Getting Smart Podcast Why is Adolescence a Powerful Time for Growth, Agency, and Mattering? | Ronald Dahl
Oct 29, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Ronald Dahl, a pediatrician and developmental scientist at UC Berkeley, reveals why adolescence is a crucial time for growth. He explains that puberty reorients the brain, enhancing social sensitivity and responses. Dr. Dahl emphasizes the importance of 'mattering'—feeling valued and impactful—as a key motivator for adolescents. He advocates for experiential learning through the arts and civic engagement, while urging educators to foster meaningful connections that empower young people with agency and autonomy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Adolescence As A Second Plasticity Window
- Early adolescence is a second window of heightened brain plasticity distinct from early childhood.
- Neural systems increasingly link strong feelings with ideas, creating unique learning opportunities.
Puberty Turns Up Social Sensitivity
- Puberty heightens sensitivity to social evaluation and the thrill of being taken seriously.
- That increased social appetite drives both risky and positive social risk-taking that's crucial for experiential learning.
Mattering Requires Action-Linked Feedback
- Mattering has two parts: feeling appreciated and seeing your actions produce outcomes.
- Without action-linked feedback, young people feel detached even if praised verbally.
