Troubled Teens: Law-Breaking And Normal Adolescence

Adolescence is a period of significant development, marking the transition between childhood and adulthood. During this time, young people undergo several changes, including physical, intellectual, psychological, and social developments, as well as the development of their own moral compass.

Adolescence is also a time when young people begin to explore their identity and independence, which can sometimes lead to risky behaviours and poor decision-making. While this is a normal part of growing up, it is important to remember that these choices can have consequences. As a parent, it is crucial to provide support and accountability while also allowing your teenager to learn from their mistakes.

So, while law-breaking may be a part of normal adolescence, it is essential to find a balance between understanding their development and ensuring they understand the consequences of their actions.

Adolescence is a period of significant development, with physical, cognitive, and psychological changes

Adolescence is a period of significant development, with a multitude of physical, cognitive, and psychological changes taking place.

During this stage, adolescents undergo physical changes that shift them from their childhood bodies to their adult bodies. These changes are driven by the release of certain hormones in the brain, which are the same for all adolescents, but the differences in hormone levels lead to varying results in males and females. The most notable changes include growth spurts in height and weight, with bones and muscles getting longer and stronger. Accompanying these growth spurts are other physical changes such as body odour, acne, and increased body hair. Adolescents of both sexes experience these common changes, but there are also sex-specific changes. For example, females develop fuller breasts and wider hips, while males' shoulders broaden and their muscles get bigger. These physical changes grant adolescents the ability to reproduce, also known as fertility.

Beyond the physical changes, adolescence is also marked by significant cognitive development. This is a critical period for the maturation of neurobiological processes that underlie higher cognitive functions, social behaviour, and emotional behaviour. The prefrontal cortex, which matures later than other brain regions, exhibits increased abilities in abstract reasoning, attentional shifting, response inhibition, and processing speed. Adolescents show an improved capacity to selectively attend to information and control their behaviour. They become better at reading social and emotional cues, and their interpersonal relationships take on increased importance.

In terms of psychological changes, adolescence is characterised by the emergence of abstract thinking, an increased ability for introspection, the development of personal and sexual identity, the establishment of a system of values, and the pursuit of greater independence from family. Peer relationships also take on a greater role and can sometimes be of subcultural quality. Additionally, adolescents develop skills and coping strategies to navigate problems and crises. These changes can be understood as developmental tasks that contribute to normal development, but they also provide insights into developmental deviations and psychopathological disorders.

While the above describes the typical trajectory of adolescent development, it's important to note that the timing and outcome of these changes can vary. Individual differences in genetics, diet, nutrition, exercise, chronic illnesses, and substance use can all influence the timing and manifestation of physical changes during adolescence. Furthermore, the development of cognitive and emotional abilities can influence and be influenced by physical changes, creating a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors.

Adolescents are more impulsive and immature, which can lead to poor decision-making and risky behaviours

Adolescence is a dynamic period of development, characterised by experimentation, risk-taking, and impulsivity. During this time, teenagers are more likely to act on impulse, without fully considering the consequences of their actions. This is due to the fact that the teenage brain is not yet fully developed—the brain continues to develop well into a person's twenties. Specifically, the prefrontal and frontal cortex, which govern important executive functions like judgement and decision-making, are not fully formed. As a result, teenagers are more likely to engage in risky behaviours and poor decision-making.

The desire to be perceived as unique and different from their peers is also a factor in adolescent risk-taking. This need for acceptance and confirmation from others can lead to impulsive behaviours as teens seek to elevate their social status.

Individual differences in impulsivity also play a role. Some teens exhibit a tendency known as 'acting without thinking', characterised by hyperactivity and a lack of attention to the environment. This type of impulsivity is associated with deficits in executive function and is often seen in those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other forms of impulsivity include a lack of patience and a tendency towards sensation-seeking.

While adolescence is a time of heightened impulsivity and risk-taking, it is important to note that not all teens engage in high-risk behaviours. Individual differences dominate the emergence of such behaviours, and a small proportion of adolescents account for a large share of serious offences.

Early interventions and parental support can play a crucial role in reducing the severity and impact of impulsive behaviours. These interventions can increase control over behaviour and persistence towards valued goals, such as educational achievement. Additionally, intensive training focused on executive functioning and self-regulation skills can help to reduce impulsive tendencies and improve decision-making.

Adolescents are more sensitive to social information, which can impact their self-evaluation and identity development

Adolescents are highly sensitive to social information, which can impact their self-evaluation and identity development. This is because adolescence is a time of heightened self-consciousness and the ability to reflect on one's attributes and behaviours. As a result, they are more prone to social comparison and self-evaluation, which can influence their sense of self-worth and identity formation.

