That's a fact Jack.

This reminds me of an article in a recent SciAm called "The Myth of the Teenage Brain". Essentially the idea that teenagers are mentally different from adults is a complete farce with all the scientific data pointing to mental maturity before 13. Amazing how fast science gets chucked out the window in favor of an easy scapegoat...

Actually it is more funny that someone would hang their hat on the ramblings of a single article of research. But I do see it all the time. Someone gets their stuff published and it makes the head lines, only to find out later that the research is bogus. Great news... NOT. :neutral:

Do a little research of your own and you'll soon see that this isn't just a single paper I'm talking about, but you would also know that if you've ever actually read Scientific American. The idea of teenagers being immature in any neurological sense is a very recent phenomenon based far more on parents needing something to assuage their own feelings of frustration then on any sort of hard evidence. Historical and sociological data also points overwhelmingly towards a mental maturity date far younger then most people have led themselves to believe.
Follow the science if you want any sort of real answer...or delude yourself and sit in a dark room if you prefer.

Or you can follow any sort of published science and it will lead you to where ever you care for it to go. For every article you can find to support your notions, someone can find something to refute it. The way of the world of science and statistical study is nothing new.

There are some issues with being a teen; hormone surges that cause issues with focus, staying awake or going to sleep at the right times, overwhelming emotions, some others...
However, none of them are things that cannot be dealt with, and have not been by myself and others for most of history, by focus, self-respect and the concept of accountability.
Something most parents wait to try to teach their kids until it is far too late for them to accept.

mental maturity is not the same as emotional maturity.

that said, this thread is now toast because the original article is no longer available.

But I see it cam from the Daily Mail. Was it about Brit teens going nuts? Because you cannot compare the behaviour of Brit teens and American teens. The cultural differences are too big. Not that that makes bad behaviour OK, but is seems like the American teens here are defending themselves against something they could never be. (thankfully)

That was still very impressive attack speed by merc there, 1 post to all-out slash language on the reliability of science. The interesting idea is actually not so much the date of mental maturity, it's the secondary conclusion that the adverse behavior displayed by teens in many developed nations is primarily cultural/sociological in nature. Not something entirely novel I know, but perhaps that's the implication which set off the little outburst there?:cool:

This topic is wasted on a dead-end thread, deserves at least it's own one in the medical section...

Even with mental and emotional maturity established, don't underestimate the advantage of "time in grade" which gives you cumulative feedback on your fuck-ups.
The societal, rolled up newspaper on the nose, helps the judgment process considerably.

It was about a 16 year old having an unchaperoned party where tons of uninvited guests showed up and trashed the house. This has happened here in the states numerous times and I'll bet it's not the first time in GB. Cultural differences are transcended in these situations.

Good point...

A mature kid calls the cops.

Exactly. If a party goes out of hand that is the most efficent way of getting rid of everyone and prevent further damage to your parents house. Who cares if you get a drinking ticket? It is a lot better than getting your parent's house trashed.

I think it's interesting that Merc would first tell 9th that he shouldn't accept an answer from one paper and then when he's informed that there was more than one source he changed it to, "everyone can find research to prove their point".

I want to know what Mercs point is.

And more importantly, what research backs it up.