Teens' brains prone to risky behavior, study shows
Summary
TLDRNew research indicates that the peak of risk-taking behavior in teenagers occurs around 19, with the brain's control mechanisms maturing around 23 or 24. This study, involving over 5,000 adolescents from 11 countries, reveals a global trend in adolescent risk-taking, yet the levels vary significantly by context. For instance, only 2% of Indonesian teens reported drinking in the last 30 days. Parental guidance and legal reinforcement are key in managing teen risk-taking. Strategies such as setting curfews, discussing potential scenarios, and even using secret emoji codes for help, can help mitigate recklessness.
Takeaways
- π§ The adolescent brain is naturally inclined towards risk-taking behavior, peaking around the age of 19.
- π The development of impulse control in teenagers continues to mature, reaching adult levels around 23 or 24 years old.
- π Risk-taking behaviors vary among teenagers globally, with only 2% of Indonesian teenagers reporting drinking in the last 30 days.
- π There is a mismatch between the peak of sensation-seeking and the full development of risk controls in the teenage brain.
- π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Parents play a crucial role in guiding teenagers and can help mitigate risk-taking behaviors.
- π« Reinforcing laws and regulations, such as driving curfews, can contribute to the safety of teenagers.
- π Supervision is key as the presence of temptation and opportunity can lead to risky behaviors.
- π€ Planning in advance for potential risky situations can help teenagers navigate through them more safely.
- π The use of a secret emoji code between teenagers and parents can be an effective way to communicate for help without alerting peers.
- π‘ Teenagers' reasoning abilities can differ significantly depending on the context, highlighting the importance of parental guidance.
Q & A
At what age does the thrill-seeking impulse typically peak according to the new research?
-The thrill-seeking impulse typically peaks at the age of 19, according to the new research.
What is the age when the brain's control systems are fully developed to an adult level?
-The brain's control systems, which act as brakes on risk-taking behavior, reach adult levels closer to 23 or 24 years old.
What is the normal behavior expected from teenagers during adolescence?
-It is normal and expectable for teenagers to seek independence and sensation, which includes risk-taking behavior, as part of their adolescence.
How does the context of where teenagers live affect their risk-taking behavior?
-Context matters significantly. For example, in Indonesia, only 2% of teenagers engaged in risk-taking behavior, such as drinking, within the last 30 days.
What role do parents play in managing teenage risk-taking behavior?
-Parents play a crucial role in managing teenage risk-taking behavior by reinforcing laws, supervising their children, and planning in advance for tricky situations.
What are some ways parents can help keep teenagers safe?
-Parents can reinforce laws like driving curfews, supervise their children, and plan with them in advance for situations where temptation and opportunity might coincide.
What is a practical strategy parents can use to help their teenagers navigate risky situations?
-Parents can plan in advance with their teenagers for tricky situations, such as having a plan for what to do if they unexpectedly find themselves in a risky environment like a party where everyone is drinking.
Why is it important for teenagers to not have to figure out how to handle risky situations on the fly?
-It is important because teenagers' reasoning abilities can be significantly different in high-pressure situations compared to when they are calm and at home, making advance planning crucial.
What is the concept of a 'secret emoji code' and how can it be used by teenagers?
-A 'secret emoji code' is an agreement between parents and teenagers where specific emojis are used to signal for help without alerting peers. For example, sending a hamburger emoji could mean 'come get me.'
How does the adolescent brain's development relate to their propensity for risk-taking?
-The adolescent brain is wired to seek sensation, which can lead to risk-taking behavior. However, the part of the brain responsible for controlling impulses is not fully developed until later, leading to a mismatch between the peak of sensation-seeking and the maturity of impulse control.
What does the research suggest about the universality of risk-taking behavior among teenagers worldwide?
-The research suggests that while all teenagers have brains prone to risk-taking, the level at which they take risks varies globally, indicating that cultural and contextual factors significantly influence behavior.
