Question

Which of the following describes how the author develops his analysis of teenagers’

behavior?
A. He describes his own risk-taking as a teenager, and explains how his actions
were exploratory rather than impulsive.
B. He describes common explanations for teenagers’ behavior, and gives reasons
for why they fail to explain teenagers’ behavior.
C. He compares the state of teenagers’ brains with the brains of adults to show
that there are no significant differences.
D. He references exaggerated stories about teenagers’ risky and impulsive
behavior to emphasize how far from the truth it is.

Answer 1

The author's analysis of teenager behavior includes discussions on the adolescent brain, risk-taking, and the stage of emerging adulthood. Research findings pointing out that impulsivity is not solely responsible for risk-taking among teenagers are also highlighted.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author develops his analysis of teenagers' behavior by examining different factors such as adolescent brain development, risk-taking, and the influence of one's stage in life on their behavior. He explores the phenomenon of risk-taking in adolescents even though they have the ability to evaluate risks and rewards similarly to adults. One hypothesis is that teens might be genetically programmed for risk-taking as part of an evolutionary process that encourages them to leave their family of origin and explore new opportunities. Furthermore, the argument that teenagers are inherently impulsive is challenged by research showing no correlation between brain activity in the neural reward center and impulsivity. Instead, this brain activity is linked to actual risk-taking behavior, indicating that teenagers have a heightened response to potential rewards.

The notion of emerging adulthood is also discussed as a distinct period in the developmental lifespan, describing an 'in-between' time focused on work and love, where identity exploration is paramount.