Healthspring World Clinic
When a child grows out of childhood and enters adulthood, his thinking process is subjected to a lot of changes, depending on his stimulation, environment, opportunities and hereditary factors. Some common indicators indicating a progression from more simple to more complex cognitive development include the following:
Early adolescence
During early adolescence, the use of more complex thinking is focused on personal decision making in school and home environments, including the following:
• The early adolescent begins to demonstrate use of formal logical operations in schoolwork.
• The early adolescent begins to question authority and society standards.
• The early adolescent begins to form and verbalise his/her own thoughts and views on a variety of topics, usually more related to his/her own life, such as:
• which sports are better to play.
• which groups are better to be included in.
• what personal appearances are desirable or attractive.
• what parental rules should be changed.
Middle adolescence
With some experience in using more complex thinking processes, the focus of middle adolescent often expands to include more philosophical and futuristic concerns, including the following:
• The middle adolescent often questions more extensively.
• The middle adolescent often analyses more extensively.
• The middle adolescent thinks about and begins to form his/her own code of ethics (ie What do I think is right?).
• The middle adolescent thinks about different possibilities and begins to develop own identity (ie Who am I?).
• The middle adolescent thinks about and begins to systematically consider possible future goals (ie What do I want?).
• The middle adolescent thinks about and begins to make his/her own plans.
• The middle adolescent begins to think long term.
• The middle adolescent’s use of systematic thinking begins to influence relationships with others.
Late adolescence
During late adolescence, complex thinking processes are used to focus on less self-centred concepts as well as personal decision making, including the following:
• The late adolescent has increased thoughts about more global concepts such as justice, history, politics and patriotism.
• The late adolescent often develops idealistic views on specific topics or concerns.
• The late adolescent may debate and develop intolerance of opposing views.
• The late adolescent begins to focus thinking on making career decisions.
• The late adolescent begins to focus thinking on emerging role in adult society.
What encourages healthy cognitive development during adolescence?
The following suggestions will help encourage positive and healthy cognitive development in the adolescent:
• Include adolescents in discussions about a variety of topics, issues and current events.
• Encourage adolescents to share ideas and thoughts with you.
• Encourage adolescents to think independently and develop their own ideas.
• Assist adolescents in setting their own goals.
• Stimulate adolescents to think about possibilities of the future.
• Compliment and praise adolescents for well thought out decisions.
• Assist adolescents in re-evaluating poorly made decisions for themselves.