Outlines
π§ Teenage Brains and Risk-Taking Behavior
New research indicates that the peak age for risky behavior among teenagers is around 19, as confirmed by a study involving over 5,000 teenagers and young adults from 11 countries. The study suggests that while adolescent brains are generally prone to risk-taking, the propensity to act on these impulses varies. Psychologist Lisa d'amour, in her New York Times article, explains that the thrill-seeking impulse peaks at 19, but the brain's control systems don't mature until around 23 or 24, creating a mismatch. This mismatch is a normal part of adolescence, where teenagers are expected to seek independence and explore the world. The conversation also touches on how cultural context plays a significant role in risk-taking behavior, as seen in Indonesia where only 2% of teenagers engaged in risk-taking behavior, such as drinking, in the last 30 days. The importance of parental involvement and the influence of context on teenage behavior are highlighted.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Adolescence
π‘Risk-taking
π‘Thrill-seeking
π‘Psychological development
π‘Sensation-seeking
π‘Parenting
π‘Curfew laws
π‘Context
π‘Reasoning
π‘Secret emoji code
Highlights
New research indicates that risky behavior among teenagers peaks around the age of 19.
A study of over 5,000 teenagers and young adults from 11 countries confirms that adolescent brains are prone to risk-taking.
Psychologist Lisa d'amour explores the study in her New York Times online article, discussing ways to limit recklessness.
The thrill-seeking impulse reaches its peak at 19, but the cognitive controls mature around 23 or 24.
There is a mismatch between when sensation-seeking peaks and when the controls are fully developed.
Risk-taking is a normal and expectable part of adolescence.
Teenagers are biologically wired to seek sensation and independence.
Parents are naturally nervous about their teenagers' risk-taking behaviors.
In Indonesia, only 2% of kids engaged in risk-taking behavior have tried drinking in the last 30 days.
The new research shows that context matters in how teenagers take risks around the world.
Parenting plays a crucial role in managing teenagers' risk-taking behaviors.
Reinforcing laws that help keep teenagers safe, such as driving curfew laws, is important.
Supervising teenagers and planning for tricky situations can help prevent risky outcomes.
Having an advance plan with teenagers for unexpected situations is beneficial.
Teenage reasoning varies in different contexts, affecting their decision-making.
A secret emoji code between parents and teenagers can be an effective way to communicate for help.
The goal is to provide good advice and support to help teenagers navigate risky situations.
Transcripts
you
new research says risky behavior among
teenagers begins around the age of 19
the new study of more than 5,000
teenagers and young adults from 11
countries confirms adolescent brains are
all prone to risk-taking but acting on
it varies psychologist Lisa d'amour
takes an in-depth look at that study in
her New York Times online article
teenagers do dumb things but there are
ways to limit recklessness Lisa d'amour
is also a CBS News contributor Lisa
welcome back thank you I've got three of
these that do dumb things and I've had
this conversation many times I mean
what's interesting what I notice here is
you you talk about the thrill-seeking
impulse reaches its peak at 19 yes but
the sort of the brakes on that system
don't reach their adult level till
closer to 23 or 24 so we got four crises
there's a real mismatch between when
sensation-seeking Peaks and when the
controls are fully out that risk-taking
is totally normal it is normal it's an
expectable part of adolescence we expect
teenagers to seek independence and to
sort of reach out into the outside world
but it also means that parents are
nervous yes so don't just think they're
doing dumb things it is wired in their
brain yes is that the teenage brain is
built so that they really want to seek
sensation mm-hmm but it happens it's
different how it happens all around the
world but in Indonesia I think this was
very interesting only 2% of the kids
they're engaged in risk-taking behavior
have have tried drinking in the last 30
days that was the finding and so what's
important about this new research is
that it shows that teenagers around the
world all have these gawky brains where
their impulses can get ahead of their
controls but teenagers around the world
don't take risks at the same level so
context matters and that's important for
parents dawn and your parenting matters
too absolutely that there are things
parents can do to help keep teenagers
what do we do so what do we do
so we reinforce laws that we know help
keep keep teenagers safe like driving
curfew laws we supervise them right
because for something to go wrong
temptation and opportunity have to come
together yeah we plan with them in
advance for tricky situations they
get in like like if they show up at a
party and suddenly everyone's drinking
and they weren't expecting that we don't
want teenagers to be trying to figure
out how to handle those situations on
the fly mmm
so we want to have an advance plan with
them one of the things that we see is
that teenage reasoning and reasoning is
very different in different contexts
what they can say at home in the cold
light of day with you isn't always what
happens in the heat of the night yes
they agree on an emoji yes so my
favorite new thing is that some
teenagers will come to an agreement
about a secret emoji code right they'll
say to their parents if I send you the
hamburger emoji that means come get me
your idea that's a great yeah so if
their friends see it they know that
they're not calling for help
they said the more the goal good advice
thank you very much
Browse More Related Video
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)