During a conversation about what frightened us when we were young children, a friend described how afraid he used to be of teenagers. This childish idea is not too far from the mainstream depiction of...

During a conversation about what frightened us when we were young children, a friend described how afraid he used to be of teenagers.  This childish idea is not too far from the mainstream depiction of teens.  Doctors and psychologists have studied the “teenage brain,”  and research has shown that teenagers’ brains are not yet developed.  As a result, they are more prone to impulsive decision-making, overly emotional responses, and generally reckless behavior.

Psychological and sociological studies have examined the impact of different factors thought to cause teenagers’ criminal behavior — like peer pressure, parental attitudes, dropping out of school, drinking, drugs, and, yes, violent video games. And in the criminal justice world, the “teenage brain” itself has been cited as a reason to end solitary confinement for adolescents and teenagers — not to mention the abolition of both life sentences and the death penalty for juveniles.

Do you agree with this description? Explain why or why not with specific examples.