There are many mitigating factors both psychologically and biologically that play a concurrent role in an adolescents’ life. Despite all the new scientific research, "Inside the Teenage Brain" suggests that there is a consensus among experts that the most beneficial thing for teenagers is good relationships with their parents (Dr Jay Giedd, Frontline). The inside the teenage brain article focused on the biological changes a young teenager goes through. Developmental psychologist and health professionals have categorized adolescent into three stages: early, middle, and late (Greenberg, Bruess, & Conklin, 2007, p. 494). In early adolescents from 9 to 15 years, children’s growth and physical development accelerates and children must adjust to psychological and social changes, family and other adults (Greenberg, Bruess, & Conklin, 2007, p. 495). Through early adolescence conflict peaks at pubertal changes and this tends to disrupt child parent relations. Researchers believe this is due in part from rapid growth in the frontal cortex of teenagers (Frontline, 2002). Young teenagers seek ...
Paul Thompson in the article “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains” claims that a teenager is not an adult and should not be treated as one. Thompson supports his claim by first explaining about the research his group has done. He then describes the results of the research by stating, “But what really caught our eye was a massive loss of brain tissue that occurs in the teenage years… are only being lost in the areas controlling impulses, risk-taking and self-control”(Paragraph 7). This means that during the teenage years, those part of the brain are vastly immature. Lastly, the author explains that during this reshaping of the brain, it does not remove their accountability. He also states, “While research on brain-tissue loss can help understand
While being a teenager, physical and mental development occur. During this time of mental development, the introduction of new emotions, habits, problems
The main point of this article is to try and understand why teenagers behave like they do. As an adult trying to understand what is going through a teenager’s brain it is almost overwhelming. Watching them do things that they know could cause severe injury and not seem to have a care in the world. What is it that makes a teenager act the way they do? Do they not care if they get hurt?
Steinberg, Laurence & Morris, Amanda Sheffield. “Adolescent Development.” Annual Review of Psychology, (Annual 2001): 83-110. [E Journal]
Adolescence is a time when many teenagers are struggling to determine where they fit in the world. No longer a child, but not yet an adult, issues surrounding the decisions and rights of adolescents prove to be a difficult subject to tackle. Adolescents are gradually awarded various privileges such as the right to drive, smoke, and drink, meaning there is no clear defining moment when an adolescent is fully considered an adult. Because of this, research on adolescent brain development should be heavily considered when resolving issues surrounding the well being of adolescents.
In 2007, Scientific American Mind published an article by Robert Epstein. In his article, Epstein raised the question of whether the teenage brain caused turmoil, or if turmoil shaped the brain. The author began by explaining a discredited theory that haunts teenagers today. It began in 1904 with G. Stanley Hall’s observation of adolescents who were left on the streets due to mass migration and immigration during the industrial revolution. Hall attributed the turmoil he observed to recapitulation, a biological theory in which adolescence mirrors the "savage, pigmoid" stage of evolutionary development (Epstein 2007).
Throughout our life, it can be marked by developmental changes in every domain of life: our physical, cognitive, social, personalities, and morals. Due to some important researchers such as Erickson, Freud, Piaget we are able to understand the development of each of these domains. Each stage of it’s life has it’s own difficulties and events that can determine a person’s life (Mogler, 2008). During the stages of adolescence, they are very vulnerable to a lot going on in their life such as fitting in, peers, family, school, activities, and society, and not to forget the ups and downs of puberty. Adolescence can be viewed as a huge part of many children’s lives where in this part of their life they try to find teenagers experience physical, cognitive,
As children, we depend greatly on our parents to satisfy our basic needs, for guidance, nurturance and for help in shaping our emotions, behaviors and relationships. For children, the family is a highly valued context for understanding and interpreting their development as individuals. As Bjorklund and Pelligrini (2001) have asserted, we are a “slow-developing, big-brained species”, the relatively large size of our brains demands a prolonged period of immaturity, therefore requiring a great deal of support and nurturance from parents (DeLoache, J., Eisenberg, N., Siegler, R. 2011). However, an adaptive consequence to this extended immaturity is our high level of neural plasticity and our ability to learn from experience. Growing up in a stable environment can undoubtedly reap successful development for children on many levels, just as living in an unstable environment will certainly allow for undesirable consequences. Despite great individual differences, research from psychologists such as Erik Erikson and Sigmund Freud, among others allows us to organize and understand the affects of long lasting parental conflict on child development and family. Research has allowed a strong shot at understanding child development, allowing parental conflict to be observed and connected with the development of children across many aspects. It is largely the differences between socioeconomic status, culture, race, gender and level of conflict, support and resiliency, which directly affect children and other relatives over time.
