Laurence Steinberg

Importance of self-regulation and self-control. The age of puberty is creeping downwards, documentable from things like when girls develop breasts and get their period and when boys' voice starts to crack. The reason is not better health, rather lack of sleep, more body fat, more light exposure that triggers melotonin production, various chemicals. For boys this development is not necessarily bad, but for girls it is, since when they mature physically before mentally and emotionally, they will often orientate towards older peers without being able to handle the corresponding challenges. A key is that the pre-frontal cortex, which handles self regulation and control do not develop earlier. The brain does develop substantially is adolescence, though, so there may be much to gain from interventions and guidance in this period. Perhaps by exploiting that the adolescent brain is particularly tuned to pleasure (which may be why memories from that period are so vivid)? Much in the book's later parts is common sense advice, but overall it is an interesting read.… (mer)