1. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TEENAGE BRAIN

2. The Kids Are Alright vs. The Kids Are Not Alright

3. not alright because of…
Drugs
Bad Parenting
Bad Schools
TV / Movies / Pop Culture
Divorce
GMC (General Moral Decline)

4. “There is something wrong with the teenage brain!”

5. ephebiphobia

6. “the young are heated by Nature as drunken men by wine” Aristotle

15. “Teenagers do risky things because they feel invulnerable”

16. “Teenagers do risky things because they feel invulnerable”

17. Risky behavior
“The importance of risking everything To me, an entrepreneur is anyone who risks everything to follow his or her passion. Period. The key ingredient is “Risk everything.” All in, no going back, no plan B, sell your house if it doesn’t work. This is not easy. This single element – EVERYTHING – separates the entrepreneurs from the business owners. (Being an entrepreneur simply means risking everything, whether its taking a new job, joining an NGO, or starting a business. Risk everything.) Only those that are totally passionate, slightly crazy and truly believe in their ability to make a difference can do this. And it’s a lot easier when you’re young and don’t have responsibilities like kids and a mortgage.”

18. The teenage Brain?

19. “raging hormones”

20. “Teenagers are X.” Black people are X. Old people are X.
Try…
Black people are X.
Old people are X.
Women are all X.

21. centers for disease control 2014

22. An epidemic of teen suicide?

23. USA Suicide rates, ages 15-19: 1950-2013

24. USA Suicide rates, ages 15-19: 2003-2013

25. Alabama Suicide Rates BY AGE GROUP, 2012

26. Alabama Suicide Rates, 2012

27. Alabama Suicide rates, ages 15-19: 2003-2013

28. An epidemic of teen violence?

29. USA Homicides, rates, victims’ ages 15-19: 1950-2010

30. USA Homicides, rates, victims’ ages 15-19: 2003-2013

31. Juvenile crime

32. USA MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES, rates, ages 15-19: 1950-2013

33. Teen birth rate women ages 15-19: 1950-2010

34. Substance abuse: high school seniors, 30 day use, 1980-2012

35. alcohol abuse: high school seniors, 30-day use, 1980-2012

36. Binge drinking (5+ drinks), by age, 2012

40. The question isn’t whether teenagers make bad decisions
The question isn’t whether teenagers make bad decisions. It’s whether they make them because they are teenagers or because they are human beings.

42. Why we shouldn’t be complacent.

43. Clinical Depression vs. “normal Adolescent moodiness”
Severity Duration Domains

44. Clinical Depression vs. “normal Adolescent moodiness”
Severity. Symptoms of teen depression
changes in mood (anger, sadness, irritability)
behaviors (sleeping or eating more or less than usual, taking drugs or alcohol, acting out; withdrawing from friends and family)
feelings (loneliness, insecurity, apathy), thoughts (hopelessness, worthlessness, thoughts of suicide)
The more pronounced these symptoms, the more likely that the problem is depression & not a passing mood.

45. Clinical Depression vs. “normal Adolescent moodiness”
Duration. Any notable deterioration in behavior or mood that lasts two weeks or longer, without a break, may indicate major depression. 

46. Clinical Depression vs. “normal Adolescent moodiness”
Domains. Problems noticed in several areas of a teen’s functioning — at home, in school, and in interactions with friends — may indicate a mood disorder rather than a bad mood related to a particular situation.

47. G. Stanley Hall
(1904) “Storm and Stress” inevitable in adolescence.

48. Albert Bandura
(1964) research showed most adolescents do not consider their adolescent years as particularly stormy. Also: the mass media rarely presented adolescents as being anything but stormy which created a skewed view of development  

49. Teenagers’ undeveloped brains mean they are impulsive and not ready to make mature decisions. ??

51. So, what’s really going on?

53. A huge, necessary, and fairly long nervous system UPGRADE
A huge, necessary, and fairly long nervous system UPGRADE. A massive reorganization from 12 to 25.

54. Pruning and myelinization

55. More myelin (white matter): Allows MUCH faster nerve transmission
More myelin (white matter): Allows MUCH faster nerve transmission. (100X)

56. Dendrites get “twiggier”: more branching and more outreach.

57. Synapses: Heavily used ones get strengthened
Synapses: Heavily used ones get strengthened. Less-used ones get “pruned.” Pruning in the cerebral cortex (thinking!) gets the brain more specialized and more efficient.

59. Emerging positive understanding
Robert Epstein “The Case Against Adolescence”(2008)
“THE TEENAGE BRAIN” concept ignores individual differences

60. The ESSENCE of adolescence
Daniel Siegel “Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Human Brain” (2008)
Brain changes in adolescence are necessary for shifts in thinking, feeling, interacting, decision-making.

61. The ESSENCE of adolescence
Feature
Necessary because…
Downside…
ES: Emotional Spark
Emotion is close to core of being human
emotional storms
SE: Social Engagement
supportive relationships are a key factor associated with medical and mental health, longevity, happiness
negative peer influences, too early withdrawal from relations with adults
N: Novelty-Seeking
courage to leave the familiar & certain
risk-taking behavior, injury, legal trouble
CE: Creative Exploration
discovery and exploration of new interests
departure from conformity is stressful

62. Is there a better time for this period of development than adolescence?

63. what do teenagers need?
Recognition that they individuals, not a member of a collective.

64. what do teenagers need?
Respect.

65. what do teenagers need?
Presumption of good intentions and capabilities, but sensible limits.

66. what do teenagers need?
An appropriate & every- changing balance of freedom (to explore) and limits (to provide safety.)

67. Peer support AND more interaction with adults.
what do teenagers need?
Peer support AND more interaction with adults.

68. what do teenagers need?
Sense of belonging.

70. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TEENAGE BRAIN