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?
The information given in the article, Beautiful Brains Moody. Impulsive. Maddening. Why do teenagers act the way they do? Viewed through the eyes of evolution, their most exasperating traits may be the key to success as adults; it discusses the evolution of how adolescents were thought of then and now. The understanding of how the human brain works and develops with age gives a better understanding of why teens act the way they do. Aristotle believed that this was just human nature that adolescents acted in the manner they did (Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2004, p7). There are several theories based on studies over time that have changed as technologies were developed. One thing that still seems to stay the same, no matter what century or type of study performed, adolescence is turmoil not only for the kids but also for all the adults that have to figure them out.
Without research, the understanding of human development would be the same as it was back in the times of Plato (427-347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC). Since that time the research has continued to develop, additional understandings of how the brain develops and processes the information it is receiving. During Aristotle’s time, the lack of technology only allowed him to theorize based on the behavior he witnessed. The evolution of ways to explore the brain has changed over the past 2500 y...
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...ok” into the brain without cutting open the skull and can see where information is actually being processed, it also helps with the understanding of how the brain works. This article has not only tied together how adolescents were viewed in the past as troublesome, crazy, kids that are driven by nature to an understanding why they act this way. It may be natural that they act the way they do because the brain is developing and maturing but they are not driven by nature.
Works Cited
Dobbs, D. (2011, October). Beautiful brains: moody, Impulsive, Maddening. Why do teenagers act the way they do? Viewed through the eyes of evolution, their most exasperating trains may be the key to success as adults. National Geographic, 220(4), 36.
Wood, S. E., Wood, E. R., & Boyd, D. R. (2004). Mastering the world of psychology (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
In the essay “What’s Wrong With the Teenage Mind?” psychologist Alison Gopnik explores the issues surrounding young minds in today’s society and why they’re hitting puberty sooner and adulthood later. Gopnik suggest poor diet and lack of exercise could be a potential issues, she also presents various studies blaming brain circuitry and even speculating that the cause of today’s youth problematic mentality could be a result of an “evolutionary feature” in which humans have a prolonged childhood. Gopnik’s main concern about today’s adolescent mind, is a neurological one, Gopnik speculates that there’s an inability to sync their “control system” and their “crucial system”. Gopnik proposes a few solutions to the problem, such as more hands-on experience
Passer, M., Smith, R., Holt, N., Bremner, A., Sutherland, E., & Vliek, M. (2009). Psychology; Science of Mind and Behaviour. (European Edition). New York.
The biological perspective examines how brain processes and other bodily functions regulate behaviour. It emphasizes that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behaviour, thought, and emotion. It is believed that thoughts and emotions have a physical basis in the brain. Electrical impulses zoom throughout the brain’s cells, releasing chemical substances that enable us to think, feel, and behave. René Descartes (1596–1650) wrote an influential book (De Homine [On Man]) in which he tried to explain how the behaviour of animals, and to some extent the behaviour of humans, could be like t...
In the article “The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction”, the author believes that teens’ sleep, as well as social, physical, and emotional behavior are all impacted by teens’ changing brains, which in turn, affect teen’s decisions. First, the author states hormones do impact social behavior in teens. For instance, the author writes, “Enormous hormonal changes take place during adolescence. Reproductive hormones shape sex-related growth and behavior, but overall social behavior.”. This example reveals that the author believes that adolescences’ hormonal changes greatly influences their social behavior. Social behavior, such as stress, may occur due to these drastic changes. Teen’s social behavior influences teen decision making and teen’s
The article “Inside the Teen Brain” by Marty Wolner, states that recent research on the teen brain has left shocking new evidence on why teens act crazy. This was found out by scanning the brains of teens. As it turns out teen brains are under MORE construction than previously thought. The prefrontal cortex and limbic system are not yet developed. Without higher level processing of the prefrontal cortex, it may result in bad and risky behavior. Teens are not fully capable to process information to make good choices. This does not excuse inappropriate behavior. Healthy communication and effective discipline are what a teen needs. Every interaction a teen has is impacting the development of their brain. Teen’s brains need focused and intentional
Teenagers and young children are at developmental stages where they are the most vulnerable to outside influences. Frances E. Jensen said a few things that caught my attention; “The teenage brain is not just an adult brain with fewer miles on it… It’s a paradoxical time of development. These are people with very sharp brains, but they’re not quite sure what to do with them.” These students can be very smart academically and...
