Recent neurological and behavioral studies show that the adolescent brain is still a 'work in progress'. The prefrontal cortex, which regulates decision-making and self-control, does not fully mature until a person reaches their mid-twenties. Meanwhile, the limbic system, which is highly sensitive to immediate rewards and social approval from peers, is highly active during the teenage years. This temporary neurological imbalance explains why teenagers are significantly more prone to taking reckless risks, experimenting with substances, or succumbing to peer influence compared to young children or older adults.
Describe two features of the developmental area of psychology and briefly explain how they apply to the article above.
135 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Areas, covering Social, Cognitive, Developmental, Biological, and Individual differences. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.