1. Teen Boy Brains Understanding Behavior Shaping the Scouting Experience

2. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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

12. Medical Pre-optic Area Sexual pursuit

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

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

15. Temporal Parietal Junction Solution seeking/problem solving

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

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

18. Dorsal Premammilary Nucleus Defense of perceived ‘Turf’

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

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

21. Amygdala Key alarm system to detect threats/danger

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

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

24. Rostral Cingulate Zone Barometer for measuring peer approval

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

26. 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’

27. Ventral Tegmental Area Reward and Motivation Center

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

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

30. Periaqueductal Gray Pain awareness

31. Periaqueductal Gray Pain awareness Increased activity in males

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

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

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

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

36. Anterior Cingulate Cortex Fear of punishment and worry

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

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

39. Prefrontal Cortex

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

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

42. 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!!

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

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

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

46. Characteristics

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

48. Boredom VTA – needs a lot more stimulus to react

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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