1. Mind Games: Understanding the Adolescent Brain So You Can Teach The Hard To Reach Kids

2. The Adolescent’s Developmental Checklist
√ Get Good Grades √ Get Into College √ Fit In √ Be an Individual √ Avoid Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Bad Friends, Driving Too Fast, Too Much Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter √ Explosive Brain Development √ Find Myself √ No Pressure!

3. What is Adolescence Anyway?
Academic
Cognitive
Identity
Moral

4. Science Can’t Tell us Exactly What a Thought is!
Think About This….
Science Can’t Tell us Exactly What a Thought is!

5. Adolescent Brain Development
Big Changes
Frontal Lobe Development
The “CEO” of the brain slowly develops throughout adolescence, allowing for better self-awareness, planning, emotional regulation, and self-control. This culminates in the mid-twenties.
Increased Drive for Reward
An increase in dopamine activation in the limbic system causes teens to be driven towards novelty, reward, and boundary pushing, but also an increased proneness to addiction.
Emotional Intensity
Also a result of the development in the limbic system. While it can cause impulsivity and moodiness, it also helps teens explore their world an become passionate individuals.
Increased Social Engagement
This helps teens individuate from parents, discover their identity, and fit into the world.
Neural (Synaptic) Pruning
As the brain transitions into adolescence, synaptic connections between neurons are trimmed in order to be more focused, efficient, and effective.
The Teen Brain
The Parent Brain

6. Brain Basics Frontal Lobe Parietal Lobe Limbic System Cerebellum
The “boss” of the brain
In charge of thinking, planning, managing emotions and personality
Parietal Lobe
Processing sensory Information
Limbic System
Deep inside the brain
Emotion, memory, attention, and drive for reward
Cerebellum
Balance, physical coordination, movement
Brainstem
“Animal Brain”
Basic survival functions

7. Higher Drive for Reward
Why Do they Act So Crazy?
Increased Dopamine
Higher Drive for Reward
Reward over Risk
More Risk-Taking
Self-Discovery

8. Teen Relationships Peer relationships become a primary focus.
Moving from dependence to independence to interdependence.
While this can be a distraction, it also helps teens:
Discover their identity
Find meaningful happiness
Form a support system apart from parents

9. Neurological Superpowers
Cognitive Changes
Neurological Superpowers
Abstract Thinking!
The Idea of an Ideal!
Self-Reflection!
Logic!
But…Two Thirds of Adults Never Fully Enter Into This Formal Operations Stage

10. Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Basic Conflict
Virtue
Relationship
Basic Question
0-18 mo.
Trust vs. Mistrust
Hope
Mother
Can I trust the wordl?
2-4 yrs..
Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
Will
Parents
Is it okay to be me?
4-5 yrs.
Initiative vs. Guilt
Purpose
Family
Is it okay for me to do, move, and act?
5-12 yrs.
Industry vs. Inferiority
Confidence
Neighbors/
School
Can I make it in the world of people and things?
13-19 yrs.
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Fidelity
Peers/
Role Models
Who am I and what can I be?
20-24 yrs.
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Love
Friends/
Partners
Can I love?
25-64 yrs.
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Care
Household/
Workmates
Can I make my life count?
65-death
Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Wisdom
Mankind
Is it okay to have been me?
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

11. Possible Resolutions of the Identity Crisis
Who Am I?
Possible Resolutions of the Identity Crisis
Identity Achievement: Teens enter an active phase of searching out who they are by trying new things and experimenting with different identities. They learn the virtue of Fidelity, and have a solid sense of self.
Moratorium: The teen begins the active search for identity, but does not find it.
Forclosure: A teen commits to an identity too soon, often due to over- identifying with a parent.
Identity Diffusion: A teen has no idea who she and has no motivation or anxiety to begin the search. Common in families with poor relational attachments.

12. There is no such thing as an “expert” in parenting!
Average Years of Training for Professions:
Physician: 7 Years post-college
Navy Seal: Training Never Stops
Lawyer: 3 years post-college
Parent: None!

13. What Guru Do I Follow?

14. Well, What Does the Research Say? Robert Epstein’s Parent’s 10:
Love and Affection
Stress Management
Relationship Skills
Autonomy
Education
Life Skills
Behavior Mangement
Health
Religion
Safety

15. Simplification: Control Connection Contentment -Stress Management
-Love and Affection
-Relationship Skills
-Health and Safety
Control
-Stress Management
-Autonomy
-Education
-Behavior Management
Contentment
-Religion (Meaning)

16. Connection: Finding Yourself Through Others
Attachment is fundamental to being fully alive
More predictive of happiness than GPA
Parenting Point: Prioritize the Family Bond

17. Control: Having Power Over the One Thing You Can: Yourself
Self-Efficacy vs. Self-Esteem
We want to raise adults, not children
Parenting Point: Teach Delay of Gratification

18. Contentment: Finding A Recipe for Happiness (that works!)
We all have recipes for happiness: some work, and some don’t
Our values determine our recipe
Parenting Point: Help your children clarify the values that will drive their life

19. Bonus: The Four Levels of Happiness
Pleasure
Achievement
Relationships
Meaning

20. Wired to Succeed We Were Made For This! √ Get Good Grades
√ Get Into College
√ Fit In
√ Be an Individual
√ Avoid Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Bad Friends, Driving Too Fast, Too Much Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter
√ Explosive Brain Development
√ Find Myself
We Were Made For This!