Written assignment:
Q1-3: 2+ sentences; Q4: 1-2 paragraphs
1. Question
on npr piece, "The Teen Brain: It's Just Not Grown Up
Yet": How do teen brains work differently, ie, what is the role of myelin
in the frontal lobe and decision-making?
There
comes a certain time in a person’s life when they leave childhood behind and
enter into the troubling stage of adolescence. According to researchers
interviewed by NPR, during this time, teens change quite significantly. They
change their plans frequently, their grades begin to slip, they get into
trouble at school, they don’t care, they are rude, self-centered, they don’t
think about how their actions affect other around them, they’re easily
distracted, they make changes to their appearances, they have no insight, they
might begin smoking and drinking, etc… Basically, their appearances and
attitudes change quite drastically. However, there is a logical explanation as
to why this is happening. It is because their frontal lobe is not fully
connected. It is attached, and it is present in a teen’s brain, however it
lacks the padding of insulin that it requires in order to function properly and
to make good decisions. This padding is known as myelin. This lack of myelin
makes it very difficult for teens to have insight. They are physically
incapable of thinking about how their actions affect others.
However, despite the evidence that has been collected by
these researchers, I disagree. In my personal opinion, I believe that this
phenomenon is true for some teens, but not for all teens. For example, I
personally have not experienced this dramatic change in disposition and
attitude. Additionally, my grades have not dropped significantly, my style of
clothing has not changed, and I actually do care about school. However, I am
not alone. This is true for many teens.
In my opinion, I believe that this is due to a number of
factors. First of all, it depends on the style of parenting that the child
grows up with, the gender of the child, the number of siblings, the difference
in age between siblings, the previous experience with siblings, the models for
making decisions (parents), the child’s personal importance on school and
grades, the child’s social life, etc… Basically, it depends on the teen
themselves. Not all teens experience this phase.
2. Question
on Frontline segment, "You Just Don't Understand":
What is the role of the cerebellum in decision-making?
The
cerebellum is positioned at the back of the brain. This part of the brain is
the part that changes the most during the teen years. At this stage during a
teen’s life, the cerebellum has not quite grown to its full size. The
cerebellum is involved in the coordination of the muscles along with the
coordination of the thinking process. Therefore, for teens, they do not always
make the best decisions because their thinking process has not been fully
developed.
3. Question
on NYTimes article, "The Moral Life of Babies": What is the
role of socialization in the moral development of children? What are the
implications of socialization on the possbility of a universal moral code?
Socialization is the process by which children and adults learn from others. We begin learning from others during the early days of life; and most people continue their social learning all through life. Within the first year of life, some babies seems to have developed a moral sense of right and wrong. Which is not to say that parents are wrong to concern themselves with moral development or that their interactions with their children are a waste of time. Socialization is very important.
4. When
making a decision and taking action, how do you know the benefits outweigh the
costs? And, to what extent does it matter? Support with concrete
examples.
When it comes time to make a decision in your life, sometimes it is unknown if the benefits outweigh the costs. Sometimes, you just need to take a leap of faith that everything will turn out okay. Additionally, there are also times in your life when it doesn't matter if the decision you are making will turn out alright in the end. These types of decisions are very small ones, such as "should I take the stairs or the elevator?" or "should I have water or juice?". These are everyday decisions that we make, and that we never give a second thought. Decisions such as these are made in the blink of an eye, and never looked back on.
However, when it is necessary to make a decision in your life that is very important and that does have a large impact, the best ways in which to make sure that the benefits will outweigh the costs are to make a list of pros and cons, do extensive research on whatever you are making a decision on, or to talk to individuals who may have been previously been presented with the same decision. For example, if you are making a decision on what college to attend, the best way to decide is to research all aspects of the college that interest you such as the class size, the majors offered, the proximity of the college to home, the undergraduate application requirements, etc. Additionally, it would most likely be a good idea to talk to some of the students who attend that particular college to see what their opinions are, and how they feel about their decision.
