Self-Control and the Teenage Brain
Overgeneralization 1: Adolescents are incapable of making optimal decisions
Adolescence, by definition, involves new demands on the individual as she or he moves from dependence on the family unit to relative independence. This developmental period is not specific to humans, as evidenced by the increases in novelty seeking, interactions with peers, and fighting with parents observed in other species (see Romeo, 2013; Spear, 2013; both in this issue). These behaviors are thought to have evolved to serve adaptive functions related to successful mating and obtainment of resources necessary for survival (Spear & Varlinskaya, 2010). A heightened sensitivity to socially relevant cues (e.g., peers, monetary gain) would seem to be an ideal mechanism for meeting some of these developmental challenges. However, such a system may appear less than optimal when the pull by these socially relevant cues comes at the expense of long-term goals and the overall well-being of the adolescent.