Adolescence - Revision history

Jim Burton: /* Teen Brain – wrong conclusions from brain scans */

2025-10-14T03:58:36Z

Teen Brain – wrong conclusions from brain scans

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 14 October 2025
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	Many cultures present, and throughout the not too distant past have encouraged an early age of “first sex” and drinking, supervising these behaviors and adopting them as institutional norms. Within a supportive culture, these behaviors come to be seen as healthy and adaptive. With no apparent reason for this to be documented, studied or pathologized in any way, we rarely hear about these alternative norms in the history books, only gaining an insight on those rare occasions western anthropologists, missionaries and ethnographers come into contact with them.		Many cultures present, and throughout the not too distant past have encouraged an early age of “first sex” and drinking, supervising these behaviors and adopting them as institutional norms. Within a supportive culture, these behaviors come to be seen as healthy and adaptive. With no apparent reason for this to be documented, studied or pathologized in any way, we rarely hear about these alternative norms in the history books, only gaining an insight on those rare occasions western anthropologists, missionaries and ethnographers come into contact with them.

	===Teen Brain – wrong conclusions from brain scans===		==="Teen Brain" – wrong conclusions from brain scans===

	Physiology is often abused, to create the illusion of an objectively different, or deficient "teen brain". As our article on [[Research: Cognitive ability\|cognitive ability]] explains, these claims are completely unfounded.		Physiology is often abused, to create the illusion of an objectively different, or deficient "teen brain". As our article on [[Research: Cognitive ability\|cognitive ability]] explains, these claims are completely unfounded.

Xtjvimds16dovrfc: /* Commentary */

2025-06-04T23:34:21Z

Commentary

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	From ''Psychology Today'':		From ''Psychology Today'':

	~~:''"~~Paradoxically, puberty came later in eras past while departure from parental supervision came earlier than it does today. Romeo and Juliet carried the weight of the world on their shoulders—although it was a far smaller world than today's teens inhabit.''		<blockquote>Paradoxically, puberty came later in eras past while departure from parental supervision came earlier than it does today. Romeo and Juliet carried the weight of the world on their shoulders—although it was a far smaller world than today's teens inhabit.

	~~:''~~Another way to look at it is that in centuries past, a sexually mature person was never treated as a "growing child." Today sexually mature folk spend perhaps six years—ages 12 to 18—living under the authority of their parents.''		Another way to look at it is that in centuries past, a sexually mature person was never treated as a "growing child." Today sexually mature folk spend perhaps six years—ages 12 to 18—living under the authority of their parents.

	~~:''~~Since the mid-1800s, puberty—the advent of sexual maturation and the starting point of adolescence—has inched back one year for every 25 years elapsed. It now occurs on average six years earlier than it did in 1850—age 11 or 12 for girls; age 12 or 13 for boys. Today adolescents make up 17 percent of the U.S. population~~"''~~<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199501/the-invention-adolescence The Invention of Adolescence - PT]</ref>		Since the mid-1800s, puberty—the advent of sexual maturation and the starting point of adolescence—has inched back one year for every 25 years elapsed. It now occurs on average six years earlier than it did in 1850—age 11 or 12 for girls; age 12 or 13 for boys. Today adolescents make up 17 percent of the U.S. population.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199501/the-invention-adolescence The Invention of Adolescence - PT]</ref></blockquote>

	==The scientification of an idea==		==The scientification of an idea==

Jim Burton: /* Paradox or purpose? */

2025-06-03T16:18:36Z

Paradox or purpose?

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	While adolescence refers to a small portion of a person's entire lifespan, it is widely known that humans continue to learn socially, develop emotionally and cultivate a variety of other skills throughout their lives. In light of this, one may intuitively question how the concept of a discreet, or "special" adolescence has served to extend childhood upwards well beyond the end of puberty, and why.		While adolescence refers to a small portion of a person's entire lifespan, it is widely known that humans continue to learn socially, develop emotionally and cultivate a variety of other skills throughout their lives. In light of this, one may intuitively question how the concept of a discreet, or "special" adolescence has served to extend childhood upwards well beyond the end of puberty, and why.

