Adolescent Brain Development

"When we think of ourselves as civilized, intelligent adults, we really have the frontal and prefrontal parts of the cortex to thank," But "teens are not quite firing on all cylinders when it comes to the frontal lobes." Thus, "we shouldn't be surprised by the daily stories we hear and read about tragic mistakes."

A 2006 cartoon in The New Yorker shows parents ordering their adolescent son to go to his room until his cerebral cortex matures. This nicely illustrates how we have come to think about adolescents.

Specifically, the cartoon illustrates at least five assumptions about adolescents and their brains: (1) adolescents are categorically different from adults; (2) adolescents are less rational than adults; (3) adolescent cognition and behavior are explained by their teenage brains; (4) adolescent brain development is a maturational process directed by genes; and (5) the outcome of that process is a state of maturity achieved in adulthood.

Quotes taken from: Kolbert, Elizabeth. "Why Teen-Agers Are the Worst." The New Yorker. N.p., 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.