I was reading yesterday's local newspaper and I came across a story that is proof perfect (at least to me) that a person's brain is not fully developed until well into their 21st year. For those who follow my ramblings you no doubt have read plenty of times where I have told people this fact about body development and maturity and that the adolescent years are a decade long process {beginning at age eleven and continuing well into a person's twenty first year)--not complete at the end of puberty. The frontal lobe develops last and allows a person to "see around corners" and to predict the consequences of his/her actions.
As many of you know, the state of California is having financial difficulty, due to a major extent by the over priced real estate market that then tanked two years ago with the nation's depression. The state no longer has the abundance of money from property taxes that it used to and this is resulting in deep cuts to public services. The money the state agencies did have was quickly reduced to more realistic levels with the reevaluation of the RE market. Add chronic unemployment and the mix has been very troubling for law makers who are under considerable pressure to come up with a balanced budget.
With considerable wisdom? two of the methods instigated to reduce costs by several millions of dollars is to release some prisoners from jail early, and second, to free selected parolees from their GPS tracking devices. Now, this is where the story gets interesting:
"Larry", a 20 y/o gang member on parole for burglary, was recently evaluated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and on a score sheet of 1-4, ranked a 2 on a risk assessment with 4 being the greatest. The young man was employed, had a girlfriend, and had a stable residence, yet it is thought that one day after the electronic tracking device was removed he and an alleged accomplice traveled to a suburban neighborhood and participated in a home invasion and burglary that turned into a gun battle with the home owner.
The resulting gunfire resulted in the owner being shot in the hip, "Larry" being shot in the leg, and the accomplice being shot in the head!, although not as yet killed. "Larry" hobbled off to a nearby hospital, checked in under an assumed name, and proceeded to clam up when questioned about his wound. Authorities were unable to determine his true identity until a short while later when his girlfriend arrived telling the person at the desk that her boyfriend was being treated for a gunshot wound and asking for him by name.
This is Part 1 of a person not yet able to see around corners.
This is Part 2 of a person not yet able to predict the consequences of his/her actions:
"Larry's" previous burglary charge for which he gained an early release was for two years. What are the current charges? He is being held without bail for burglary, assault with a handgun, and, attempted murder! (Bye-bye, "Larry".)
This really is a sad story all around. Here is a kid who apparently did not receive a good upbringing, yet, a person who consciously chose not to stick with his new chance at life and build upon his good fortune as most people do. This is point one for why I am relating all this to you. Point two is to give a true life example to teens who believe they are so grown up when they enter their mid to late teen years.
Benchmarks:
1. puberty ends sometime between 13 and 15, typically
2. penis finishes growing at about 17, typically
3. a boy's sexual peak occurs during his 19th year
4. the last body part to develop is the frontal lobe of the
brain giving a person the intellectual capability to predict the
consequences of his/her actions
5. chest hair can appear anytime and often does not appear
until well into the early 20's, if it is going to at all
6. emotional and intellectual maturity can take until age 25
How do you grow up?
* First, by acting as if you are.
* Second, by acting responsibly.
* Third, when as a rational individual you're able to care for
yourself, and make informed, un-coerced decisions.
* Fourth, as above, when you have the capacity of taking
care of others.
* Fifth, in moral and political philosophy, autonomy is often
used as the basis for determining moral responsibility for one's actions.
Moral of the story: Kids, enjoy your teen years, you have the entire rest of your life to be an adult. Wait until you are one before assuming adult activities without owning any of the consequences.
"Instant Gratification"? Watch out, for these actions can and often will rise up to smite thee.
As much as I agree with the development aspect, I don't see how this makes such a fine example :confused:
There are other words that come to my mind first for our Larry, like: stupid, panicked, recidivist, tempted, etc. Immature? Possibly. Perhaps I'm missing something, but by this example we could say every recidivising criminal or criminal that makes a mistake that gets him caught, is therefor not an adult. Interesting discussion perhaps :rolleyes:
Even more so interesting question; what makes an adult an adult?
When you're able to predict the consequences of your actions?
When you're able to plan your actions?
When you're able to take responsibility for whatever result of your actions?
When you're able to decide for yourself?
When the court of law treats you as an adult?
When you're allowed to vote?
When you're allowed to buy any product you want?
When you're allowed to join the army?
When you're allowed to get married?
When you're allowed to decide over the fate of your children yourself?
When you're able to decide over the fate of your children yourself?
When you're obligated to pay your taxes?
When you're able to care for yourself?
When you're able to run your own household?
When you're able to care for someone besides yourself?
When you don't panic in difficult situations?
When you're able to hide and fake emotions?
When you can't remember what it was like to be a child?
When you have children of your own?
Etc
In my humble opinion: you've become an adult when you realize you have no choice but to answer "yes, I am", "yes, I can" or "yes, I do" to a lot of these questions, while being scared of what that really means, because you know it means a hell lot more than you can possibly comprehend or oversee. You hide that fear with grace and find the courage to dare an accept all of it as an inevitable part of life. Embrace it. It's also the moment in which some of us wish they had stayed or had been allowed to stay kids for a little longer.
According to Disneyland 12 years of age is when your considered an adult.
:rolleyes: