For those who argue that adolescence is an invented category-- something that we came up with in the 50's along with car-culture and diners and Elvis-- this new research provides a subtle rebuke: Hormonal Effects Reverse During Puberty, Causing Anxiety.
Basically, the article shows how certain receptors increase in number during puberty, causing different effects from the same hormones we all have swimming around in our brains. These effects are less present in childhood and diminish in adulthood.
This explains a lot of adolescent behavior (especially female behavior), but also neatly makes an argument for the reality of a developmental period called adolescence.
It's not all in their heads! They can't help it-- their BRAINS are changing.
Any other divergent thoughts out there?
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