Cognitive Psychology: Adolescence Decision Making And Rick Taking
Adolescence Decision Making and Rick Taking
Latasha Mitchell
Professor: Ami Taharka
PSY 412- Cognitive Psychology
August 14, 2013
As a parent I always wanted to know what causes teenagers to take risk and make bad decisions. Turns out it has nothing to do with how smart they are and everything to do with their brains lack of ability to control impulses and the fact that their brains are not fully developed. In this paper I will touch on the brain of adolescence compared to the adult brain and the peer pressure of decision making and risk taking.
Research has shown that adults and teen brains work differently. Adults think with the pre frontal …show more content…
Thought parents try to work with teenagers to limit the consequences of poor choices, it best to allow teenagers to learn from the consequences of their poor choices. When they are in the real world learning from bad decisions helps the (PFC) to mature more quickly. The risk taking in teenagers is linked to the immaturity of PFC. Another part of the cortex is the anterior cingulated; it helps us make up our minds. While teenagers are taking risk, adults are able to rapidly sort out and get an idea of what to do. Adults are able to assess and respond to mixed signals allowing them to avoid certain dangerous situations. The reason why teenagers are not motivated by the threats of their parents is because their nucleus accumbens is still undeveloped. The nucleus accumbens (NA) is a small part of the brain that is important for motivation, pleasure, and addiction. Sometimes called the brain 's “pleasure center,” this cluster of neurons modulates the effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine, on which many neural circuits depend. The nucleus accumbens is a link in the brain pathways that cause addiction and depression. Damage to this region of the brain causes a lack of motivation and inhibits addictive behavior. Researcher Dr. Ronald Dahl says "Adolescents are actively looking for experiences to create intense feelings…It 's a very …show more content…
When they are learning from there bad decisions, it helps the (PFC) to mature more quickly. The risk taking in teenagers is linked to the immaturity of (PFC). Help your children link impulsive thinking with facts by discussing with them possible consequences of their actions. Doing so helps their brains make these connections and can actually wire their brains to make this link more often. So instead of trying to controlling the teen we had to give more
Latasha Mitchell
Professor: Ami Taharka
PSY 412- Cognitive Psychology
August 14, 2013
As a parent I always wanted to know what causes teenagers to take risk and make bad decisions. Turns out it has nothing to do with how smart they are and everything to do with their brains lack of ability to control impulses and the fact that their brains are not fully developed. In this paper I will touch on the brain of adolescence compared to the adult brain and the peer pressure of decision making and risk taking.
Research has shown that adults and teen brains work differently. Adults think with the pre frontal …show more content…
Thought parents try to work with teenagers to limit the consequences of poor choices, it best to allow teenagers to learn from the consequences of their poor choices. When they are in the real world learning from bad decisions helps the (PFC) to mature more quickly. The risk taking in teenagers is linked to the immaturity of PFC. Another part of the cortex is the anterior cingulated; it helps us make up our minds. While teenagers are taking risk, adults are able to rapidly sort out and get an idea of what to do. Adults are able to assess and respond to mixed signals allowing them to avoid certain dangerous situations. The reason why teenagers are not motivated by the threats of their parents is because their nucleus accumbens is still undeveloped. The nucleus accumbens (NA) is a small part of the brain that is important for motivation, pleasure, and addiction. Sometimes called the brain 's “pleasure center,” this cluster of neurons modulates the effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine, on which many neural circuits depend. The nucleus accumbens is a link in the brain pathways that cause addiction and depression. Damage to this region of the brain causes a lack of motivation and inhibits addictive behavior. Researcher Dr. Ronald Dahl says "Adolescents are actively looking for experiences to create intense feelings…It 's a very …show more content…
When they are learning from there bad decisions, it helps the (PFC) to mature more quickly. The risk taking in teenagers is linked to the immaturity of (PFC). Help your children link impulsive thinking with facts by discussing with them possible consequences of their actions. Doing so helps their brains make these connections and can actually wire their brains to make this link more often. So instead of trying to controlling the teen we had to give more