Critical thinking questions

Your answers to these kinds of questions demonstrate an ability to comprehend and apply ideas discussed in this chapter.

1. What is science? How does a scientific understanding of life-span development differ from an understanding produced by everyday experiences with people of various ages?

2. Discuss what factors influence your selection of a method for scientifically collecting data about life-span development?

3. Compare the psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Erikson, the Piagetian concepts of organization, adaptation, assimilation, and accommodation.

4. Discuss the ethological and the ecological theories. Explain the meaning of an eclectic theoretical orientation to child development.

5. Compare correlational and experimental strategies for research in life-span development. What do you gain and lose by using a correlational rather than experimental strategy in research?

6. What precautions must be taken to safeguard the rights and welfare of a person who might be a psychological subject? Relate each precaution to a specific ethical concern in your answer.

Ex.1. Skim over the text and give your comments on its ideas.

Managing Teen Emotions

recently – недавно

adept at – эксперт, знаток

recognize – узнавать, распознавать

deceptive – обманчивый, вводящий в заблуждение

August 2007 Research from the University of Illinois published recently in Child Development has found that teenagers can learn to manage powerful emotions and gain insight into the processes involved.

Reed Larson, professor of family ecology said:

"There's a stereotype that teens don't manage their emotions, their emotions manage them. But this study showed that, in an atmosphere of trust and support, teens can become adept at identifying their emotions, learn to recognize the tricks emotions play on people, and begin to understand not only how to control their emotions, but to use them in positive ways."

Researchers found that at the same time participants learned that emotions can be used to manipulate, hard to interpret, deceptive and bias responses in ways that confuse adults as much as teens.

Many reported that one of the most important skills learned from the program was how to restrain negative reactions. Many learned how to use positive emotion. The study found that participants learned the benefits of controlling positive and negative emotions.

Participants also realized that their negative emotions could be transmitted to others.

Reed Larson said it was more difficult for parents to promote the emotional growth of their teenagers.

Reed Larson concluded:

"In any adult work setting, people are dealing with feelings about success or failure, coping with jealousy, and navigating all the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, many adults express their emotions in destructive ways. If you've learned to manage your emotions as a teenager, you're way ahead of the game."

http://www.ACIforEntrepreneurs.com.

Questions:

1. Can teenagers learn to manage powerful emotions and gain insight into the processes involved?

2. What did Reed Larson say about parents?

3. Can people manipulate their emotions?

4. Do you know any ways of controlling your emotions?