Cognitive Development Research Paper
development due to these junk foods. That is one of many reasons why puberty has extended to the mid twenties. According to ,“How Nutrition Affects your Brain”, by Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS, the brain needs a number of different nutrients to develop properly. It has been proven that, “a healthy diet does seem to delay or protect against age-related cognitive decline” (“How Nutrition Affects your Brain” 2). If a healthy diet delays against cognitive decline, the same concept should apply to the fact that a healthy diet promotes cognitive development. This proves that age is not a factor to become an adult”, becoming an adult is when your brain has completely completed development, and to complete development the brain needs to be provided with the proper nutrients to prevent a delay in growth.
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Due to the reliance of the amygdala prior to full brain development, teenagers within the age range of thirteen up to their mid twenties, are much less responsible when it comes to all aspects of their life compared to an adult. According to neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt, in a recent interview with NPR news, states that “adolescents and young adults become much more sensitive to peer pressure than they were earlier or will be as adults.” (“Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years” 2). In this case, there is absolutely no reason why eighteen year olds are able make decisions that could create their future all by themselves, instead they should be guided and taken into regard that they are indeed teenagers. To provide them with the necessary tools to be able to become real adults, instead of treating them like grown adults when they are not. You cannot give someone full control of their lives if it they are extremely likely to follow some way due to pressure. The consequences of this freedom given at such a young age are “the risks of crime and car accidents and all the crazy things that adolescents do are actually more issues with young adults, people in the 18 to 25 age range, largely because they have more opportunities to get into these kinds of trouble because they have less parental supervision than the younger adolescents do.” (“Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years” 4).
This is the reason why most accidents and casualties happen between the ages of eighteen and twenty five. They are given full control of their lives unknowing that they are so easy to fall into pressure. An article on Autos.com called, “Car Crash Statistics Based on Age and Location”, provides the information for who is targeted in car accidents the most. And it is shown that “People between the ages of 15 and 24 and over 75 are the groups most likely affected by car accidents” (“Car Crash Statistics Based on Age and Location” 1). This proves that this age range is the most irresponsible age range within the human lifespan. Since the brain remains undeveloped, teenagers are highly likely to partake in reckless behavior, without analyzing the consequences of their actions thoroughly. The article ,“What is the Age of Responsibility?”, published on governing.com, includes research on how responsible a young adult really is. Since research has proven that adulthood does not begin until the mid twenties, “youths who had previously been tried as adults are 34 percent more likely to commit a crime again than those who went through the juvenile justice system.”
(“What is the Age of Responsibility?” 3) Due to the fact that these individuals under the age of 25, are being convicted as adults in court. They are being treated as someone who has a clear intention and knowledge of what they are doing. But this isn’t the case because they have not completed their full brain development. So instead of providing them with tools to help them learn from their mistakes and understand the consequences of their actions, they are treated as an adult and that doesn’t help them in any way. There is a problem with treating a teenager as an adult because they are not on the same level of thinking as one. Research has shown that an individual becomes an adult when they have become fully responsible of their actions, and without a completely developed brain that is impossible. Most people under the age of twenty five are not financially stable and independent. Due to the fact that are simply not responsible enough to be independant. In the article, “29 Percent of all U.S Adults under the age of 35 are still living with their parents”, published by infowars.com, states that most people under the age of 35 still live at home. Since they have not developed the complete responsibility of a grown adult yet, “36 percent of Americans 18 to 31 years old were still living with their parents.” (“infowars.com” 1). How can someone be considered an adult when they are doing the exact same thing as a student in high school. Most people graduate high school and continue going to college with a part time job while living at home. There is no difference between this college student and high school student. Yet we give them all sorts of freedom when realistically there is only a minor difference in their brain development and responsibility. There are many “potential roadblocks on the path to independence that may force young adults to live with their parents longer, including a weak job market, the high cost of living, significant college debt, and helping care for an elderly or disabled parent.” (“infowars.com” 2). There is a reason why living on your own is expensive and it is designed in that fashion so a responsible adult who has completed education and has a career can be able to live on their own, not a teenager who is still going to school. Since teenagers are not independent, there is student loans for the majority of college students who cannot afford college for themselves, which makes them dependant. Someone who is dependant is still not an adult because they are relying on another source for their source of help. There is a reason that “Student loan debt accounted for 3.1 percent of all consumer debt in 2003. Today, it accounts for 9.4 percent of all consumer debt.” (“inforwars.com” 2). That reason is for