Beautiful Brain By David Dobbs Analysis

If you know William Shakespeare you know the play “ The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, a tragic story that proves that love makes teens do crazy things. I have found evidence that teens make lots of risky discussions. Parents also affect the way teens act based on how they treat the kids. This story has many people wondering if they treat their kids bad how will the outcome turn out.

Research depicts that teenagers fail to notice risks in a situation and completely process other ones when adults thoroughly examine the consequences and focus on the ending outcome. An article by Maia Szalavitz titled “Why the Teen Brain is Drawn to Risk” suggests that teens engage in drunk driving because they don’t completely scan the outcome of the situation, but they fully comprehend the risk of partaking in other activities that adults would immediately dismiss after looking at the possible outcomes such as Russian Roulette(Source F). This shows that adults quickly decide on seemingly dangerous actions because they view the finishing outcome of that activity while teems envision the whole activity and still choose to participate. On top of that, young adults are intrigued by unknown risks rather than known ones. Chris Sharma, a famous rock climber, mentions that he is "looking for new, hard climbs that no one has even thought possible" in a video named “Who Is Chris Sharma?”(Source G). This suggests that, as a young adult, he searches for climbs that have a high risk level that is unknown or ambiguous. Because adolescents have distinct judgment than that of an adults, they handle risky decision-making in another

For centuries, teenagers have fought with their parents over the amount of freedom they should have. Parents always fight to reel in their child’s freedom, while teens argue that they need more privileges. While parents certainly have an argument in protecting their kids from the big, scary world, ultimately teenagers need to be exposed to the dangers of everyday life in order to prepare them for entering it on their own. If they have no real-life experience, they cannot be expected to handle it well when they leave their parents’ houses. In order to teach kids responsibility and life skills, kids should be allowed freedom to work and be out on their own, but have certain restrictions on a case-to-case basis in terms of curfews and household obligations.

In “Beautiful Brains”, Dobbs illustrates there is a method to teenage madness. Through citing several scientific studies in an easily digestible fashion, Dobbs explains the impulsiveness and irrationality of the adolescent mind. Dobbs claims that teenagers are naturally risk takers because it is evolutionarily advantageous, as it allows them to adapt to new situations. Dobbs first draws the reader in with an anecdote about his own son, who was caught speeding over 100 mph. Having a bizarre response to his father, ‘’ He agreed. In fact, he sounded somber and contrite. He did not object when I told him he 'd have to pay the fines and probably for a lawyer. He did not argue when I pointed out that if anything happens at that speed—a dog in the road, a blown tire, a sneeze—he dies. He was in fact almost irritatingly reasonable. He even proffered that the cop did the right thing in stopping him, for, as he put it, "We can 't all go around doing 113."’’

David Dobbs in the Article “Beautiful Brains” proves the theme that it takes teenage brains longer to mature due to the recent change in impulsivity and adolescent behaviors.

The author of the article states that there is no better time than now to review how we are raising teenagers for many reasons. First and foremost there have been many strides taken recently to understand how the adolescent brain develops, strengthening ones understanding, and in turn, shedding light on errors made in the way adolescents are being raised in relation to their neuro-development. This means that because scientists have learned substantial information about the brain recently, it is important to reevaluate how parents are raising teenagers now more than ever. Second, according to the article it is a good time to review how we are raising teenagers because children are becoming adolescents earlier based on their physical maturation increasing faster each year, therefore it is important to examine why this is occurring. Finally, the author states that there is no better time to review how we are raising teenagers because of the recent discovery that the brain is malleable during adolescence due to neuroplasticity, meaning that the brain is able to be transformed during this time period solely based on the environment in which these individuals are exposed to, as per the article (Steinberg, 2014).

In her Wall Street Journal essay “What’s Wrong With the Teenage Mind?,” author Alison Gopnik restates the words of Psychologist Ronald Dahl to describe the impact of adolescent biology on their decisions: “Adolescents acquire an accelerator a long time before they can steer and brake.” (Gopnik) Dahl stated that adolescents “accelerate,” and develop, emotionally before gaining the necessary experience needed to “steer” and fully control their actions. The fact that biology factors into both the choices adolescents make and the amount of control they acquire is valid. An example of biology in decision-making was shown between the Spring of 2006 and 2007 in Oakdale, California. On March 31, 2006, Amanda Clark, a confident high school senior, crashed into a passing car after running a stop sign in her hometown of Oakdale. Distracted at the time of the accident, Clark was talking on her phone only seconds before the crash--failing to notice the stop sign while she spoke. Despite rolling her vehicle three times, Amanda sustained minimal injury and as a result, swore to now “put her phone away” while driving. However, only a year later, after texting her roommate, Clark experienced a similar, but fatal, accident which resulted in her death. When deciding to use her phone, once again, while driving, Amanda’s biography was such a

