Healthy Sexual Development

The court said that because of their youth, their brains are less developed, they are more impulsive, more subject to peer pressure and less able to see the consequences of their actions. Researchers have started to look into the development of the brain from the ages of 3 to 20 years old. Brain research by Thompson and others suggests that teenagers are unformed, less mature and less resistant to peer pressure than adults are. According to Thompson’s research, “gray matter, which brain researchers believe supports all our thinking and emotions, is purged at a rate of 1 percent to 2 percent a year” (89). He also states that, “these frontal lobes, which inhibit our violent passions, rash actions, and regulate our emotions, are vastly immature throughout the teenage years” (89). Teens do know what they have done and they are capable of understanding right from wrong but their brains aren’t developed enough to make fully mature decisions.

Human sexuality can be fascinating, complex, contradictory, and sometimes frustrating. Sexuality is interwoven into every aspect of being human; therefore, having knowledge about sex is as essential as having education about human anatomy. However, it is highly recommended to pay close attention when sex education is delivered to youths. (Donatelle 171)

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

Considering the behaviors of an adolescent in the same manner as that of an adult is unfair. Juvenile brains are still developing, which means that they perform differently than adult brains (AACAP). Adolescents are more likely to act on impulse, get involved in fights, and engage in risky or dangerous behavior. They are less likely to think before they act or consider the consequences of their actions (AACAP). Weighing this scientific fact, it is unfair to assume that a juvenile committed a delinquent act with the same forethought of an adult. The mental development of a juvenile makes it difficult to prove that they established the mens rea equal to that of an adult guilty of the same offense.

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

Adolescents make more rash decisions than any other age group. This behavior linked with teenagers leads to risky actions because of the design of the teenage brain. On the flip side, the blueprint of the teenage brain permits teens to pick up new skills by seeking out different adventures. The teenage characters in Romeo and Juliet pose as an accurate representation of typical teenage decision making. Although this is consistent behavior with this age group, based upon scientific findings of adolescent brain growth, brain maturity, and pleasure drive, teenagers like Romeo and Juliet should be held responsible for their risk-taking and impulsive behavior.

As a teen, the human brain is not yet fully developed. One’s cognitive ability falls short to the ability of an adult brain, which has had more time and is fully developed. In the article, “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains”, research given during a televised conference at the White House shows that teens impulsive and erratic behavior can be linked to the massive loss of brain tissue that occurs during the teen years. With teen brains not being fully developed, and the research explaining and linking their behavior to their brains, I believe

The changes in adolescence brain create a dimension that will be difficult in making the right choices in human agency and the decision or actions of the adolescence is unpredictable, because their thinking capacity in choice making is still developing. This changes in the brain is constantly being influences by multiple interaction.

A study was made on the human brain to see exactly how it changes throughout the years of developing. During the first ten months all neurons are barely starting to make connections. Then progressing to age six the brain’s frontal lobes start developing emotion, attachments, planning, working memory, and perception. Then, during the “teenage years”  the neural connections or “gray” matter is still developing. this is the reason to why they need to control their impulses because with all the drug and alcohol influences that are invading every high schooler's life they don't even know how to control it. The brain reaches its peak at twenty two and last for five more years afterwards it’s a

Teenagers. People find them to be crazy just by looking at the way they dress and act. In modern days, they dress with pop culture and most of the time, it’s provocative, but it is what all of their peers are wearing. They act in the craziest way, from “hooking up with strangers, [to] jumping from high places into shallow pools, [to] … steering a car with … [their] knees” (83) it is a wonder that they grow up to become “civilized, intelligent adults” (83). In Elizabeth Kolbert’s “The Terrible Teens,” she asserts that teenagers take risks because of their brains. Teenagers are known for making impulsive decisions that may lead to tragic events. Kolbert believes that teenagers make rash decisions because their frontal lobes are immature, nucleus

Healthy sexual development, since everyone has their own personal experiences and influences throughout their life this would be different for each individual. Although, if the person was a victim of sexual abuse or had the ideas that sexual contact was considered dirty or a sin their beliefs may be skewed. This could be especially true for someone in the adolescent puberty developmental stage when the person is unsure of their sexual orientation, and finds themselves sexually aroused by someone of the same sex. Puberty can be a difficult time for adolescents and if the person is comes out as a gay male or a lesbian they often face biases and can be victimized by their peers, society, and even their family members (Strickland, 1995). Therefore,

Adolescence is a time period of crucial development. It is marked by a transition from childhood to a period of a young adult which then leads into adulthood. With such transitions come an increase in risk of sexual behavior in adolescents. Risk-taking has been proven to increase between childhood and adolescence and decrease into adulthood. The risk is associated with changes in the socio-economic system of the brain as well as social factors such as the presence of peers. Physiologically, risk-taking is partially caused by a lack of development in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala which are both vital parts of the brain responsible for controlling decision-making and social behavior (Steinberg, 2008).

Sexual education should begin at home. Parents and guardians ought to be the primary instructors of sex education for their children. Daily, parents should

In society, the lack of insufficient sex education for teenagers is a major problem. This ongoing issue has led to the development of a bigger problem such as teen pregnancy, sexual transmitted infection, and emotional problems adolescence have to face when engaging in sexual activity at a young age. According to the Understanding Human Sexuality textbook (2010) sexuality education can occur in many settings such as at home or school, and in personal relationships or from information found on the internet. In this society kids are being introduced to sex at such an early age that it would be beneficial for them to learn about sex education earlier as well, that way they have a lower chance of contracting an STD/STI or having an unwanted

Therefore, the approach on sexuality should different. It is essential to start the sex education program early so that young teens could know what is positive and negative when it comes to sex. Educational graphics and encouragement to remain abstinent are some ways that young teens can learn about sex. The youth of all ages should have the basic knowledge about sex education, what it is, and how to properly be protected during sexual intercourse and thoroughly educated about the risk and preventions of diseases.