Emma Jordan

Cory Loghry

Senior Seminar

November 8, 2018

Human Development

Our brain development is constantly changing our behavior, and ultimately shaping who

we will be as an adult. Over the course of our growth, from the womb to adulthood, our analysis

and reacts change when the brain does. The human race has relied on these adaptations for

survival in the past, but they continue to serve a purpose today. A baby’s brain will think and

react differently than a toddler’s brain; and they will both be thinking differently than teenagers,

and so on. My brain currently operates for adolescence, and I have learned a lot about teens’

typical behavior. However, I don’t believe that will change how my brain thinks and reacts.

Anne Murphy Paul participated in a ​Ted Talk​ where she discussed how our brains begin

learning while still in the womb, and the importance that plays after being born. There is a lot of

information that a baby can infer from in the womb: sound, taste, smell, stress and even

language. Most of this information comes from their mother, and their current conditions. For

example, babies will recognize specific songs and voices that they heard in the womb after being

born. They even “prefer mom” after being born because she was who they could hear the best.

Babies also use the mothers’ eating habits and stress levels to understand what environment it

would be born into. Babies receive crucial information for survival which has helped the infant

mortality rate drop (Paul).

 There have been several studies that suggest our brains develop our self control while still

very young. One experiment was done on 4 year olds using marshmallows: the children were

told that they could eat the marshmallow in front of them or wait and receive another. The

studies found that the children who could wait ended up having higher IQs than those who ate

the one marshmallow. Also those who ate the marshmallow were more likely have behavior

issues; showing they’re still as impulsive (Auster).

I also learned a lot of why teenagers think and act in the impulsive way we do. I admit

that I act like an adolescent. Our brains are not completely connected through the left brain and

right brain; meaning we don’t think as straight and mostly react based on emotion. We begin to

feel a sense of reward for “​risk[ing] more avidly as teens than at any other time” because we gain

friends or reputation (National Geographic). It is normal for a teen to act moody because of their

hormones, and they are forced into adulthood too early. Unless there is extraneous behavior in a

teen, then they will most likely grow out of the behavior. I hope this article has calmed several

parents down from always worrying (Jayson).

Our brains do not fully develop until around the age of 25, and sometimes that does not

mean the person is fully mature. Technically speaking adolescence ends with a person’s last childish

action, but some fully grown adults may still act childish. This proves that our brain does not

necessarily control our behavior, and some children will act more mature than some adults.

However, does this mean my behavior will change now that I understand how my brain operates?

I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t think I will be affected. I have been told that I act mature

for my age group, but I know that I have also done a lot of childish things. I don’t believe my childish

behavior will change much yet. My main goal is to not end up being one of the 35 year olds stuck

with their adolescent attitudes and behaviors.

 Works Cited

Paul, Annie Murphy. “What We Learn before We're Born.” ​Ted​, Ted,   
www.ted.com/talks/annie_murphy_paul_what_we_learn_before_we_re_born?language=en. 
 
“Start the Week - Paul Auster and the American Dream - BBC Sounds.” ​BBC​, BBC,  
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08gwfjt. 
 
“Beautiful Brains.” N
​ ational Geographic Magazine​, 2011,  
ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text. 
 
Jayson, Sharon. “What Exactly Is Going on in Your Teenager's Head?” U
​ SA Today​, 0AD.