The Head of the Local High School PTA Has Asked

question 55

Essay

The head of the local high school PTA has asked you about the different types of crowds the students may cluster into. She also wants to know whether (and why) rejected/unpopular adolescents are at risk for behavioral and emotional problems. Finally, she wants to know if anything can be done to help unpopular adolescents. What would you tell her?

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Definitions:

Cerebellum

A region of the brain at the back of the skull in vertebrates, crucial for motor control, coordination, precision, and timing of movements.

Temporal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

Top-Down Processing

A cognitive process that uses pre-existing knowledge or expectations to interpret and understand sensory information.

Sensory Information

Data received by the senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) that is processed by the brain.