 |
This morning, GMA shared our alarming "Spring Break Confessions" with the nation.
This morning, pediatrician and Mom•Logic contributor Dr. Cara Natterson appeared on Good Morning America to share our shocking findings with parents everywhere.
Why are teens so reckless, especially on spring break? Dr. Natterson says, contrary to popular belief, there is actually a medical reason. Here's why, in her own words:
"Increasingly through the teenage years, there emerges a perfect storm. The combination of hormones driving physical and sexual development, independence in the form of driver's licenses and money (whether from allowance or after-school jobs), and social norms that include raucous parties has often been blamed for out-of-control teenagers--the modern day "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll." But it turns out that the biggest influence of all may be the development of the human brain. Most teenagers and even young adults into their early 20s lack the ability to make consistently mature decisions. It's a matter of brain chemistry.
For the better part of the past two decades, studies have been ongoing at several institutions, among them the National Institute of Mental Health. A lead researcher at NIMH, Dr. Jay Giedd, has used MRI scans to demonstrate that, when compared to an adult brain, the teen brain uses radically different pathways to make decisions. The frontal lobe of the brain is often referred to as the C.E.O. because it is responsible for making executive decisions--for weighing the importance of different pieces of information and then choosing what to do. But for many, the frontal lobe does not fully mature until the early 20s. So teens typically make decisions using not the frontal lobe, but rather areas of the brain that rule arousal, fear, and general emotional state.
How does this brain chemistry affect teenage behavior? Take the decision to have sex. A mature adult will make that decision using, among other things, the frontal lobe. She can consider any number of pieces of information--how well she knows her partner, whether she has adequate birth control and protection from STDs, and so on--and make a decision about whether or not to have sex accordingly. A typical teen, however, lacks the ability to prioritize the longer-term consequences over the immediate gratification. A teenager's decision about sex is ruled much more by how it will feel.
Of course, this is not to say that teenagers cannot consider consequences. Even a 2-year-old child can invoke consequential thinking: "If I touch that hot stove, I may get burned, so I am not going to touch it." The point here is that the drive to make a decision as an adolescent or young adult is ruled much more by the in-the-moment sensation. If a teen took the time to consider all of the issues at hand in a given circumstance, he or she may make a different decision.
There is also a group phenomenon that occurs among teens. A teenager may sit with his parents at the dinner table and promise not to have sex or do drugs. And he may mean every word he says. But the power of the drive to seek sensation in the teen brain makes this decision very difficulty in a group setting. When teens are gathered in groups, they are motivated by what surrounds them. A kid who meant it when he told his parents he wouldn't do something gets caught up in the moment and, literally, cannot help himself.
Finally, once a teenager makes a bad decision, other bad decisions often follow. For instance, when a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol has a disinhibiting effect--it makes you more likely to do something that you wouldn't otherwise do sober. A teenager who is drinking is more likely to make the choice to have sex than one who is not. An intoxicated driver is more likely to get into an accident. One bad decision begets another.
Teenagers are, by definition, caught in a paradox. We want them to behave responsibly and maturely, but our social expectations do not always meet their physiologic abilities. Remember that your teenager may be adult-sized, but his or her brain has not reached adult maturity. Yes, hormones play a part, as do peer pressure and freedom. But on some level, a teenager is simply not able to weigh the consequences of his behavior and consistently make the right decision. Sure, there are some 15- or 16-year-olds who can do this, but for the majority, it doesn't happen until the early 20s."
 | Dr. Cara Natterson, a graduate of Harvard University, is a pediatrician and the author of the Head to Toe book series. She is a mother of two. |
|
previous: Win It: Baghaus Bags Gift Certificate
|
Comments (10)
Email
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
ML OBSESSION |
COUPONS & SALES
|
Thank you so much Mom Logic for this disturbing, BUT NEEDED look at what happens during Spring Break. My 16 yr. old and 17 yr. old will definitely see this because hopefully now they’ll understand what exactly I’m trying to protect them from. Thanks again for all of your great work! :)
agree
OMG…Spring break is nothing new! I have friends who partied like that, but they’re parents were so much different from mine, in that they could pretty much take off anywhere and I couldn’t. I’m sure the science about us teens may be true, but there are some of us who DO make good decisions…and that’s mainly because we have great role models in our lives. Not all of us are crrazy, hormonal or stupid. Some of us have self respect and DON’T wanna be embarrased on t.v.
