Instant Expert: Teenagers
Over at NewScientist.com I came across an interesting report titled Instant Expert: Teenagers. This report provides useful information on the changes which occur during the teen years-such as changes in social behavior, risky activities such as drug abuse, etc.
What I found most interesting is that it’s also humorous! Here’s an excerpt:
Adolescents are known to be moody, insecure, argumentative, angst-ridden, impulsive, impressionable, reckless and rebellious. Teenagers are also characterised by odd sleeping patterns, awkward growth spurts, bullying, acne and slobbish behaviour. So what could be the possible benefit of the teenage phase?
Most other animals - apes and human ancestors included - skip that stage altogether, developing rapidly from infancy to full adulthood. Humans, in contrast, have a very puzzling four-year gap between sexual maturity and prime reproductive age. Anthropologists disagree on when the teenage phase first evolved, but pinpointing that date could help define its purpose.
I’m not sure they meant this to be funny but, to me, that question about what the possible benefit of the teenage phase could be is hilarious! Check out the entire report. It might help you make sense of your teenager’s behavior-to some extent!
teens, teenagers, teen behavior, teenage behavior, hormones, adolescence, adolescent behavior, risky activity, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, NewScientist.com
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