“Parenting is both a biological and a social process” Lerner, Castellino, Terry, Villarruel & McKinney (1995); Tobach & Schneirla(1968) states that…(as cited in Lerner & Brennan). Parents can develop and bring about positive influences in the behavioral and mental development of their children through appropriate parenting. The role of parents is of fundamental importance for the healthy growth of children. Research has revealed that adolescence periods can be broken down into three stages such as a) early adolescence (from approximately age 10 – 13) b) middle adolescence (ages 14 - 17) and c) late adolescence (ages 18 22), (Kopko). Parenting during adolescence is crucial as the child normally undergoes significant mental, social emotional
Parenting is both a biological and a social process” Lerner, Castellino, Terry, Villarruel & McKinney (1995); Tobach & Schneirla(1968) states that…(as cited in Lerner & Brennan). Parents can develop and bring about positive influences in the behavioral and mental development of their children through appropriate parenting. The role of parents is of fundamental importance for the healthy growth of children. Research has revealed that adolescence periods can be broken down into three stages such as a) early adolescence (from approximately age 10 – 13) b) middle adolescence (ages 14 - 17) and c) late adolescence (ages 18 22), (Kopko). Parenting during adolescence is crucial as the child normally undergoes significant mental, social, emotional and physical changes during these stages. The objective of this research paper is to establish how positive parenting style enhances the development of a child’s mental, social and discipline.
During adolescence emotional reactivity is heightened, and the social environment is changing as adolescents spend more time with their peers than adults (Casey, 2008). To an adolescent, the value of positive information, as well as negative information may be exaggerated which leads to greater emotional reactivity and sensitivity during this growth period (Casey, 2008). This can heighten the incidence of addiction and the onset of psychological disorders (Casey, 2008). There are various theories that attempt to explain why adolescents engage in risky behaviour. One of these theories by Yurgelun-Todd stems from human adolescent brain development, and proposes that cognitive development during the adolescent period is associated with increasingly superior efficiency of cognitive control and affective modulation (Casey, 2008). This theory also suggest...
In today’s society, it seems everyone has something to complain about. Some may be an irritable co-worker, a misjudgment in timing, or just a bad cup of coffee. Adolescents, however, are molded by the very environment they live in. Their young impressionable minds are the product of the people they come in contact with, the places they visit, the movies they watch, and the habits they create. All play an important part in their behavior and essentially how their lives will play out in the future. Regardless, growing up comes with its share of stress. Inevitably, an adolescent will face trying times when answers seem to be elusive. If not properly guided, a youth can take a turn for the worse and develop practices that can amplify their adverse situation. This paper will cover some of the most challenging issues that today’s youths come across, its purpose is to inform the reader and better help identify risk factors.
As a child begins to enter adolescence, there appears to be a rise in conflict between the adolescent and parents. The amount of conflict differs from family to family and is dependent on many factors. It is mainly due to the changing characteristics and growing of the adolescent and the way in which the rest of the family adjusts to these changes.
Parents can benefit from an understanding that how they parent, or their parenting style, provides a basis for many healthy developmental outcomes during adolescence. Understanding the different parenting styles
In America, the society runs on what teenagers want. From Nicki Minaj to the junior section at Sears, most of what the people see, hear, or touch is aimed at the teenagers. Being an adolescent is probably the most exciting and most popular time period in a person’s life. The teens seem to have it all, but what about the parents who raise them? The parents of the teenagers never get any credit during this time period, although they have every right to. Parents and teenagers should strive for a strong, lasting relationship for these years, though most times there isn’t one. The relationship between teenagers and parents is the most vital bond in the family because this relationship should and will prepare them for the next step in life.