What changes often occur in an adolescent's religious development?
What will be an ideal response?
Students' answers may vary.
More so than in childhood, adolescents think abstractly, idealistically, and logically. The increase in abstract thinking lets adolescents consider various ideas about religious and spiritual concepts. For example, an adolescent might ask how a loving God can possibly exist given the extensive suffering of many people in the world.
During adolescence, especially in late adolescence and the college years, identity development becomes a central focus. In Erik Erikson's (1968) theory, as part of their search for identity, adolescents begin to grapple in more sophisticated, logical ways with such questions as "Why am I on this planet?" "Is there really a God or higher spiritual being, or have I just been believing what my parents and the church imprinted in my mind?" and "What really are my religious views?"
In general, adults tend to adopt the religious teachings of their upbringing. Adolescents who have a positive relationship with their parents, or are securely attached to them, are likely to adopt their parents' religious affiliation. But when conflict or insecure attachment characterizes parent-adolescent relationships, adolescents may seek a religious affiliation that is different from their parents'.
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Judy DeLoache's study of symbolism in preconceptual children used this experimental task:
a. using a scale model to show where a toy is hidden. b. asking the child to verbally describe what was seen. c. having the child act out a police officer's role. d. having the child draw sketches of people in work uniforms.
How can we best summarize the outcomes of sex reassignment surgery?
A) Most reports for post-operative adjustment suggest that individuals are rarely happy with their bodies, even after surgery. B) Most reports for post-operative adjustment are positive. C) There are too few reports of post-operative adjustment for us to know how effective sex reassignment surgery is for individuals' well being. D) Outcomes are generally more positive for male-to-female than female-to-male individuals.
Which of the following is a major risk factor for an individual's development into becoming an adolescence-limited offender?
A) A history of aggressive childhood behavior B) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder C) Poor parenting D) Poverty
Which of the following defines race?
What will be an ideal response?