As parents, we spend a lot of time worrying about our young teens’ seemingly reckless behavior. Parents like myself are all too often mystified as to why our teens would choose to, say, take drugs, have sex, or drive drunk — when we can see so clearly that these are bad ideas.
According to a new study, one reason is that the teen brain is, quite literally, wired to seek excitement. The study found that teens between the ages of 10 and 16 prefer immediate rewards over delayed ones, mostly because their brain systems governing sensation are highly active.
You may ask: What about their brain systems governing self-control?
Still maturing.
A number of other studies have pointed out that teen brains are very different than adult brains. The bottom line is that teens are often keenly focused on feeling good in the moment.
So, next time your teen eats half a pizza (then feels sick afterwards), or brings home half a dozen friends without checking with you, or spends all her cash on pricey designer clothing (then comes to you for a loan), remember: This may have happened not because he or she doesn’t care about the consequences of eating poorly, or the possibility that you don’t want a gaggle or rowdy boys in the basement, or that you’re not made of money.
It may have been because it just seemed like fun at the time.
Really, mom. What’s the big deal?
-Karen Feldscher, is BodiMojo project manager, and a writer and editor with nearly 30 years of experience, and mom of a teenager.
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