Not wanting to feel left out or not wanting to seem dull, teens are willing to do most of anything to be looked upon highly by their peers. This can be a reason as to what would cause a juvenile to commit murder or other heinous crimes; this can also open up the idea that teens are able to be rehabilitated and that there are other options other than life in prison. Put it this way, the same techniques used to make a teen have one beer or take one puff can be used to steer their lives back on the right path. As Gail Garinger in the article, “Teens Don’t Deserve Life Sentences” puts it, “The same malleability that makes them vulnerable to peer pressure also makes them promising candidates for rehabilitation.” This ties into teen’s brain development and how certain areas of the brain are to be looked at for figuring out the best rehabilitation techniques for better success in these
Sarah-Jayne Blackemore’s June 2012 Ted talk , “Was speaking about the mysterious adolescent brain,” using facts and images of the adolescent brain and its growth. This video is more for parents and other people who want to understand why teenagers are how they are, it can also help by telling teens why something they can’t control their feelings. Sarah-Jayne Blackemore works as a neuroscientist in a lab. Her information states that as teens grow into their 20’s so will their Prefrontal Cortex. It will also help if you educate your brain and memorize important information. With her research she also sees that teens tend to take more risks than anyone else that is at a different age . Ms . Blackemore’s tone was as positive
We all have a memory of a moment at school when we were confronted to difficulties. At this moment, most of us had the reaction to compare ourselves to a classmate that doesn’t have problem, and we all, at least once, thought “this is not for me”. It is often thought that ability is an inborn gift, but it might be time to change this thinking. To be clearer, the opposite has been found and explained by the role of the emotion and confidence, the malleability of intelligence, and a good reaction toward challenges and errors.
To conclude, the teenage brain is the most weird brain due its complex function. The teenage brain mostly interacts the way it does because of the first interaction of intense love, stress, and anger making Romeo and Juliet most prone as they were teenagers leading to their downfall. The teenage brain is, weird but also misunderstood because of the factors such as love, anger, stress changing the behaviour of
The brain of an adolescent isn’t mature. It hasn’t fully developed” Teenage neurons are still only half-baked’’pg.5 paragraph1. Hormones make the adolescent brain do more risk taking things. ‘’Puberty makes the newly sexually active teen seek emotionally charged activities, thus increasing risk-taking behaviors.’’pg.2 paragraph.1. To sum up teens do stupid emotional things because of puberty
pp. 164-71. LeDoux, J. E. (2002). "The 'Path How Our Brains Become Who We Are. New York: Viking Books, Inc. M. M. Merzenich, J. K. (1983).
Similarly, Jenson is advocating for education strategies and methods that use research of the brain to enrich our learning. According to Jenson, the brain is the “common denominator” between all people. While as individuals we have different learning styles and abilities, our brains are still affected the same external factors such as stress, nutrition, exercise, and relationships. Undoubtedly these factors affect our student’s discipline, achievement, attendance, and memory all of which are elements of a classroom. Given the significance of these parallels, the better teachers can understand the brain’s complexities and forces which can affect its functionality, consequently practical and relevant teaching strategies will continue to increase in use in
New Releases. (n.d.). The adolescent brain: Beyond raging hormones. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog-extra/the-adolescent-brain-beyond-raging-hormones
The teenage brain can be very confusing and emotional. Ideas and emotions can come out of nowhere from the mind’s imagination. Although the teen’s brain is very imaginative and creative their actions come from outside reactions and interactions. The explanation to these actions can range from peer pressure and identity confusion to chemical reactions in the hormonal part of the brain, (the limbic system) and the thinking part (the cortex). The teenage brain, and every other brain, controls everything you do but it’s not all imagination, it is also outside forces acting upon them.