Is There a Need for Courage in Initiation Rite?

Rights of passage make perfect sense for a lot of reasons. They help teams prove to themselves and to others that they have some grit. But why do most take place so early? Why not, say, in the mid twenties when it's clear that most people have matured? You could wonder whether it might even be a little cruel to put a young person at the height of their physical awkwardness to a public challenge. According to neuro scientist lea somerville, these are the very features of adolescence that make it the perfect time to nudge young people toward adulthood.