It is no surprise that teenagers have a reputation of making bad decisions. Why, though, do all teenagers at some point fall victim to bad decisions? Is it just part of life or are there scientific reasons as to why? Psychologists claim that, yes, there is scientific reasoning as to why teenagers make bad decisions. Physically, the frontal lobe in teens is disconnected. The frontal lobe is where humans decipher the possible consequences of their actions. Because of the disconnection, teens are slow to accessing this part of the brain. Therefore, they don't think their actions through. It is not until the early twenties that the brain is fully developed physically and mentally. When interviewing my parents they definitely were surprised to learn about the physical development of the brain through teen years. However, they didn't agree that the frontal lobe is solely the only reason teenagers don't think their actions through as well as adults. Their outlook was focused on parenting styles. They believed that bad actions are a result of how the parents discipline and raise a teenager. For example, when I got my license my parents were constantly referring me to videos of awful car wrecks or of people texting and driving, etc. Watching those videos undoubtedly was the reason I try to be extra observant when driving. I do believe that if I had not seen those videos that I would be an avid "texter and driver." I agree that parenting styles are more of an influential factor than physical brain development regarding this topic. Both together, though, have an impact of the way a teenager makes decisions. I believe that curiosity is another factor. You can raise a child up in the way they should go but that doesn't mean curiosity won't get the best of them from time to time. As a teenager you are introduced to many knew things physically, mentally, and spiritually. It is by exploring some of these areas that teenagers develop their attitudes and beliefs. It may take a few bad decisions to learn right from wrong and in return gain wisdom. Psychologists have done a great job at retrieving information in order for everyone to better understand the brain in both adults and teenagers. Despite what you believe the leading factor is of teens making bad decisions, it is through emotion and cognition that teens are less likely to make the decisions that we as adults regret.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV3ErK3hsyU&t=1s
Taryn, this blog post has been one of the best I have read yet. I had no idea that during our teenage years, that the frontal lobe of our brain is actually disconnected. That is mind blowing. But I also agree with you and your parents that, the fact that the frontal lobe is disconnected is not the only reason teenagers tend to make so many bad decisions. The parenting styles parents use, to me, has one of the biggest influences on how teenagers make decisions. Very good post!
ReplyDeleteHey Taryn! This blog post was great and it kept me interested and made me think of my own brain. I didn't know that the frontal lobe was disconnected and not fully developed until our twenties. I agree mostly with what your parents had to say about how parenting styles influence brain development, but I do think some of it is still how the human body works.
ReplyDeleteWe all through that stage of adolescents and I remember my actions from that stage, as well as the preventions that my parents pointed out to me. This undoubtedly avoided many problems. And I know that it influenced the formation of my way of thinking and seeing things. All that kind of new messages that my brain was receiving made me take new reactions to what I was living. Many of our brain abilities were formed in those years. I really enjoyed reading your post Taryn!
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