New Science on the Teenage Brain

National Geographic features an interesting article in its latest issue entitled, “The New Science of the Teenage Brain,” along with its usual great photos. I particularly like the one of the girl looking at her just-pierced tongue in the mirror. She admitted it was a, “I’ll do it, if you’ll do it” impulse.

The article, which goes into the biological workings of the teenage brain, says that teenage impulsive, risky behavior so well known by parents actually makes our teens effectively adaptive to their changing world. They take more risks because they value reward more than fear consequence. They prefer the company of their peers more at this age than any other during life because their brains are “attuned” to a hormone that makes social connections important and extremely rewarding. They are, the article claims, forming connections that they will take into the future. Mom and dad won’t be around forever, and these peers will go forward together, directing world affairs long after we are gone.

The article says two things that particularly struck me: 1) “The move outward from home is the most difficult thing that humans do, as well as the most critical;” and 2) “Studies show that when parents engage and guide their teens with a light but steady hand, staying connected but allowing independence, their kids generally do much better in life.”

Both of those statements make sense to me. In doing research for Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing, and Able?, I found example after example that showed those two points to be true. Moving from home is difficult and no matter how hard it may be for parents to start letting go, one of our most important roles is to prepare them for that move. We do that by following the second statement: Stay involved in their life, but don’t hover. Give them graduated responsibilities, have consequences ready when they go askew, and respect the independence they crave. Purple hair will grow out, styles in clothes change regularly, and even most piercings will close when the ring or whatever is removed. Tattoos? Well that is another story, but we might as well accept the fact that once they turn 18, we can’t stop them. Besides, so many people of all ages have tattoos now that it is becoming rather common.

The article may not make you less crazy, bewildered, or scared when your son is caught driving 100 miles an hour or your daughter comes home with a stud in her tongue and one in her belly button too, but it does help explain why they keep taking risks and acting impulsively. Understanding, however, doesn’t diminish our critical role in helping them develop into capable young people. Keep communication open, stay involved, and let them soar.