Adolescent Psychology Course

Lesson 1 • Major Developmental Theories Overview

Surveys Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bronfenbrenner as applied to adolescence. Provides theoretical lenses used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Research Methods in Adolescent Psychology

Introduces longitudinal, cross-sectional, and mixed-methods designs used in adolescent research. Equips students to critically evaluate empirical claims throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Biopsychosocial Model Applied to Teens

Applies the biopsychosocial framework to explain adolescent outcomes as products of interacting systems. Sets the integrative lens used in all applied chapters.

Lesson 1 • Physical Changes and Body Image

Describes secondary sex characteristics, growth spurts, and their psychological impact on self-concept. Connects physical change to identity and peer dynamics covered later.

Lesson 2 • Adolescent Brain Development

Examines prefrontal cortex maturation, limbic system activity, and synaptic pruning during adolescence. Explains the neurological basis for impulsivity and emotional reactivity.

Lesson 3 • Hormonal Mechanisms of Puberty

Explains the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and its role in triggering pubertal change. Grounds later discussions of mood and risk behaviour in endocrine science.

Lesson 1 • Social Cognition and Perspective-Taking

Analyses theory of mind advances, imaginary audience, and personal fable phenomena in teens. Bridges cognitive development to social behaviour and peer relationship chapters.

Lesson 2 • Metacognition and Critical Thinking

Examines adolescents' growing ability to think about their own thinking and evaluate arguments. Connects metacognitive skill to academic achievement and autonomous decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Formal Operational Thinking

Details Piaget's formal operations stage, including hypothetical-deductive reasoning and propositional logic. Establishes the cognitive baseline for understanding adolescent academic and moral reasoning.

Lesson 4 • Executive Function and Self-Regulation

Covers working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility as they mature during adolescence. Links executive function deficits to academic struggles and risk behaviour.

Lesson 1 • Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion

Deepens understanding of the fifth psychosocial stage, including the role of exploration and commitment. Provides the foundational framework for all identity-related sections.

Lesson 2 • Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Examines development of gender identity, sexual orientation, and their intersection with adolescent well-being. Equips practitioners to provide affirming, evidence-based support.

Lesson 3 • Self-Esteem and Self-Concept Dynamics

Analyses trajectories of self-esteem across adolescence and factors that stabilise or destabilise self-concept. Connects self-esteem to mental health outcomes addressed in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Marcia's Identity Status Model

Applies Marcia's four statuses—diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, achievement—to real-world cases. Enables practitioners to classify and respond to adolescent identity positions.

Lesson 1 • Cliques, Crowds, and Social Hierarchies

Describes the structure and function of cliques and crowds, including popularity and social status. Prepares students to interpret school social dynamics and bullying contexts.

Lesson 2 • Peer Influence Mechanisms

Distinguishes peer pressure from peer socialisation and examines susceptibility factors. Grounds risk-behaviour discussions in accurate models of peer influence.

Lesson 3 • Friendship Quality and Intimacy

Examines dimensions of friendship quality—loyalty, intimacy, conflict—and their developmental functions. Links friendship quality to emotional regulation and identity exploration.

Lesson 4 • Bullying, Victimisation, and Cyberbullying

Covers prevalence, typologies, and psychological consequences of bullying and online harassment. Equips practitioners with evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Lesson 1 • Autonomy, Conflict, and Individuation

Analyses the normative increase in parent-adolescent conflict and its role in healthy individuation. Prepares practitioners to distinguish healthy conflict from dysfunctional family patterns.

Lesson 2 • Parenting Styles and Adolescent Outcomes

Applies Baumrind's typology—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved—to adolescent adjustment. Establishes the parenting framework referenced throughout applied chapters.

Lesson 3 • Attachment Theory in Adolescence

Extends Bowlby and Ainsworth's attachment framework to adolescent-parent and peer relationships. Links attachment security to identity, mental health, and romantic outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Diverse Family Structures and Contexts

Examines outcomes for adolescents in single-parent, blended, adoptive, and same-sex parent families. Equips students to avoid deficit framing and identify protective family processes.

Lesson 1 • Substance Use: Patterns and Prevention

Examines prevalence trends, gateway hypotheses, and neurological impact of substance use in teens. Equips students with evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Adolescent Risk-Taking

Applies dual-systems theory and sensation-seeking models to explain normative and problematic risk behaviour. Provides the theoretical base for all risk-specific sections.

Lesson 3 • Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents

Covers diagnostic criteria, prevalence, gender differences, and treatment approaches for adolescent mood disorders. Prepares students to recognise symptoms and facilitate appropriate referrals.

Lesson 4 • Self-Harm and Suicidality

Distinguishes non-suicidal self-injury from suicidal behaviour and covers risk assessment protocols. Equips practitioners with crisis response and safety planning competencies.

Lesson 1 • Evidence-Based Intervention Selection

Guides selection of empirically supported treatments matched to presenting problems and developmental level. Equips students to justify intervention choices using research evidence.

Lesson 2 • Case Conceptualisation Frameworks

Applies cognitive-behavioural, systemic, and developmental frameworks to construct adolescent case formulations. Bridges assessment data to targeted intervention planning.

Lesson 3 • Ethics and Confidentiality with Minors

Addresses consent, assent, confidentiality limits, and mandatory reporting obligations in adolescent practice. Ensures students can navigate ethical dilemmas with legal and professional integrity.

Lesson 4 • Culturally Responsive Practice

Applies cultural humility, intersectionality, and culturally adapted interventions to adolescent work. Ensures equitable, effective practice across diverse adolescent populations.