Mental Characteristics of Teenagers

The adolescent years are frustrating, funny and full of drama for many teens. These wild swings in emotion and thought are merely outward indications of the massive changes going on inside the teen̵7;s brain. During childhood, the brain is highly malleable, or plastic. This allows the child to take in new information quickly and link like subjects. By the time the child matures into adolescence, the brain is approximately 80 percent mature. This means the teen brain has some of the skills of the adult brain while retaining the plasticity of the child̵7;s brain.

  1. Cognitive Characteristics

    • Teens have unique cognitive abilities. They retain the plasticity of childhood, giving them an advantage when learning new concepts and procedures. However, they are also adept at higher-order thinking. They have the skills to solve complex problems and the ability to weigh options. Teens can consider abstract concepts such as justice and morality. They also have the ability to consider long term consequences. However, the cerebellum isn̵7;t fully integrated with the frontal lobe. This means that teen̵7;s creativity and impulses are not yet governed by reason and logic. This can lead many teens into risk-taking behavior.

    Emotional Characteristics

    • The sunny teenager can turn into a storm of anger at a moment̵7;s notice, then morph into a pensive, thoughtful young adult. Welcome to teenage emotions. The teenage years are a time of massive emotional change for both teens and their families. There is good reason for this. Changes in the teen̵7;s body shift how the young person sees herself. Body image becomes either a stepping stone, or a stumbling block. Hormones play a larger part in the teen̵7;s life as she explores her own feeling about sexuality and love. In addition, the not fully developed frontal lobe doesn̵7;t remind the teen that emotions are fleeting. Teens can become mired in whatever emotion she feels at the moment.

    Social Characteristics

    • For teens, it is difficult to separate the social and emotional context of their lives. Teens start to move away from the family early, often replacing family values and ideals with those of their social group. This is an important stepping stone to full autonomy. Toward this end, teens want more control over aspects of their own lives. This can create friction between parents and teens. Opinions of friends and the opposite sex become far more important than those of parents and teachers. Teens also begin to explore intimate relationships with others, experiencing both the joy and the heartache that goes with trusting others.

    What Parents Can Do

    • One of the most important things that a parent can do is keep the lines of communication open with the teen. Whether this is a set time for you to talk, or a quick daily discussion, it is vital that the teen knows he has a parent interested and involved. Try not be judgmental. Teens don̵7;t always think before they act. This can lead them into trouble. It is vital that the teen feels free to talk with a parent as soon as he realizes he is in trouble. A teen who̵7;s afraid to rely on a parent may try to fix the problem alone, only compounding the trouble. Encourage the teen to keep a journal or log. This allows the teen to see that emotions and even problems are fleeting. Keeping track of times when the teen has successfully conquered a challenge also boosts the teen̵7;s self esteem.

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