Researchers can look at the brain of a teen to examine their behavioral decisions.Teenage brains these years are more active and dynamic which means it’s still developing.Processing in the Limbic system is a result of risky behavior.The construction of a teenage thinking brain is not cable of fully processing necessary to make responsible decisions.At this stage the brain is still developing.The brain changes depending on interactions, helpimg the teen make changes. At this time the brain will need focused and support for a healthy connection.Surrounding impacts the child faces such as challenging situations is an effective technique.Parents need to consider the teens emotional

The article “Inside the Teen Brain’ by Marty Wolner, states that the human brain provides parents with shocking new evidence to possibly explain the sometimes irrational, illogical, and impulsive behavior of teenagers. Teenage years are radically more active and dynamic than they previously thought. So teenagers are left with most of the information reaching their brains being processed in the emotional part (limbic system). Information processed in the limbic system without benefit increases the processing in the prefrontal cortex. It may result in impulsive, egocentric, and maybe even risky behavior choices. The prefrontal cortex of the teenage brain does not excuse inappropriate or irresponsible behavior from the teen. The brain is not yet

I decided to agree with Robert Epstein because adolescence, make decisions that are different from adults. Adolescence has a brain that is still developing and growing which make adolescence take a risk, but as for an adult, they already did their time and learn to not to make any risks. I feel as though people may not see adults, making a risk, but they do and they are smart choices because their brain has matured. Robert Epstein argues that we blame teen turmoil on the immature brains. But did the brain cause the turmoil, or did the turmoil shape the brain? He thinks that its a myth about the teen brain. Teens tend to make risk taking inevitable, by making poor decisions, having bad behavior, and teens also to make risk by their culture environment. First I was debating with myself If did not choose No because Robert Epstein argues that we blame teen turmoil on the immature brain, but did the brains cause turmoil, or did the turmoil shape the brain? which he thinks it is "The Myth of Teen Brains." I agreed with that fact, I do believe that culture has a big effect on the brain development. Only reason I agree on this statement because of how I was raised in a cultural environment that has an effect on my brain as teen and now as an adult my brain has expanded and analyze things a little different.

I read the article, “Secrets of the Brain”, found in the February 2014 issue of National Geographic written by Carl Zimmer. I chose this subject because I have been fascinated with the brain and how it works. The research of the brain has been ongoing for many centuries now. The history in this article is interesting. It explained how scientists used to understand the brain and its inner workings. For example, “in the ancient world physicians believed that the brain was made of phlegm. Aristotle looked on it as a refrigerator, cooling of the fiery heart. From his time through the Renaissance, anatomists declared with great authority that our perceptions, emotions, reasoning, and actions were all the result of “animal spirits”—mysterious, unknowable vapors that swirled through cavities in our head and traveled through our bodies.” (Zimmer, p. 38)

The article “Inside the Teenage Brain” by Marty Wolner states that recently, brain researchers have been able to do a great quantity of detailed studies on the human brain. Despite previous thoughts about the teenage brain, development of the brain through the teenage years is very dynamic. The teenage brain is still learning how to process certain information properly in the thinking part of the brain, so often teens may not process all the information necessary to make responsible decisions. Nevertheless, the teenage years can be very stressful for both parents and for teens. Getting through the teenage years can be difficult, but with the right amount of healthy communication, discipline and support the road ahead won’t be so rough. At this

When it comes to the teenage brain it’s obvious that they aren’t fully developed. According to Frances Jensen “a mother, author and neurologist” (83), a teenager is missing the frontal and prefrontal lobes of the brain in which adults possess. “The frontal lobes are the seat of what’s sometimes called the brains executive function and is responsible for planning, for self-awareness, and for judgement” (84). Being that a teenager lacks planning, self-awareness and judgement due to a missing brain function, they are subject to not thinking and being aware of circumstances in a difficult situation. For example, Kolbert states that her adolescent sons participate in a “fun pastime known as a ‘case race’” (83). A case race is when “participants form two

Have you ever witnessed a teenager taking a risk? Adolescents are taking more risks than ever, such as drinking, vaping, texting while driving, having unprotected sex, and participating in extreme sports. Research suggests that there are, in fact, specific reasons why teens take risks. Three important effects of the drive to take risks in young people include dopamine, peer pressure, and a parents influence on their children.

Nature and nurture play a role in adolescent risk taking. At this point in their lives, adolescents are brains are still developing. Therefore they may be easily influenced by many things such as peer pressure, social media, and external stimuli. Berger (2015) states during middle school, students lose interest in their academics. As their academic decrease their behavioral problems increases. A major part of this problem is due to puberty. Puberty changes a lot of things for clients. During this time adolescents can be irrational which is where nature comes into play. In terms of nurture, the way how adolescents are raised is a predictor whether they engage in risky behaviors. If an adolescent has lots of social support and self-discipline