Adolescent Development and Life Essay (Article)

“Brain Storm”

The interactive movie presented on the website called New Scientist explains the developments that occur in the brains of young people and the way they impact the life choices and behaviors of the adolescents. It is interesting to learn that rebellious and impulsive behavioral patterns can be explained by the processes dictated by the growth of various areas of human brain. Evidentially, the majority of young people of all generations tend to follow the same paths and demonstrate very similar behaviors such as risky dares, attraction towards forbidden things, lower self-confidence, crisis of self-acceptance and extremely high need for socialization. From the interactive movie called “Brain Storm” it becomes clear that such areas of human brain as prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, right ventral striatum, pineal gland and cerebellum are responsible for many of the typical behaviors of teenagers (Brain Storm, n. d.).

Since physical growth is something that happens to every person, the same patterns can be observed in the vast majority of young people. This knowledge is rather helpful for scientists as well as the parents of teenagers and young people themselves. Knowing that certain feelings or emotions are not unique and everyone experiences them may reduce social isolation of teenagers, and improve their relationships with parents and peers. At the same time, parents acquire a valid scientific explanation of the scary or annoying behaviors of their offspring such as the tendency for getting in trouble, physical awkwardness, extreme emotionality and moodiness. The scientific data presented in “Brain Storm” allows the application of critical thinking and rational evaluation of typical lifestyles and choices of teenagers and provides ways of comprehending them.

“Life of a Teenager” by Simon Jacobson

This article is taken from the website called Chabad.org. This portal provides the wise views of a Rabbi on a variety of confusing aspects of teenage life. This way spirituality is presented as an important part of young life and the source of right answers for the question that worry adolescents. The article explores the rebellious nature of young people. The author speaks about it as the passion of youth that should not be shut down. Instead, the author suggests directing it wisely saying, “rebellion is not the crime; the crime occurs when the rebellion has no healthy outlet” (Jacobson, 2015). This article offers the readers to alter their own perspective on the lives of teenagers and see the difficulties young people face during this period of life being stuck in between of childhood and adulthood, not knowing how to act and which instincts to follow.

“Emotions & Life”

This article addresses teenagers explaining them the nature of their emotionality and the ways to handle it. In the article it is recommended that the young people reach out to adults and peers for help as their stress coping skills are not developed yet and this is what makes them so frustrated (Emotions & Life, 2013). Overall, the website called PAMF.org, where this article was found provides information for teenagers concerning such subjects as risk taking, body image, suicide, mood, violence, school and relationships. It looks like a good assisting website for those who seek help.

“Why Parents Can’t Be Dumb About Social Media” by Wendy Rice

The author of this article is a professional psychologist who explains the readers the danger of bullying in social networks and the ways of protecting their children from getting affected by virtual violence. The author notes that it is very difficult to grant protection to a teenager without invading their privacy (Rice, 2914). The author also emphasizes that it is important that young people make mistakes and gain their own experiences. This was it is important to win the trust of a child so that they feel safe asking for advice from a parent when they are in trouble.

Reference List

Brain Storm. (n. d.). New Scientist. Web.

Emotions & Life. (2013). PAMF.org. Web.

Jacobson , S. (2015). Life of a Teenager. Web.

Rice , W. (2014). Why Parents Can’t Be Dumb About Social Media. Web.