Question

Think of a situation in which a person would react differently as a young adult versus how he/she might have acted as a teenager. Does this difference in behavior, thinking, and emotion reflect differences in post-formal thought? Why, why not?

Answer 1

• Teeneager react differently to situations compared to young adults as brain is still developing in teenage years.The rational part of the brain is not completely mature in adolescence which leads to impulsive behaviours in teenagers compared to young adults who are more mature rationally and react better to situations by understanding it.By the age of 25 our brain is fully matured which is why there is difference.
• Teenagers have a matured amygdala which is the emotional part of the brain thus leading to more impulsive and aggressive behaviours.They react before they think unlike the young adults.The frontal cortex which is more developed in young adults makes them think before they react.
• Teenagers would engage in risky behaviours more,they still exploring who they are and trying out new things,which is why they could get into accidents more because of their impulsive thinking,get involved into fights more.They are more argumentative and thus could react aggressively in fights with their peers or parents.They still dont understand the difference between right and wrong and because of thrill seeking react more impulsively and irrationally.
• Young adults would understand such situations better and would react less impulsively,before engaging in a risky act they would pause and think about the consequence of their actions on themselves and others.They are less likely to engage in dangerous behaviours.