Just as I find myself seeped in adolescent psychology and health prevention efforts, it seems like the issue of teen risk taking is perpetual in its concern and wonder.
Slate posted a two part series on adolescent risk taking by Alan E. Kazdin and Carlo Rotella. The first part of No Brakes! discusses the teen brain and why prevention messages don’t work – whether it is rational reasoning by parents, health 101 in schools, or pledges (as in virginity pledges – like, no kidding). On the other hand, they also explain that adolescent impulsivity is really no different than the grown up versions so give these teens a break. However, the interesting aspect of the article is the influence of friends on decision-making and the brain’s internal reward system being pumped by the power of peers. Kids make fairly good decisions when alone but when moved by the sprit of the group, they can land themselves in some pretty tricky situations.
Part 2 takes a pragmatic angle on the social-emotional brain systems of teens by providing some parenting tips. “Now, if you're expecting modern science to produce a magic-bullet gimmick—or a pill—to contain teen risk, you're going to be disappointed,” the authors write. And indeed, their recommendations are pretty basic and commonsensical: Monitor your kids, stay connected and engaged, keep them distracted, and help them to build skills and talents. This is all very practical but most parents know that even the best of efforts and even keel parenting might not work.
Perhaps most
interesting are the comments to the articles, which show just how darn hard it
is to be a teen or a parent. I
think back on my teen years and I truly wonder how I survived it – not that I
has a high risk taker, but I was in enough social situations and a few car
accidents that could have gone the other way. Of course, my parents had no idea – and I still won’t tell.
Comments