Blame it on the Prefrontal Cortex
Posted by anastasia on 12-31-2004Science has given some of us a way to go back to our parents with an excuse for why we were teenage "nightmares." All the door slammings, "I hate yous!" "Don't ever speak to me agains" can now be chalked up to the prefrontal cortex in the teenage brain, which according to Psychologist David Walsh is "under construction." In his book "Why Do They Act That Way" Walsh explains:
"The prefrontal cortex is supposed to harness the accelerator center of the brain, but the impulse-control center is under construction," said Walsh. "This is the reason teens are impulsive, risk-taking, quick to anger. The acceleration center of the brain is in high gear, while the brakes are on back order."
In a nutshell, adults can rationally read emotions (uh sometimes) and teens react from a gut level.
So how are adults/parents supposed to deal with teen angst? The Concord Monitor article where all of this is coming from suggests that adults be rational when talking to teens — not threats, just rationally explain consequences. Oh and don't get dragged into a power struggle.
"Teenagers are built for power struggles. The accelerator goes down to the floor so quickly," Walsh said.
