What Are They Thinking? Risk-Taking, Social-Network

Adolescence has long been characterized as the storm and stress years, and with recent developments in digital communication, it seems todays teens are in for a more complicated journey than ever before. Even the most sympathetic, in-touch parents might throw their hands up in frustration at their teens unpredictable and risky behavior and ask: what are they thinking?! It turns out that teens thrill-seeking activities and quests for independence arent just the result of raging hormones, but rather typical effects of the unique structure and development of the adolescent brain. In easily navigable chapters full of practical anecdotes and examples, acclaimed scientists Aaron White and Scott Swartzwelder draw from the most recent studies on the teen brain to illuminate the complexities of issues such as school, driving, social networking, video games, and mental health in kids whose crucial brain connections are just coming online.