Verified Document

Teen Behavior Adolescence Can Be Term Paper

Over the last five years research has indicated that the brain of an adolescent is not as developed as researchers once thought. In fact, advances in technology have made it possible to further examine the development of the human brain. Researchers have found that part of the frontal lobe, referred to as the pre-frontal cortex that is believed to be the management center for the body, is not fully developed in adolescents (Sowell et al., 2001; Cobb, 1998). The article explains that the lack of development in this part of the brain explains some of the behaviors that are displayed by teenagers because it is responsible for advanced cognition ("Adolescence, Brain Development..,"2004). Advanced cognition permits human beings to prioritize thoughts, visualize, think in the abstract, predict consequences, plan, and manage impulses ("Adolescence, Brain Development..,"2004). With these things being understood the underdevelopment of this part of the brain could explain why teenagers often engage in risky behaviors that may have extremely serious consequences (Lewis, 2002). As it relates to what can be done to modify the behavior of teens, there are several steps that can be taken. An initial step is to let adolescents know that they have support systems. These support systems should be present in the home, at school and in the community. These support systems should offer teenagers the proper guidance as it relates to how to deal with peer pressure and the negative impact of drug and alcohol use. However, it is important to note that even with these support systems in place parents and other adults that interact with teens must be vigilant and get them the help they need if their behaviors being displayed are destructive. Overall, it is inevitable...

(1978). "Psychopathology of childhood: Research problems and issues." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46,759-776.
Adams, Gerald R., Raymond Montemayor, and Thomas

Gullota, eds. Psychosocial Development during Adolescence. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications (1996).

Adolescence, Brain Development and Legal Culpability. (2004) Juvenile Justice Center

Archer Robert P. - MMPI-a: Assessing Adolescent Psychopathology. Contributors: author. Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Place of Publication: Mahwah, NJ. Publication Year: 1997.

Cobb, N.J. (1998)Adolescence: Continuity, Change and Diversity. Mayfield Publishing, CA.

Holmbeck G.N., & Updegrove a.L. (1995). "Clinical-development interface: Implications of developmental research for adolescent psychotherapy." Psychotherapy, 32,16-33.

Lewis, Melvin. (2002)Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A comprehensive textbook, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Petersen a.C., & Hamburg B.A. (1986). "Adolescence: A developmental approach to problems and psychopathology." Behavior Therapy, 17,480-499.

Puberty and Adolescence." National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001950.htm

Sowell, Elizabeth R, Paul M. Thompson, Kevin D. Tessner and Arthur W. Toga. (2001)Mapping continued brain growth and gray matter density reduction in dorsal frontal cortex: inverse relationships during postadolescent brain maturation, 21 Journal of Neuroscience 22

Sources used in this document:
References

Achenbach T.M. (1978). "Psychopathology of childhood: Research problems and issues." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46,759-776.

Adams, Gerald R., Raymond Montemayor, and Thomas

Gullota, eds. Psychosocial Development during Adolescence. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications (1996).

Adolescence, Brain Development and Legal Culpability. (2004) Juvenile Justice Center
Puberty and Adolescence." National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001950.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Teenage Behavior Raising Teenagers Is
Words: 1243 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

In here, the teens are seeking for adventure and experiment with different ideas. During this time, the adolescent battles over his own set of values vs. The set established by parents and other adult figures. They also begin to take on more control of educational and vocational pursuits and advantages. It is during this time that adolescents' self-dependence and a sense of responsibility become apparent, along with their quest

Teen Pregnancy Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Words: 1747 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) (mimicking the methods used by Lederman and Mian, 2003), followed by a follow-up study that tracked the rates of pregnancy among participants in the PAP program. Recommendations Overall, this paper shows that research articles on teen pregnancy (such as Lederman and Mian, 2003), could benefit from a closer look at anecdotal observations and the real-world impact on parents and children. In contrast, popular articles (like the Health24.com

Teens and the Media One
Words: 4544 Length: 11 Document Type: Research Paper

The extreme power of this new cultural tool is the very nature -- it depends on nothing but an electronic connection. it, like many things in the modern world, is instantaneous, satisfying the 21st century need to have both dependence and independence based on our own decision or whim. Therein lies the confusion for many -- just how real is an electronic friendship that can exist without really "knowing"

Teen Depression Stress and Modern Life Are
Words: 1450 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Teen Depression Stress and modern life are far more ingrained in modern culture, often causing a greater preponderance of mental disorders in almost all population dynamics. The teen population is not eliminated as a candidate for a disorder just because they may be young. In fact, mental disorders affect 1 in 5 teenagers. The prevalence of mental disorders in this population should encourage an abundance of treatment programs, but sadly, this

Adolescents Aspects of Adolescent Development and Psychology
Words: 1891 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Adolescents Aspects of Adolescent Development and Psychology What impact does technology have on today's adolescents? Technology is inextricably linked with adolescent existence. In the past decade, technology has become pervasive amongst adolescents and affects the way in which adolescents communicate with one another and with their parents. In past generations, technology was primarily limited to television and video games (and possibly a computer), but current technology has blended forms of technology that were

Adolescent Egocentrism and Delinquent Behaviors
Words: 610 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Adolescent Egocentrism Posting #3 Read articles choose interest. Analyze articles describe leadership roles discussed. Compare attributes nurse leaders. •http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/home/News/women/mch_midwives. The influence of adolescent egocentrism (personal fable, imaginary audience, invincibility) on delinquent behavior Parents often refer to adolescents as egocentric and self-centered. However, this is not simply a subjective moral judgment of a frustrated mother or father -- it is an identified product of the biological and social experience of being an adolescent. Adolescent

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now