Understanding Adolescence and Brain Development

During adolescence, the brain goes through significant rewiring and change. Ellen Galinsky highlights a shift in understanding, emphasizing that behaviors like emotional turmoil and risky decision-making are developmental necessities rather than problems. Adolescents are in a crucial exploratory phase, reacting strongly to experiences to determine safety, trust, and identity beyond family ties. Galinsky aims to alter the negative perception of teenagers, advocating for viewing this phase as a time of vast potential.