In January 2002, a 15-year-old boy stole a small private plane and crashed it into a building. How typical is this type of extreme behavior in adolescents? Are most teenagers angry and unhappy?
What are the three kinds of problems that are more common during adolescence than they were in childhood, or will be in adulthood?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
• The media love sensational stories about teenagers who are angry, violent, live in emotional turmoil, feel lonely, have low self-esteem, and are running wild sexually. Studies show that most teenagers are happy, have a sense of purpose and self-confidence, have good friends, and have good coping skills.
• A small minority are seriously troubled, angry, or unhappy.
• Three kinds of problems, however, are more common during adolescence than during childhood or adulthood:
o conflict with parents,
o mood swings and depression, and
o higher rates of reckless, rule-breaking, and risky behavior.
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With electronic communication
a. there is less opportunity for miscommunication b. trust is greater c. communication is less efficient d. users can heighten their number of social contacts
Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits of feeling a sense of guilt?
A) It can encourage the person to think about the consequences of his or her actions. B) It can lead to a sense of shame. C) It can help the person learn positive strategies for coping with anger. D) It can motivate people to make amends.