agree
FYI….doesn’t that Brittany girl interviewed LOOK like Britney Spears?? Weird! Just an observation! ;)
agree
Thanks for this article/video on Spring Break. As a guy in my early 20’s, it always makes me kind of angry and disturbed when I see videos like this because I never ever thought to act as immature as these kids do. I think that Dr. Natterson is giving these kids too much credit for it being their brains fault for not being developed, instead of blaming the kids for just being stupid. Sorry, but by the age of 18 (when you are considered an adult), you should know better than to think that drinking nothing but alcohol for a week, doing ecstasy, heroin, acid, etc, and having unprotected drunken sex with perfect strangers is a SMART decision. Sorry, but I just don’t buy that an 18+ year old can’t judge for themselves that something like that is wrong. There are ways to have fun without putting your life at risk. Parents of kids like these; You aren’t doing a good enough job of letting them know that doing things like this are things they will end up regretting later in life. Kids need GOOD role models in their lives, and if they have them, they will be able to say no to things like these situations. Also, I must add that I agree with what “Teen Chick” said. Some of us do know wrong from right….very few it seems.
agree
Well I want to let everyone know that not everyone acts like this. I was actually on spring break in south padre this past march and had a great time. Yes I drank but all five of us were 21 and we did it responsibly. Not letting your children experience things will only make the animosity between you grow. One of the things I’ve noticed is how the family relationships affect college kids. I have lots of friends who get sick and do dumb things sleep around,etc. All of my friends that have good relationships with their families seem to be smarter about it, they don’t drink to the point of not knowing what happened. They learn to control themselves better. I grew up being able to drink with my parents, not excessively and very under control and its important to teach kids how to drink rather then not to drink. They will drink its inevitable and the sooner you face that and try to help them make better decisions the better parent you will be. It is extremely sad that our generation is slipping down this but I try to help everyone around me and I will promise to help my children the way my parents have helped me. To be a friend and a confidant but also to discipline. Its hard to strike that balance but very effective when you do.
agree
I agree with Casey in that I’m 19 and I never partied stupidly like these kids here and you know what…there’s ALOT of teens/ya’s like me who can say the same!
I’m curious to know this: So, what’s the excuse for adults who make dumb decisions everyday—like sleep with hookers while in office, or sleep with your 12 yr. old student?? Where’s their C.E.O.?
C’mon…there’s only so much you can explain away with science! After that, it’s called stupidity or responsibility. CHOOSE ONE.
agree
This interview and segment that aired today was nothing but a misconception and terrible display of what really goes on during spring break. I actually traveled to spring break this year to South Padre Island, Texas. I was part of a group of 33 people that went from a college in MD. 15 guys and 18 girls. Not once did our group members fall into any of these traps, sure we drank alcohol and got drunk but there comes a point when parents need to look at what they are doing. I am 22, and as soon as I got on the island i began to think why would you come to spring break in the U.S. knowing that you can’t drink? Sure, the kids are on tape doing things that they are going to regret in the morning or when they get back to reality and real life but why didnt mom-logic interview any girls or guys that had a positive experience and were actually of age to drink? I emailed my friends on the trip your video and they were just as angered and upset as I was. Why would parents send their kid that is underage in the first place on a trip that is supposed to be party central? why not criticize some parents in the video instead of frowning upon a demographic that shouldn’t take place in the parties in the first place. Spring break for my group was the best experience of our college years and we look forward to sending our kids somewhere when they are mature and responsible adults.
agree
I also blame the cities,hotels,bars,andpolice for looking the other way on this behavior just for the sake of bringing in money into the cities. is money realy more important than the well being of our precious kids.
agree
I thought this report was ridiculous. Saying that it’s something in the brain is just giving these irresponsible ADULTS an excuse to do what they do. What happened to personal accountability? Next thing you know you’ll hear a court case where the defendant says, “I can’t help it. It’s a developmental problem.” For most of these kids, I think parents play a big role. I am willing to bet that most of these kids had their plane tickets purchased by their parents. Kids who are still dependent on their parents (even though they are considered adults)usually still need to ask permission for these trips. Just say no. How easy was that? Bottom line: Don’t make excuses for people who are old enough to vote, fight in a war, and sign legal documents. Let them be accountable for their actions.
agree
I can’t help but feel like those girls in the hotel are being dumb and exaggerating in front of cameras. Even if somebody’s brain isn’t developed nobody brags about getting beer poured on them by a group of 30 guys, and the constant laughter in the background after everything they say just makes it sound so ridiculous. I could go around with a camera and get drunk girls to say how many drugs they do in front of a camera to try to scare people too. Obviously kids do drugs but this video is such ridiculous scare propaganda. The eerie music playing in the background with the cheesy clips of people partying. Most of the parents you’re trying to reach probably drank once in high school, and may have even gone to a beach to do it. (heaven forbid)
agree