Many
parents do not understand why their teenagers occasionally behave in an
impulsive, irrational, or dangerous way. At times, it seems like teens don't
think things through or fully consider the consequences of their actions.
Adolescents differ from adults in the way they behave, solve problems, and make
decisions. There is a biological explanation for this difference. Studies have
shown that brains continue to mature and develop throughout childhood and
adolescence and well into early adulthood.
Scientists
have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala that
is responsible for immediate reactions including fear and aggressive behavior.
This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the
brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later.
This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.
Other
changes in the brain during adolescence include a rapid increase in the
connections between the brain cells and making the brain pathways more
effective. Nerve cells develop myelin, an insulating layer that helps cells
communicate. All these changes are essential for the development of coordinated
thought, action, and behavior.
Changing
Brains Mean that Adolescents Act Differently From Adults
Pictures
of the brain in action show that adolescents' brains work differently than
adults when they make decisions or solve problems. Their actions are guided
more by the emotional and reactive amygdala and less by the thoughtful, logical
frontal cortex. Research has also shown that exposure to drugs and alcohol
during the teen years can change or delay these developments.
Based on
the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to:
- act on impulse
- misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions
- get into accidents of all kinds
- get involved in fights
- engage in dangerous or risky behavior
Adolescents
are less likely to:
- think before they act
- pause to consider the consequences of their actions
- change their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors
These
brain differences don't mean that young people can't make good decisions or tell
the difference between right and wrong. It also doesn't mean that they
shouldn't be held responsible for their actions. However, an awareness of these
differences can help parents, teachers, advocates, and policy makers
understand, anticipate, and manage the behavior of adolescents.
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