Review Lecture 1 – Risk behavior in adolescence
Lecture
There’s a peak in risk-taking behavior during adolescence. It follows an U-shape
across development.
Adolescence
Early adolescence (10-13)
Peers are becoming more important and young people are having an increased
interest in their social status. Period of social identity formation; the need for social
acceptance is becoming very important.
Mid adolescence (14-18)
The focus shift towards personal identity formation – need for social approval is being
balanced by the needs to be unique and to be yourself. Experimenting with risk
behavior peaks at this age.
Late adolescence (19-24)
Practicing adult roles. Adolescents are getting more responsibilities.
Neurological development during adolescence
1. Strong grow in brain volume: increase in white matter, decrease in grey matter
Pruning – the brain eliminates neurons (nerve cells) and synapses (way for neurons
to transmit signals to other neurons) that aren’t used regularly. This is necessary to
make the brain work more efficiently.
2. Increase in white matter: communication between brain regions improves
The brain is starting to work more efficiently. Long term memory and capacity for
abstract thinking is increasing adolescents more critical towards parents.
3. High plasticity and flexibility in adolescent brain
Both positive and negative experiences will have a relative strong effect on the brain.
4. The speed of the development of different brain regions differs
The affective-motivational system (emotional brain) develops much faster than the
control system (rational brain).
During adolescence the affective-motivation system is overactive. Therefore
adolescents experience stronger emotions when they receive or anticipate a reward.
The rational brain is important in the development of executive functions: risk
estimation, monitoring long-term goals.
Adolescents have the tendency to react to short term possibilities for rewards.
Maturational imbalance model
There’s an imbalance between heightened reward sensitivity and less impulse
control. That’s why the adolescent brain is not fully capable of controlling impulses.
Lecture
There’s a peak in risk-taking behavior during adolescence. It follows an U-shape
across development.
Adolescence
Early adolescence (10-13)
Peers are becoming more important and young people are having an increased
interest in their social status. Period of social identity formation; the need for social
acceptance is becoming very important.
Mid adolescence (14-18)
The focus shift towards personal identity formation – need for social approval is being
balanced by the needs to be unique and to be yourself. Experimenting with risk
behavior peaks at this age.
Late adolescence (19-24)
Practicing adult roles. Adolescents are getting more responsibilities.
Neurological development during adolescence
1. Strong grow in brain volume: increase in white matter, decrease in grey matter
Pruning – the brain eliminates neurons (nerve cells) and synapses (way for neurons
to transmit signals to other neurons) that aren’t used regularly. This is necessary to
make the brain work more efficiently.
2. Increase in white matter: communication between brain regions improves
The brain is starting to work more efficiently. Long term memory and capacity for
abstract thinking is increasing adolescents more critical towards parents.
3. High plasticity and flexibility in adolescent brain
Both positive and negative experiences will have a relative strong effect on the brain.
4. The speed of the development of different brain regions differs
The affective-motivational system (emotional brain) develops much faster than the
control system (rational brain).
During adolescence the affective-motivation system is overactive. Therefore
adolescents experience stronger emotions when they receive or anticipate a reward.
The rational brain is important in the development of executive functions: risk
estimation, monitoring long-term goals.
Adolescents have the tendency to react to short term possibilities for rewards.
Maturational imbalance model
There’s an imbalance between heightened reward sensitivity and less impulse
control. That’s why the adolescent brain is not fully capable of controlling impulses.
