Understanding the Teen Mind: What Makes Developing Brains Different?
Have you ever wondered what is going on in your teenager’s mind?
For parents, that’s often a rhetorical question, but there’s truth in it.
Teens can sometimes be confusing to adults. They make decisions quickly, are often highly emotional, and you might not understand why they do the things they do.
While you can chalk it up to a lack of maturity and the need to learn more about life, there is a lot of science behind how the teen mind works.
So, if you’ve found yourself scratching your head over your teenager’s behaviors, let’s take a closer look at what makes developing brains different, so you can better understand what they’re going through.
The Prefrontal Cortex
Perhaps the biggest difference between teenage and adult brains is prefrontal cortex development.
This area doesn’t fully develop until a person is in their mid-twenties.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and reasoning.
Because it isn’t fully developed in the teen brain, teenagers have a harder time considering the long-term consequences of their decisions.
They tend to act on impulse without thinking about the impact of consequences.
The Amygdala
The amygdala tends to mature faster than the prefrontal cortex.
This is the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions.
If it ever seems like your teen might be “dramatic” or have emotionally intense responses to things, this is likely why.
They have a heightened sensitivity to social situations.
Because of a mature amygdala and immature prefrontal cortex, they are more likely to give in to peer pressure or make decisions to try to fit in, rather than thinking about how those decisions might impact them on a long-term basis.
Plasticity
One of the great things about the teen mind is its plasticity.
It is ready to learn and adapt to new information all the time.
That’s what makes teenagers such great learners — their minds are really like sponges, absorbing all of their observations and the things they take in on a daily basis.
The plastic brain is also eager to make and maintain new connections, so it’s a great time in a person’s life to make friends.
However, it can make your teen more vulnerable to negative influences that seem exciting or “cool.”
A Sensitive Reward System
Everyone has a reward system, from children to 100-year-old adults.
However, it changes throughout different stages of life.
The average teenage brain is highly sensitive to rewards.
While that can encourage them to seek out new and exciting experiences, it can also contribute to engaging in risky or unhealthy behaviors.
Because teens are often focused on peer relationships and being as social as possible, the risk of unhealthy behaviors to trigger the reward center of the brain becomes even greater.
They might do something to get a temporary feeling of happiness or excitement while knowing it will impress their peers.
But, it might not be a good decision for them in the long run.
What Can You Do?
As a parent or caregiver, there’s nothing you can do to change your teen’s brain or cause them to mature faster.
However, you can do your part to guide them and communicate with them as often as possible.
Be a role model for things like decision-making and problem-solving, and offer your support and help as often as it’s needed.
Remind them that their feelings are valid, and help them work through the heavy emotions they might not fully understand on their own.
If you’re having a hard time effectively communicating with your teen, it’s okay to reach out for help.