During adolescence, individuals strive to develop a coherent identity by exploring different facets of themselves and committing to specific identities. This process is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internally, adolescents reflect on their interests, preferences, and intrinsic motivations to gain a better understanding of their authentic self. Externally, they are influenced by societal messages, cultural norms, and the expectations of their parents, peers, and other social groups.

The process of identity development is complex and involves the integration of three strands: discovering one's authentic self, navigating social expectations and acceptance, and forming a cohesive sense of self that encompasses both individual and social identities. Adolescents seek an identity that reflects their genuine self while also being socially acceptable. This can be challenging when certain aspects of their authentic self are stigmatised or devalued by society.

The support of local social contexts, such as family, friends, and mentors, plays a crucial role in healthy identity development. These relationships provide adolescents with a sense of belonging, validation, and the opportunity to explore and express their true selves. Constructive narrative processes within high-quality family relationships and friendships facilitate identity development and contribute to better functioning in multiple domains.

Identity development is a dynamic process that continues beyond adolescence and into young adulthood. It is influenced by life events, transitions, and daily experiences. The process can be stressful and is closely linked to psychosocial adjustment and well-being. Adolescents with a more well-adjusted identity tend to fare better in various aspects of life, while those who struggle with identity development may experience adjustment problems and maladaptive behaviours.

Adolescents are more prone to risk-taking and sensation-seeking, which can be influenced by their increased sensitivity to rewards

Adolescents are more prone to risk-taking and sensation-seeking due to changes in their brain's socio-emotional system, which is associated with increased self-control, and the absence of maturation, which is associated with impulsivity and poor decision-making. The limbic system matures early, while the prefrontal cortex takes longer to mature. This maturation gap puts adolescents at particular jeopardy for risk-taking behaviours and potential unhealthy outcomes.

The brain's reward system, which is stimulated by increased releases of dopamine when engaged in sensation-seeking behaviour, begins to develop in adolescence. This encourages teens to seek novel experiences and engage in more adult-like activities. Many of these exciting, novel, independent activities are associated with some risk, such as drugs, driving, and sex. Increases in sensation-seeking behaviour are observed in 14 to 22-year-olds, with the level of sensation-seeking typically greater in males than females.

The decision-making process involved in sensation-seeking may be influenced by peers. Adolescent sensation-seekers not only associate positive effects with risky behaviours but also seek out peers with similar interests. These peers create a social group that may encourage risk-taking behaviour and increase the positive effects associated with the experience. The influence of peers on risky behaviour is greater than that of sensation-seeking alone. However, the combination of sensation-seeking and peer influence has a significantly greater influence on risky adolescent behaviour than sensation-seeking or peer influence alone.

The prefrontal cortex, which is not fully developed until early adulthood, allows us to assess situations, consider consequences, and control impulses adequately. The gap between the increase in the sensation-seeking of the reward system and the slower-developing prefrontal cortex puts adolescents at particular risk for risk-taking behaviours.

Adolescents are developing a sense of identity and self, which can be influenced by their family, culture, peers, and media

Adolescence is a critical period for developing a sense of self and identity, encompassing commitments, personal goals, motivations, and psychosocial well-being. During this stage, individuals seek autonomy from their parents and increased connections with their peers. Their self-evaluations become more complex and differentiated across various roles and relationships, and they often experience heightened self-consciousness, paying closer attention to how others perceive them.

Neuroimaging studies have shed light on the neural underpinnings of self-related processes during adolescence. These studies show heightened engagement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and adjacent rostral/perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) when adolescents evaluate themselves compared to others. This activity increases during adolescence, suggesting a link to the development of identity.

The vmPFC and ACC are part of a broader network, including the ventral striatum (VS), dorsal medial PFC (dmPFC), and temporal-parietal junction (TPJ), which are involved in self-evaluation and social self-evaluation. The VS, for instance, is associated with the overlap between self-reference and reward. The TPJ, on the other hand, is often active during mentalizing and social perspective-taking in adults, and its functional connectivity with the vmPFC relates to generosity.

The development of self and identity in adolescence is influenced by various factors, including family, culture, peers, and media. Family plays a crucial role, as adolescents seek autonomy from their parents while also being influenced by their family's values and beliefs. Culture shapes identity through shared norms, values, and traditions, which adolescents may embrace or challenge as they form their own identities.

Peers become increasingly important during adolescence, as social connections and acceptance are sought. This can lead to a greater focus on social norms and expectations, which may influence identity formation. Additionally, the media can play a significant role in shaping adolescent identity, as individuals are exposed to various forms of media content and influences.

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