How do these changes in brain structure influence a teenagers behavior?
As we all know, teenagers ofter have issues with impulse control and judgement. If you give car keys to a teenager, for example, they may not make the best decisions behind the wheel. This is more than simply gaining experience with driving – it has a lot to do with the maturity of the brain. For example, if another driver does something wrong or aggressive, the teenage brain may respond over-agressively because impulse control and emotional balance are still getting worked out. A teenage brain is very emotional and doesn’t balance rational thought with “gut feelings” very well. The teenage brain is also more likely to throw caution to the wind, because they haven’t fully developed their judgement centers. This is why many teenagers seem to think of themselves as immune from the normal dangers that we as adults understand. How can this information help parents understand their teenage children? Many of the behaviors that teenagers exhibit that differ from their behaviors as young child
