COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENTS.

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Cognition is a gradual process of developing necessary attributes of life, like judgment and evaluation, reasoning and computation, problem solving and decision making etc theough knowledge, experiance and thoughts.

Social deveopment refers gradual process of developong proper underatanding of social relations and capability to differntiate between them.Example, ability to differentiate between family and friends etc

Volumetric and functional imaging techniques show that the adolescent brain undergoes subtle structural changes and differential growth. Though the exact implications of these changes are largely unknown, these probably indicate the
re-organizational or accommodating effort of brain paralleling the multifold increase in its functional capabilities.

Early phase: The 'concrete thinking model' of childhood persists into early adolescence, where the concepts are perceived more 'literally'. Teens are impulsive and have limited ability to perceive future implications of their current behavior-it means that at any particular point of time, whatever is an adolescents state of mind, he/she will perform actibity according to that state without thinking for consequences of act.
They prefer same sex peers. Many are excessively conscious of other people's concerns about their appearance and actions- if anybody critisizes any physical feature, one gets curious and want instant change like hair style, clothes etc.
Curiosity about sexual anatomy and comparison with peers is common during this stage.

Mid-phase: This phase is marked by emotional autonomy. The youth starts to think beyond self and there is beginning of abstract reasoning. They are now able to question and analyze. If they met any situation they try to analyse pros and cons of different aolutions which enter their minds.
This is the time when they tend to have detachment from family. Acceptance by the peer group becomes very important. Sexual experimentation such as masturbation usually starts at this age. Some may indulge in illegal sexual activities and may get infected.
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Late phase. By this time, most of the pubertal changes are already achieved. Moral values and strong self identity are now established. They are now able to suppress impulsivity and are less affected by peer pressure.** it means that they develop critical analysis skill.They are able to anticipate the situatiin. Personal relations become more important than the peer group**.The youth becomes career oriented and starts short and long term planning

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[Sources](Nelson's Textbook of reigns] [GHAI's textbook of pediatrics]

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