Adolescent brain development: Current themes and future directions Introduction to the special issue

摘要

Adolescence is widely regarded as a unique period in the human and animal lifespan, one in which critical life tasks related to behavioral self-organization, the pursuit of relationships outside of the family, and identity formation are accomplished, all of which lead to adaptive independent living. Most certainly, this is an exciting and inspiring period that presents most individuals with interesting opportunities. Indeed, in my own experience as an educator, I often pose the question to students and other audiences regarding what distinguishes adolescence from other periods in life. An almost universal response is that individuals remember their teen-aged years as a time when "all things seemed possible", when choices seemed innumerable, and when ideals could be pursued freely without the perceived entanglements that major life commitments can bring.