that during REM sleep (the stage where most dreaming occurs), the brainstem sends random signals to the cortex responsible for processing sensory information. Suppose the parts of the brain associated with hunger are active during sleep. In that case, it is more likely that the cortex will generate images and experiences related to food, such as a big juicy cheeseburger. Therefore, the activation-synthesis theory would suggest that if these parts of the brain are active during sleep, there is a higher likelihood that you will dream about food or other related experiences.
Explanation:
The personal fable is a term used in psychology to describe a belief commonly observed in adolescence: the belief that our feelings and experiences are unique and not experienced by others. Adolescents may believe that their experiences are so unique that others cannot possibly understand them, and this belief can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation or loneliness. The personal fable is thought to arise from the egocentrism characteristic of adolescence, as teenagers struggle to balance their desire for independence and self-expression with their need for acceptance and belonging.
Explanation:
During non-REM (NREM) sleep, the brain exhibits a characteristic pattern of activity that includes brief bursts of electrical activity called "sleep spindles." Sleep spindles are brief (about 1-2 seconds long) bursts of high-frequency (10-16 Hz) brain waves during Stage 2 of NREM sleep. Sleep spindles are thought to play a role in memory consolidation and protection of sleep, as they can help to block external sensory stimuli and prevent sleep disruption. The frequency and duration of sleep spindles can vary across individuals and can also change depending on age, sleep stage, and other factors.
