When Are You Actually An Adult
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Lesson Article
Introduction
Most countries recognize 18 as the start of adulthood by granting various freedoms and privileges. However, is age the best way to measure maturity? This question has sparked debates, especially when it comes to voting rights. Some argue that the voting age should be lowered to 16, while others firmly disagree, believing that 16-year-olds are not mature enough to make decisions with national consequences.
Questioning Age Limits of Adulthood
It’s worth noting that some countries have lowered the voting age to 16, and cultural coming-of-age ceremonies are often celebrated at different ages. As there seems to be no consensus on exactly when we reach maturity, perhaps science can give us a clearer answer.
Defining Adulthood Through Brain Development
One way neuroscientists have looked to define adulthood is by when the brain is fully grown. Brain development involves two trajectories. First, there’s a reduction in gray matter, which consists of cells and connections that facilitate communication at short ranges, creating dense, information-processing hubs. This gray matter reduction coincides with an increase in white matter, which refers to connections that are myelinated, allowing for fast far-range communication between information hubs. Imaging studies show that white and gray matter volumes undergo drastic changes during adolescence, and continuing through your twenties.
Adulthood and Cognitive Development
Another way scientists have tried to define adulthood is by measuring cognitive development—when are you able to learn and complete mental tasks at the same efficiency as older adults? By this definition, adulthood may begin as early as 16, as teens perform just as well on tests that assess reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking. However, teens may be more susceptible to external pressures.
The Influence of Emotional and Social Elements
Studies show that when performing risk-taking and self-control-related tasks, 18 to 21-year-olds behave much like older adults. But when these tests include an emotional element or a social element, different patterns emerge. Under these influences, 18 to 21-year-olds tend to behave more like younger teens, and their brains show younger-teen-like patterns of activity. This suggests that during your teens and early twenties, your brain is wired to place more value and attention on social and emotional elements.
Implications for the Judicial System
For this reason, many scientists argue that judicial systems should expand juvenile courts to include those in their late teens and early twenties, as current systems fail to recognize how the emerging adult brain is still changing.
Conclusion
So when are you actually an adult? As you can see, there is no exact age or moment in development that we can point to. Instead, neuroscience suggests that there are waves of maturity. As different brain regions and mental abilities mature at different times, so do different adult-like states and behaviors. Not everyone will reach each wave of maturity at the same age. Each person’s journey to adulthood is unique, and influenced by genetics, environment, and experience.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think age is the best way to measure maturity? Why or why not?
- Should the voting age be lowered to 16? Why do you hold this opinion?
- How do you define adulthood? Is it solely based on cognitive abilities, or are there other factors to consider?
- Do you think the brain development theory is a valid way to define adulthood? Why or why not?
- What do you think about the influence of emotional and social elements on decision-making in young adults?
- Should the judicial system consider expanding juvenile courts to include late teens and early twenties? Why or why not?
- How do genetics, environment, and experience contribute to a person’s journey to adulthood?
- Reflecting on your own journey to adulthood, do you think you reached each wave of maturity at the same age as your peers? Why or why not?
Lesson Vocabulary
Age – The length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed.
Example sentence: She celebrated her 50th age with a big party.
Adulthood – The stage of life when a person is fully grown and responsible for their own actions.
Example sentence: Once she reached adulthood, she moved out of her parents’ house.
Maturity – The state of being fully developed mentally and emotionally.
Example sentence: His maturity is evident in the way he handles difficult situations.
Voting rights – The legal right to participate in elections and choose political representatives.
Example sentence: Many fought for equal voting rights for all citizens.
Decisions – Choices made after careful consideration of different options.
Example sentence: She had to make some tough decisions about her future.
Brain development – The growth and maturation of the brain over time.
Example sentence: Brain development in children is a complex process that continues into adolescence.
Gray matter – The part of the brain that contains neurons and is responsible for processing information.
Example sentence: Gray matter plays a crucial role in cognitive functions such as memory and decision-making.
White matter – The part of the brain that contains nerve fibers and facilitates communication between different brain regions.
Example sentence: White matter helps transmit electrical signals between brain cells.
Cognitive development – The growth and improvement of thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Example sentence: Educational toys can stimulate cognitive development in young children.
Emotional and social elements – The aspects related to feelings and relationships with others.
Example sentence: The school curriculum focuses on developing both emotional and social elements in students.
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- Categories: Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 9, Psychology, Sociology, TED Ed, Video Lessons
- Keywords: adulthood, age, brain development, cognitive development, decisions, emotional and social elements, gray matter, maturity, voting rights, white matter