Child Psychology Research Paper

Adolescent development is a time of great vulnerability to the addictive nature of social media. Growing up is a complicated process. There is no specific time a child becomes an adult, rather, it is a smooth and gradual process of observations, failures, and the consequential lessons learned. During this time, the mind is constantly ascribing value and meaning to subjects, people, and ideas. It is the way people value these things which creates perception of the world. These perceptions are subject to fluctuation during this crucial time. One example of this is shown in the desire to seek reward. According to research discussed in “Child Psychology: A Handbook of Contemporary Issues” reward-seeking behavior is at an all time high during adolescence.
Neural scientists have discovered that the parts of the brain that are responsible for reward sensitivity develop much sooner in a child than the areas responsible for cognitive control (Tamis-Lemonda 282). This would make sense considering a child's natural inclination to positive reinforcement. Many elementary schools encourage their teachers to use forms of reward to control their classroom rather than punishments. This pattern of brain development causes children to be extremely sensitive to reward based activities and the associated sensation. Reward is an interesting sensation.
It can be attained through numerous different activities. Dopamine is a key chemical in the human body's process of reward sensation. This chemical release can be measured by neuroscientists through brain monitoring equipment. Though there is some debate over the degree to which dopamine is involved in the chemical process of reward, it is a widely known and accepted fact that during the sensation of reward, the human body produces excess amounts of dopamine (Berridge 4). Dr. Berridge, head of Psychology at University of Michigan, concluded “dopamine may more directly mediate reward ‘wanting’ than either ‘liking’ or learning about the same rewards”(Berridge 10). Dopamine is also almost synonymous with drug use and has been identified as one of the main causes of addiction. This is understandable in light of Dr. Berridge's claim that dopamine has to do with the ‘wanting’ of reward. This does not mean that every reward a person receives is susceptible to become addicting. But there is an undeniable correlation between reward sensation and addiction. The human brain responds similarly to both addictive drug use and rewarding tasks. Reward can manifest itself in many different ways. From a lollipop at the doctor's office to a sticker on a report card; rewards in a child's life are everywhere. Perhaps the most sought after reward though, is that of peer
endorsement.