students that are not yet adults to receive help to complete their education on the pathway to becoming adults. The amount of student loans is skyrocketing because these students are still teenagers and are unable to provide for themselves. But they are being treated as fully grown individuals who are responsible for all of their actions, which has been proved to be incorrect. In a recent article, “Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood?”, by BBC, it is stated that young adults are becoming independent at a far later age There is also a reason behind the fact that “adolescents may want to stay longer with their families because they need more support during these formative years and that it is important for parents to realise that all young people do not develop at the same pace.” (“Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood?” 2). Since during these formative years, adolescents still have not developed into full adults, they still depend on the guidance and help of their parents and family members. With this assistance, they can learn and grow into fully functioning adults. Until an individual has completed their brain development, can be responsible for every action they take, and can support themselves independently, they should not be considered an adult. To become independant, one needs to have an education and a stable career, regardless of what that career is. In a recent article called, “Benefits of Earning a College Degree”, posted by Education Corner, shows how important a college education is to becoming an adult and becoming financially independent. It is crucial to have a college education in order to have a stable career. “Studies show that college graduates earn significantly more money throughout their lifetime than those with only high school education.” “(Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 1). People who graduate college have a much higher chance of becoming financially independent, which means that they can support themselves without the reliance of others. A step towards becoming an adult is independence so by having proper education and a stable career you can have the tools to support yourself by standing on your own. College not only helps you find a career but it also helps create responsible adults, “Aside from training you in an expert field, college trains you to think analytically, understand complex subjects and communicate your own critical ideas about them.” (“Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 2). Having a college degree you are capable of becoming a more responsible individual and taking the steps to become independant. These are all tools that you gain from college which lead you to becoming an adult. It is much harder for someone to become an adult who has only completed a high school education because they lack the tools that create that responsibility and independence. “In today’s economy, employment options are shrinking for people who only have a high school diploma. A large majority of high school graduates work in the service industry, in low paying jobs that don’t offer many opportunities for advancement. (“Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 1). Once someone graduates college they have a better chance of finding a career that can create independence and financial stability. By studying a subject of interest not only do you gain in that field, but you also gain experience in the workfield and learn responsible traits that can be transferred to your upcoming adult life. The article posted by, Ph.D Jennifer L. Tanner, called, “Who is an ‘adult’”?, explains the path from adolescence to adulthood. It has been
Due to the reliance of the amygdala prior to full brain development, teenagers within the age range of thirteen up to their mid twenties, are much less responsible when it comes to all aspects of their life compared to an adult. According to neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt, in a recent interview with NPR news, states that “adolescents and young adults become much more sensitive to peer pressure than they were earlier or will be as adults.” (“Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years” 2). In this case, there is absolutely no reason why eighteen year olds are able make decisions that could create their future all by themselves, instead they should be guided and taken into regard that they are indeed teenagers. To provide them with the necessary tools to be able to become real adults, instead of treating them like grown adults when they are not. You cannot give someone full control of their lives if it they are extremely likely to follow some way due to pressure. The consequences of this freedom given at such a young age are “the risks of crime and car accidents and all the crazy things that adolescents do are actually more issues with young adults, people in the 18 to 25 age range, largely because they have more opportunities to get into these kinds of trouble because they have less parental supervision than the younger adolescents do.” (“Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years” 4).
This is the reason why most accidents and casualties happen between the ages of eighteen and twenty five. They are given full control of their lives unknowing that they are so easy to fall into pressure. An article on Autos.com called, “Car Crash Statistics Based on Age and Location”, provides the information for who is targeted in car accidents the most. And it is shown that “People between the ages of 15 and 24 and over 75 are the groups most likely affected by car accidents” (“Car Crash Statistics Based on Age and Location” 1). This proves that this age range is the most irresponsible age range within the human lifespan. Since the brain remains undeveloped, teenagers are highly likely to partake in reckless behavior, without analyzing the consequences of their actions thoroughly. The article ,“What is the Age of Responsibility?”, published on governing.com, includes research on how responsible a young adult really is. Since research has proven that adulthood does not begin until the mid twenties, “youths who had previously been tried as adults are 34 percent more likely to commit a crime again than those who went through the juvenile justice system.”
