What Makes All the Differences?

Teenagers and adults have different thinking processes due to the development of their brains. Here are some key differences:

Teenagers

Teens process information with the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. The connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making center are still developing, so teens may not always consider the consequences of their actions. Adolescents may be more prone to emotional and intuitive thinking than adults. Teens can think about thinking itself, which involves monitoring their own cognitive activity during the thinking process.

Adults

Adults think with the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s rational part.
The prefrontal cortex responds to situations with good judgment and an awareness of long-term consequences. Adults have fully developed executive functioning and cognitive and impulse control capabilities.

Overall, the cognitive development of adolescents prepares them to think and learn, but their brain connections are still developing. This makes teenagers more prone to emotional and impulsive thinking. In contrast, adults have fully developed executive functioning and cognitive and impulse control capabilities, which makes them more rational and capable of long-term planning. Parents and caregivers can help teenagers by discussing the consequences of their actions and helping them link impulsive thinking with facts. This can help wire the brain to make these links more often and help teenagers develop better decision-making skills.