Decision Making & The teenage brain

1. Decision Making &The teenage brain Mary Markowski

2. Volunteers, please? Who would like to reach inside the bag for us?

3. Why?

4. Teen brain Differences • Prefrontal cortex (decision making ) not fully developed yet • Tough to make good, logical decisions for the long term • Amygdala (part of limbic or reward system) is swollen • so it’s sensitive to new, exciting experiences and overreacts to negative experiences • Makes Addictions PEAK now!!!!! • Brain is STILL GROWING • usually stops around age _____ • ……….25 • Bottom Line: TEENS are PHYSIOLOGICALLY impaired • HEALTHY DECISIONS are more difficult to make now

5. Behavior and choices • Think of all the little and big decisions you have made within: • The past 24 hours • The past week • The past year • They all add up to • shape our health & life!

6. Healthy Decision Making Process • Identify decision to be made and Think about options. • **Predict consequences of each option. • Advantages/Disadvantages or a Pro/Con list • Throw out any options that could lead to trouble. If your not sure, ask yourself. • Is it against the law school or family rules, or teachings of my religion? • Is it harmful to me or others? • Would it disappoint my family or other adults important to me? • Would I be hurt or upset if someone did this to me? • Choose best option. And Do it. • **Rethink your decision • How did things turn out? You can ALWAYS do it differently next time.

7. Let’s talk • Why do we decide to do things, even though we know they are risky or may hurt us in the long run? • Anger, yelling, hitting, threatening, fighting • Cigarettes, Alcohol, marijuana, Rx drugs • Skip School, Harassment/bullying • Sexual decisions, partners, condoms (or not) • Food and sleep choices • Write answers on the handout