Question

The brain of a teenager is different from that of an adult. The frontal lobes are not fully mature until the mid-twenties and the reward centers tend to have an exaggerated response to larger rewards compared to small rewards. This biological reality may affect teenage decision-making.

Consider the debate about increasing the age at which teens can obtain a driver’s license. Research media articles related to this debate and summarize the evidence made by those who favor raising the age and those against raising the age. Be sure to describe the research methods used to collect the data and discuss the quality of the evidence including the use of biological aspects of teenage decision-making.

Answer 1

Anatomic and physiological development of the human brain takes place by the age of mid-twenties. Before this age i.e. nearly 14-18, the decision making ability and the sudden responses of the teenagers are very diverse in nature and are associated with strong reflexes. Thus, teenagers are usually not allowed to accompany into legally active matters and those associated with public health and safety, such as driving. Driving is a complex activity which requires very strong mental command over the vehicle and demands ability of the driver to calmly react against any stressor/stimulus to minimize not only his/her own damage but public property/life as well. Considering the complexity of this activity and physiological inability of the human brain to reach maturity by the age of teenage, individuals below a particular age are not allowed to drive and an official driving license is not issued to them.