(“What is the Age of Responsibility?” 3) Due to the fact that these individuals under the age of 25, are being convicted as adults in court. They are being treated as someone who has a clear intention and knowledge of what they are doing. But this isn’t the case because they have not completed their full brain development. So instead of providing them with tools to help them learn from their mistakes and understand the consequences of their actions, they are treated as an adult and that doesn’t help them in any way. There is a problem with treating a teenager as an adult because they are not on the same level of thinking as one. Research has shown that an individual becomes an adult when they have become fully responsible of their actions, and without a completely developed brain that is impossible. Most people under the age of twenty five are not financially stable and independent. Due to the fact that are simply not responsible enough to be independant. In the article, “29 Percent of all U.S Adults under the age of 35 are still living with their parents”, published by infowars.com, states that most people under the age of 35 still live at home. Since they have not developed the complete responsibility of a grown adult yet, “36 percent of Americans 18 to 31 years old were still living with their parents.” (“infowars.com” 1). How can someone be considered an adult when they are doing the exact same thing as a student in high school. Most people graduate high school and continue going to college with a part time job while living at home. There is no difference between this college student and high school student. Yet we give them all sorts of freedom when realistically there is only a minor difference in their brain development and responsibility. There are many “potential roadblocks on the path to independence that may force young adults to live with their parents longer, including a weak job market, the high cost of living, significant college debt, and helping care for an elderly or disabled parent.” (“infowars.com” 2). There is a reason why living on your own is expensive and it is designed in that fashion so a responsible adult who has completed education and has a career can be able to live on their own, not a teenager who is still going to school. Since teenagers are not independent, there is student loans for the majority of college students who cannot afford college for themselves, which makes them dependant. Someone who is dependant is still not an adult because they are relying on another source for their source of help. There is a reason that “Student loan debt accounted for 3.1 percent of all consumer debt in 2003. Today, it accounts for 9.4 percent of all consumer debt.” (“inforwars.com” 2). That reason is for students that are not yet adults to receive help to complete their education on the pathway to becoming adults. The amount of student loans is skyrocketing because these students are still teenagers and are unable to provide for themselves. But they are being treated as fully grown individuals who are responsible for all of their actions, which has been proved to be incorrect. In a recent article, “Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood?”, by BBC, it is stated that young adults are becoming independent at a far later age There is also a reason behind the fact that “adolescents may want to stay longer with their families because they need more support during these formative years and that it is important for parents to realise that all young people do not develop at the same pace.” (“Is 25 the new cut-off point for adulthood?” 2). Since during these formative years, adolescents still have not developed into full adults, they still depend on the guidance and help of their parents and family members. With this assistance, they can learn and grow into fully functioning adults. Until an individual has completed their brain development, can be responsible for every action they take, and can support themselves independently, they should not be considered an adult. To become independant, one needs to have an education and a stable career, regardless of what that career is. In a recent article called, “Benefits of Earning a College Degree”, posted by Education Corner, shows how important a college education is to becoming an adult and becoming financially independent. It is crucial to have a college education in order to have a stable career. “Studies show that college graduates earn significantly more money throughout their lifetime than those with only high school education.” “(Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 1). People who graduate college have a much higher chance of becoming financially independent, which means that they can support themselves without the reliance of others. A step towards becoming an adult is independence so by having proper education and a stable career you can have the tools to support yourself by standing on your own. College not only helps you find a career but it also helps create responsible adults, “Aside from training you in an expert field, college trains you to think analytically, understand complex subjects and communicate your own critical ideas about them.” (“Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 2). Having a college degree you are capable of becoming a more responsible individual and taking the steps to become independant. These are all tools that you gain from college which lead you to becoming an adult. It is much harder for someone to become an adult who has only completed a high school education because they lack the tools that create that responsibility and independence. “In today’s economy, employment options are shrinking for people who only have a high school diploma. A large majority of high school graduates work in the service industry, in low paying jobs that don’t offer many opportunities for advancement. (“Benefits of Earning a College Degree” 1). Once someone graduates college they have a better chance of finding a career that can create independence and financial stability. By studying a subject of interest not only do you gain in that field, but you also gain experience in the workfield and learn responsible traits that can be transferred to your upcoming adult life. The article posted by, Ph.D Jennifer L. Tanner, called, “Who is an ‘adult’”?, explains the path from adolescence to adulthood. It has been