Here’s some science behind the teenage brain

Since I am not a parent myself, I am hesitant to voice my thoughts on teenagers too loudly. While I do speak with some authority on the subject – years of teaching and coaching basketball to pre-teens and adolescents – I don’t know what it is like to live with one of these strange creatures 24/7.  What I do know, is that the science behind being a teenager can shed some light on what is going on inside that skull. So, next time you are restraining yourself (or your teenager) from climbing the walls, just remember that their brains are different from yours.  We might even go as far as saying that their behavior is important for the preservation of the species.

I know, I know… but hear me out:

We know now that the adolescent prefrontal cortex activates less than that of an adult. This implies poorer risk assessment and a constant craving for novelty. Having different patterns of dopamine release, adolescents are more prone to addictions than adults. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays an essential role in reward-related behavior. Compared to adults, adolescents present amplified dopaminergic indications caused by strong rewards, meaning that there is no compensation for anything judicious we do at this age. That is why it seems that they are always on the prowl for crazy stuff to get that exaggerated reward.

As an adolescent, everything is experienced at extremes: the highs are very high, and the lows often rock bottom. So it is the openness to adventure, exploration, and the readiness for creativity that makes them different and unlocks endless possibilities for development. They complete our society with the necessary agitation, restlessness, and stir-crazy ideas that we need to continue ahead as species.

There is no doubt that teenagers find social contact much more attractive than children or adults. The hundreds of friends and followers on Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok clearly indicate this. Most grown-ups ask themselves what it is that they find so irresistible about this frenetic way of socializing. The answer is conclusive: the need to belong. Belonging has its perks for everyone, but the desire for it takes very extreme forms at this age. Peer pressure is the most salient one. Teens are constantly under scrutiny by their peers, always on edge. As a young person, you never know what consequences your actions will bring. Science shows that rejection and social ostracism hurt adolescents much more than mature adults. Hence, the need for them to follow the crowd, no matter the consequences.

Being alone is bad. But nothing is worse than being excluded. 

Perhaps it’s time we cut them some slack. It’s also not particularly useful to compare your teenager’s life today to yours when you were that age. Quite simply, it’s chalk and cheese!