Robert Epstein on the teen brain
In his article The Myth of the Teen Brain (Scientific American MIND, April/May 2007), psychologist and editor Robert Epstein, PhD notes, “We blame teen turmoil on immature brains. But did the brains cause the turmoil, or did the turmoil shape the brains?”
He says brain imaging studies “find that teens and adults use their brains somewhat differently when performing certain tasks” and that such studies “are said to support the idea that an incompletely developed brain accounts for the emotional problems and irresponsible behavior of teenagers.”
But, according to a summary in the magazine, he argues that “snapshots of brain activity do not necessarily identify the causes of such problems. Culture, nutrition and even the teen’s own behavior all affect brain development. A variety of research in several fields suggest that teen turmoil is caused by cultural factors, not by a faulty brain.
“Anthropological research reveals that teens in many cultures experience no turmoil whatsoever and that teen problems begin to appear only after Western schooling, movies and television are introduced.”
The article caption for the photo above reads, “Young people have extraordinary potential that is often not expressed because teens are infantilized and isolated from adults.”
Sites:
Scientific American MIND: sciammind.com
Dr. Epstein: drrobertepstein.com
The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen, by Robert Epstein, PhD
Related Talent Development Resources page: Mental health : teen / young adult
