New research suggests teens giving into peer pressure not related to decision-making ability
Recent studies suggest peer pressure isn't the enemy it's made out to be, but actually an important step in development, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
While teens are more easily susceptible to being influenced, it's not because they are unable to make rational decisions, but because they derive more pleasure from social acceptance than adult brains.
In the past, teens giving into peer pressure was contributed mainly to their continuing development of the frontal lobe, which is a key part of the brain in decision-making.
But according to the Journal, new research suggests teens brain-function makes them as capable of decision-making as adults, so long as they are not emotionally "worked-up."
Developing research also suggests "reward centers" in the brain are activated more in teens than adults and researchers believe acceptance from peers works as an activator, so the rush of neurotransmitters from gives teens greater satisfaction.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.
Comments
alan
Thu, Jun 20, 2013 : 3:55 p.m.
Another misunderstanding of rationality.
A A Resident
Thu, Jun 20, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
"But according to the Journal, new research suggests teens brain-function makes them as capable of decision-making as adults, so long as they are not emotionally "worked-up."" And here I'd been thinking that being able to make distinctions between emotions and reason was part and parcel of good decision making.
ThinkingOne
Thu, Jun 20, 2013 : 11:11 a.m.
Sounds like 6 of one and a half-dozen of the other. 6: Teen's frontal lobes are still developing and can't over-ride other parts of the brain, limiting their decision-making abilities. half-dozen: Teens' 'reward centers' in the brain are more active than in adults, over-ride the frontal lobes that have decision-making abilities. It seems that either description favors short-term pleasure over reasoned decision-making.
AMOC
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 4:37 p.m.
This summary contradicts my reading of the WSJ article. Unless by "adults" the writer specifically means those 19 to 22-year-olds whose brains are still reaching full maturity.