BLog #6 PLN 4

"What's Wrong with the Teenage Mind?" by Alison Glopnik of The Wall Street Journal explains how society effects the teenagers brain. As Alison explains in the article teenagers today are hitting puberty at an earlier age than in the past. In the article Alison states that " A leading theory points to changes in energy balance as children eat more and move less. This basically means that teenagers are hitting puberty earlier and they are reaching "Adulthood" later, which equals more time spent in awkwardness and sometimes alone or depressed.

"What's Wrong with the Teenage Mind?" by Alison Glopnik thoroughly breaks down the phsycology of the teenagers mind. Nowhere in the article did the author interview any teenagers or anyone  for that matter. In order for other people to understand how any other group, faction, age, gender, or individual thinks they need to speak with them or become a part of said group. The article consisted of many theories. There was not much credible data given. Many things were estimated or projected for example " Recent studies in the neouroscientist B. J. Casey's lab at Cornel University suggests that...," or " What teenagers want most of all are social rewards especially respect from their peers." this statement was followed up by test results that had almost nothing to do with what teenagers want or how they think. The article was inconclusive and jumped around from theory to theory and test to test, however in the end Alison stated "The good news, in short, is that we don't have to just accept the developmental patterns of adolescent brains. We can actually shape and change them." This really seems insulting to teenagers because Alison is saying that adults control how society is and in turn how teenagers think. This is not true at all. Teenagers have always thought in similar ways and with the same interests now and in the past. Many teenagers think in rebellious ways and will always be directly affected by what is happening in the world; however, teenagers will never be controlled by society.
Thanks for reading.
-Michael-