6/20/2017 AdolescentCognitiveDevelopment

(https://www.mentalhelp.net)

Disorders & Issues (/articles/) > Child Development Theory: Adolescence (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/child-development-theory-adolescence/)

Adolescent Cognitive Development

ANGELA OSWALT, MSW (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/CONTRIBUTORS/OSWALT/) NOV 17, 2010

While physical development is easily measured with simple tools such as a scale or a tape measure, other
developmental dimensions are more difficult to quantify. In order to identify, describe, and measure the cognitive,
moral, emotional and social aspects of adolescent growth, a number of developmental theories have proven to be
useful for this purpose. This article will focus its discussion on the most widely-accepted theories of child
development, but the discussion is necessarily limited to the portions of these theories that are specific to
adolescent development. The reader may find it helpful to review a more detailed and thorough discussion of each of
these theories which can be found in the Introduction to Child Development article
(https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/an-overview-of-child-development-theories/).

These more abstract developmental dimensions (cognitive, moral, emotional, and social dimensions) are not only
more subtle and difficult to measure, but these developmental areas are also difficult to tease apart from one
another due to the inter-relationships among them. For instance, our cognitive maturity will influence the way we
understand a particular event or circumstance, which will in turn influence our moral judgments about it, and our
emotional responses to it. Similarly, our moral code and emotional maturity influence the quality of our social
relationships with others. But perhaps the most complex and inter-related area of development is sexual
development which is actually a complete merger of the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and moral aspects of
development. Therefore, adolescent development is a multi-faceted, complex, systemic process. While it is
necessary to discuss these developmental areas separately, the reader is encouraged to recognize the inter-
relationships among the various dimensions of development.

Previous Article (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/perspiration-acne-and-oily-skin/)

Perspiration, Acne And Oily Skin

Next Article (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/jean-piaget-s-theory-of-cognitive-development/)

Jean Piaget's Theory Of Cognitive Development

https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/adolescentcognitivedevelopment/ 1/4
6/20/2017 AdolescentCognitiveDevelopment

Pick a Rehab

SELECT YOUR STATE

Viewing Topic

Child Development Theory: Adolescence Resources

Basic Information

INTRODUCTION TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORY: ADOLESCENCE

Overview (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/an-introduction-to-adolescent-development/)
Main Theories (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/an-overview-of-adolescent-development/)

Cognitions (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/overview-of-adolescent-development-part-ii/)

Morality (https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/overview-of-adolescent-development-part-iii/)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

GENDER IDENTITY & SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

CONCLUSION & REFERENCES

Questions & Answers

Blog Entries

Latest News

Related Topics

CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT: OVERVIEW (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/CHILD-ADOLESCENT-DEVELOPMENT-

OVERVIEW/)

CHILDHOOD MENTAL DISORDERS AND ILLNESSES (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/CHILDHOOD-MENTAL-DISORDERS-AND-

ILLNESSES/)

https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/adolescentcognitivedevelopment/ 2/4
6/20/2017 AdolescentCognitiveDevelopment

INTERNET ADDICTION AND MEDIA ISSUES (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/INTERNET-ADDICTION-AND-MEDIA-ISSUES/)

PARENTING (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/PARENTING/)

LEARNING DISORDERS (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/LEARNING-DISORDERS/)

CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/CHILDHOOD-SPECIAL-EDUCATION/)

CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT: PUBERTY (HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/CHILD-ADOLESCENT-DEVELOPMENT-

PUBERTY/)

Featured Disorders & Issues

ADDICTIONS

MENTAL DISORDERS

MEDICAL DISORDERS

WELLNESS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

LIFE ISSUES

HEALTHCARE

TREATMENTS & INTERVENTIONS

LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT

https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/adolescentcognitivedevelopment/ 3/4
6/20/2017 AdolescentCognitiveDevelopment

Need Addiction Treatment?

Find top rehab centers and providers nationwide:

Enter Your Zip

ZIP CODE GO

(HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET)

COPYRIGHT 1995-2015 CENTERSITE, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

COPYRIGHT 2017 MENTALHELP.NET, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT BY STATE

CONTACT US (/CONTACT-US/)

TERMS OF SERVICE (/TERMS-OF-USE/)

PRIVACY POLICY (/PRIVACY-POLICY/)

https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/adolescentcognitivedevelopment/ 4/4