Do Teenagers Make Impulsive Decisions?

Amygdala vs. Frontal Cortex

• The amygdala is an early-developing part of the brain responsible for reactions fueled by fear and aggression, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The frontal cortex is a later-developing part of the brain responsible for reasoning and decision-making. In a teenager, the amygdala often takes charge of decisions, rather than the frontal cortex, because it̵7;s the dominant part of the brain during the teen years.

Pruning

• The gray matter of a teenager̵7;s brain multiples significantly around puberty, states the Delaware Health and Social Services website. Density of gray matter leads to a process called ̶0;pruning̶1; ̵1; the elimination of neurons and dendrites that the brain isn̵7;t using. Pruning reduces clutter and strengthens the connections left behind. If a teenager doesn̵7;t use his brain, challenging himself to learn and grow intellectually, pruning may occur at an accelerated rate. A teenager who experiences malnutrition may also experience accelerated pruning. If problems with pruning occur, a teenager may exhibit a less organized brain, faulty decision-making, reckless behavior and emotional outbursts.

Stress Levels

• Teenagers often exist in a world of heightened stress levels. When faced with a decision and feeling stress or anxiety, the teen may have significant problems making a positive and responsible decision, advises social worker Kara Newby and professor Anastasia Snyder, with the Ohio State University Extension. She may also give in more easily to peer pressure when it's applied in a stress-filled situation.

Decision-Making Skills

• You might help your teenager learn better decision-making skills by discussing the process before he uses the skills and then encouraging him to practice, counsels the Blue Valley Schools website. A structured process for making decisions includes defining the decision, listing options, considering each option, choosing an option, moving forward and then analyzing the results. Once a teenager understands and practices the process, he may be more likely to use it, even in situations that demand a quick decision.