The Adolescent Brain : Reaching for Autonomy

Easy-to-understand Theories And Nontechnical Language Help Educators And Parents Understand How The Teenage Brain Thinks, Feels, Learns, And Changes On Its Journey To Adulthood. Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- About The Author -- Chapter 1 - Adolescence In Contemporary Society: Being Somewhat Confused -- Confusion Within Adolescents -- Confusion About Adolescents -- An Introduction To The Issues Explored In Subsequent Chapters -- Chapter 2 - Brain Organization And Development: Being Human -- Mirror Neurons -- The Organization Of The Human Brain -- The Development Of The Human Brain -- Maintaining A Developing Brain -- Chapter 3 - Sexuality And Bonding: Maintaining Our Species -- Biological Differences -- Interpreting Gender Differences -- Cultural Confusion -- Human Bonding Behavior -- Emerging Cultural Conflicts -- The Hazards Of Sexual Pleasure -- Chapter 4 - Productivity And Vocation: Maintaining Our Planet -- A 21st-century Curriculum For 21st-century Students -- A 21st-century Vocation -- Home, School, And Vocation -- Chapter 5 - Morality And Ethics: Maintaining Our Culture -- Factual Knowledge And Decisions -- Adaptive Preferences And Choices -- The Development Of Our Moral/ethical Base -- Chapter 6 - Risks And Security: Going Beyond The Known -- Our Brain's Regulatory Systems -- From Emotional Arousal To Conscious Decision -- The Biology Of Risk And Security -- Adults And Adolescent Risks -- Chapter 7 - Technology And Drugs: Going Beyond Nature -- Biological Stress -- Technological Enhancement -- Drug Support -- Psychoactive Drugs: A Primer -- Chapter 8 - The Arts And Humanities: Going Beyond Reality -- Adornment -- Language, Music, And Dance -- The Humanities -- Chapter 9 - Collaboration And Autonomy: Going Beyond Adolescence -- Collaboration -- The Reach For Autonomy -- Appendix A: Neurotransmitters And Neural Transmission -- Appendix B: The Cerebral Cortex -- Glossary -- References And Resources -- Index.