Teen Boy Brains Understanding Behavior Shaping the Scouting Experience

Please use the index card Write a brief description of some situation you have experienced that required adult intervention because of a Scout being: impulsive, mean, not listening, talking about or showing sexual content, shoving or showing aggression, totally antsy, disrespectful, not thinking, doing something dangerous, pretending not to care or listen

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

Teen Boy Brains Biology Behavior Mismatched to Education Model Needs What Scouting has to offer Changing the design Practice

So Basically… The Nature of the Beast The Needs of the Beast Playing with the Beast

Brain Parts – Function and Relative size There are differences between male and female brains Neither is better just have different attributes Anatomy affects characteristics, characteristics affects learning Boys can have better experiences when we understand more about them

Medical Pre-optic Area Sexual pursuit

Medical Pre-optic Area Sexual pursuit 2.5 times larger in males

Medical Pre-optic Area Sexual pursuit 2.5 times larger in males Hence preoccupation/thought frequency (Large screen TV analogy)

Temporal Parietal Junction Solution seeking/problem solving

Temporal Parietal Junction Solution seeking/problem solving More active in males

Temporal Parietal Junction Solution seeking/problem solving More active in males Tendency to jump into Solution Mode

Dorsal Premammilary Nucleus Defense of perceived ‘Turf’

Dorsal Premammilary Nucleus Defense of perceived ‘Turf’ Larger, more active

Dorsal Premammilary Nucleus Defense of perceived ‘Turf’ Larger, more active Sensitive to insults/threats so quick to react aggressively

Amygdala Key alarm system to detect threats/danger

Amygdala Key alarm system to detect threats/danger Larger, faster reacting in males 2x stimulation with peers

Amygdala Key alarm system to detect threats/danger Larger, faster reacting in males 2x stimulation with peers Emotional responses Bigger and Faster

Rostral Cingulate Zone Barometer for measuring peer approval

Rostral Cingulate Zone Barometer for measuring peer approval More active in teen years

Rostral Cingulate Zone Barometer for measuring peer approval More active in teen years Greater awareness of pecking order, desire to be near the top, to fit in and increases exploitation of weaknesses in others in order to appear ‘better’

Ventral Tegmental Area Reward and Motivation Center

Ventral Tegmental Area Reward and Motivation Center Less sensitive in teen years

Ventral Tegmental Area Reward and Motivation Center Less sensitive in teen years Needs higher ‘trigger’ to register

Periaqueductal Gray Pain awareness

Periaqueductal Gray Pain awareness Increased activity in males

Periaqueductal Gray Involved with lowering pain awareness Increased activity in males Decreases sensitivity to pain which can encourage risky behavior and decrease empathy

Mirror Neuron System Empathy – reading facial expressions, tone of voice, nonverbal emotions

Mirror Neuron System Empathy – reading facial expressions, tone of voice, nonverbal emotions Smaller

Mirror Neuron System Empathy – reading facial expressions, tone of voice, nonverbal emotions Smaller Less ability/inclination to empathize

Anterior Cingulate Cortex Fear of punishment and worry

Anterior Cingulate Cortex Fear of punishment and worry Smaller Testosterone also lowers activity

Anterior Cingulate Cortex Fear of punishment and worry Smaller Testosterone also lowers activity Risk taking behavior and lower value to authority

Prefrontal Cortex

Thinking, reflection, judgment, focus in present but understands longer range consequences

Prefrontal Cortex Thinking, reflection, judgment, focus in present but understands longer range consequences Smaller

Prefrontal Cortex Thinking, reflection, judgment, focus in present but understands longer range consequences Smaller in teen years, several year lag for full development No Brakes!!

Hormones Zeus – Dominant kingpin Increases aggression Activates brain development Triggers circuitry

Altogether Ultimate recipe for…. Bar Fights and Turf Wars, Lord of the Flies High Risk Behavior

Altogether Ultimate recipe for…. Bar Fights and Turf Wars, Lord of the Flies High Risk Behavior IF they have no guidelines or mentoring

Characteristics

Sleep Teens need 9-10 hours a night Usually get 6-7 Time shift at least 1 hour later – to bed and getting up

Boredom VTA – needs a lot more stimulus to react

Anger More easily triggered More responsive to peer influence More motivated to show off Social stakes higher

Hiding Emotions Need to fit in Not be readable by others who might wish to topple position Play it cool

Tuning out White noise (girls talking, lectures) deactivates brain Music activates brain

Fitting In Belonging is Everything RCZ protects from social faux pas but can go haywire – can victimize others to insure own belonging

Show of Strength Posturing to gain respect of peers Pushing the limits to define place

Winning v Losing Pregame pump up Winning increases Testosterone Losing – bottom out/ end ‘o’ world

Pecking Order Utmost Importance Want to be near the top Biologically driven to expose weakness Want to avoid bottom

Boy Banter Get brain high from show of strength Physical force + insults = The Best

Squirming Muscles gotta move To learn the word ‘run’, nerves fire – same muscles twitch Spatial reasoning – non verbal, physical manipulation

Social Skills Smaller brain areas Need to learn how to resolve conflict How to say what your are supposed to say Why bother?

Maturity Say what? The ‘Brakes” develops into the 20’s They are not little adults

Scouting Uniquely designed – Active Exploration – Honor - Scout Oath and Law – Patrols AND Troops AND Jamborees = Family of Scouting/Tribal

Practical Application Designing a ‘set-up’ for desired learning outcomes Aka Plan an outing/event