Adolescence

Adolescence

The only thing consistent about The only thing consistent about adolescence is adolescence is inconsistencyinconsistency

The wonder years…The wonder years…

Importance

• The ages 10-15 are transitional period for children from childhood to adolescence.

• Physical, emotional, social and cognitive

• The adolescents are kept in the dark :– Social conditioning– Cultural implications

So, they get their information from sources that are equally ‘incompetent’

The adolescent brainThe adolescent braina growth spurt (over-confidence)

a period of pruning (use it or loose it)

Development of Prefrontal Cortex– information synthesis – Planning & organization, – working memory, – mood modulation

Implications– Meta-cognition - Begin to think about

thinking.– Sustained learning - Influences learning for

the rest of life.– Hardwiring - More time for intellectual

activities. – Risk takers – Innovative, explorers

Mirror neurons

• ( in early childhood – baby see, baby do )

• In adolescence – hardwiring built around ‘role models’

Circadian cycle

• Melatonin (of pineal glands) – a sleep regulator, is secreted 2 hrs. later.

• Exceeding sleep needs (9 hrs)

• Sleep deficiency – Greater Cortisol (a stress hormone)– Lesser processing of glucose

(obesity & type 2 diabetes)

Implications

• Binge drinking– Blackouts & memory loss– Violence– Downward social class drift– Can drink more, Can be affected more

• Nicotine can permanently damage Hippocampus

• Cannabis – can have more, more cognitive memory problems

The four L’s of building adolescent identity

• Love and caring– Make it visible consistently

• Laughter– Be humorous, share your adolescence

• Limits– Help set goals and solve problems

• Linkages– Make healthy connections to the outside world