In today’s modern and fast paced society, teenagers have had to rush through life and begin adulthood earlier than the generations before. Many teens have also been expected to make this step in life without the help of a parent or mature adult, because they are too busy with their own lives. The media has replaced parents’ jobs of teaching their children about life, and the media surrounds teens with mature themes which affect teenagers in a negative way. Many teenagers have lost a section of their lives by having to skip to adulthood where they are unprotected from many negative parts of this world. I agree with David Elkind that “teenagers have lost their privileged position” and that unlike generations of teenagers before, this generation
The frontal cortex is the command center of the brain; it helps determine right from wrong, considers potential consequences, aids in curbing emotions and impulses, and assists in understanding others. The frontal cortex is among the last parts of the brain to connect, meaning that teens are more likely than adults to act on impulse rather than reason and ignore possible outcomes of their actions. Because the frontal cortex remains primarily unconnected to the rest of the brain during the adolescent years, teens rely more heavily on the amygdala. The amygdala is what controls “…the processing of emotions such as fear, anger and pleasure,” (Bailey). This instinctual part of the brain is what causes juveniles to be more prone to aggressive behavior than older people,
This is not the case when comparing them to the previous generation. This is what Clive Thompson’s essay argues about, but instead of directly targeting young people, he blames parents, the society, and social networks. Indeed, when compared to the previous generations, parents and society were stricter. With the arrival of social networks, teens tend to spend more time on it rather than face to face. Because of the impact of the society and parents plus the evolution of new technologies, young people are less and less able to communicate face to face.
In the metal illness packet they say “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur when a teenager experiences a shocking or dramatic event that is outside the range of a usual human experience” (mental illness). This shows that some teenager can have PTSD but not every teenager goes through a traumatic event. Some teenagers go through a traumatic event that can change the way that they think or the way that they act but this does not mean that they have a case of PTSD. However this position is wrong because “Serotonin the neurotransmitter that makes us feel calm and peace is at a natural low during adolescences” (Teenage Brain Development). Teenager’s brains can be complicated in many ways.
I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18 considering the fact that 18 is the age of adulthood in the United States. The people that are opposed of lower the drinking age are the people who think that by the age of 21 you would have the more responsible approach as of what to do when consuming alcohol. 21 helps prevent underage binge drinking by making it harder for people under 21 to obtain alcohol. 21 would be medically irresponsible because the brain's frontal lobes, essential for functions such as emotional regulation, planning, and organization, continue to develop through adolescence and young adulthood. 21 would give high schoolers, even middle schoolers easier access to alcohol.
Many people can say a young teen is far from adulthood. Evidence can be found in Paul Thompson, an assistant professor of neurology at University of California, discovered with his researching the finding of massive brain tissue lost during the teen stage in life. (Thompson 4) A key reason why teens are not yet adults, and the legal system should not treat them as so. The brain of an adult has had the ability to mature and develop, as opposed to the teen brain which in fact digresses in development. They need to be steered in the right direction with Youth Crime Prevention programs and
Binge drinking can cause blackouts, memory loss and anxiety. Young people's brains are particularly vulnerable because the brain is still developing during their teenage years (Know). Alcohol can damage parts of the brain, affecting behavior and the ability to learn and remember. Sara is only 18 years old as stated by Keegan and she is shown by this article she is still developing her
Studies show that a child’s brain is not fully matured which causes his/her brain to limit decision-making. Paul Thompson from The Sacramento Bee claims, “The biggest surprise in recent teen-brain research is the finding that a massive loss of brain tissue occurs in the teen years” (1). The frontal lobes that control impulses and self-control are being lost throughout the teenage years. These lobes trigger violent passions and emotions which causes kids the lack of long-term thinking. Children, including teenagers, act more irrationally and immaturely than adults.
Consequences of Underage Drinking & A Lower MLDA Health Issues • Individuals who start drinking earlier than age 21 are more likely to be a driver in a motor vehicle crash, be injured, and be in a physical fight, according to a recent study. The younger the individual, the more likely he or she will experience these The cost of pain and suffering top a outcomes after drinking.10 • Repeated use of alcohol during adolescence can lead to deficits in cognitive abilities, including learning and memory. • Heavy drinking during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with poor cognitive functioning in young adulthood.11 • Serious chronic diseases involving the liver, heart, and digestive system are associated with heavy alcohol consumption.
Alcohol intoxicates the brain, leaving you feeling disoriented and slowing your reflexes. Consuming alcohol harms your brain and can lead to mental retardation. At the age of 21 scientists believe your brain to be fully developed, and therefore is seen as a “safe” age to be able to drink. Why should we choose to lower the drinking age and harm our children’s undeveloped brains? The debate over lowering the drinking age has once again been presented to the nation.