	The idea of adolescence is thought to have arisen due to a complex series of events beginning with industrialization and compulsory education. Uneducated youth or child-bearing girls were seen by social reformers as indicative of waste and poor upbringing. ~~Incompatible~~ with modern workforce demands in this era, a prolonged, and universal education became the norm for all classes. Nowadays, with advances in workforce/industry/automation, modern industrialized economies are far less beholden to these morals of waste. Indeed, we can now afford to promulgate "adolescence"; now ''itself'' a "wasteful" idea due to advances in educational attainment and lower ages of puberty. From the intuitive perspective, we may again feel obliged to ask why young people continue to be infantilized and disenfranchised. However, for the corporate and political hierarchy, servicing "adolescence" is advantageous for the following reasons:		The idea of adolescence is thought to have arisen due to a complex series of events beginning with industrialization and compulsory education. Uneducated youth or child-bearing girls were seen by social reformers as indicative of waste and poor upbringing. As this was incompatible with modern workforce demands in this era, a prolonged, and universal education became the norm for all classes. Nowadays, with advances in workforce/industry/automation, modern industrialized economies are far less beholden to these morals of waste. Indeed, we can now afford to promulgate "adolescence"; now ''itself'' a "wasteful" idea due to advances in educational attainment and lower ages of puberty. From the intuitive perspective, we may again feel obliged to ask why young people continue to be infantilized and disenfranchised. However, for the corporate and political hierarchy, servicing "adolescence" is advantageous for the following reasons:

	===Political compliance===		===Political compliance===

Jim Burton at 16:16, 3 June 2025

2025-06-03T16:16:59Z

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	[[File:Adol.png\|thumb\|Argument concerning the history of adolescence.]]		[[File:Adol.png\|thumb\|Argument concerning the history of adolescence.]]
	__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it. The idea of adolescence as ~~opposed to~~ adulthood emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - ~~along with the emergence of~~ universal education and higher ages of [[consent]]/license. Adolescence ~~has~~ no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or throughout history/cultures.		__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it.

			The idea of adolescence as distinguished from adulthood, emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - alongside universal education and higher ages of [[consent]] and license. Adolescence is widely ''understood'' to have no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or consistency throughout history/cultures, yet modern day narratives of the disturbed, or even biologically inferior adolescent became more popular in the 1990s and 00s.

	==Paradox or purpose?==		==Paradox or purpose?==

	It is widely known that humans continue to learn socially, develop emotionally and cultivate a variety of other skills throughout their lives. In light of this, one may intuitively question how ~~and why~~ the concept of a discreet adolescence has served to extend childhood upwards well beyond the end of puberty. The idea of adolescence is thought to have arisen due to a complex series of events beginning with industrialization and compulsory education. Uneducated youth or child-bearing girls were seen as ~~wasteful~~ and ~~incompatible~~ with modern workforce demands in this era, ~~and~~ a prolonged education became the norm. Nowadays, with advances in workforce/industry/automation, modern industrialized economies are far less beholden to these morals of waste. Indeed, we can now afford to promulgate "adolescence"; now ''itself'' a "wasteful" idea due to advances in educational attainment and lower ages of puberty. From the intuitive perspective, we may again feel obliged to ask why young people continue to be infantilized and disenfranchised. However, for the corporate and political hierarchy, servicing "adolescence" is advantageous for the following reasons:		While adolescence refers to a small portion of a person's entire lifespan, it is widely known that humans continue to learn socially, develop emotionally and cultivate a variety of other skills throughout their lives. In light of this, one may intuitively question how the concept of a discreet, or "special" adolescence has served to extend childhood upwards well beyond the end of puberty, and why.

			The idea of adolescence is thought to have arisen due to a complex series of events beginning with industrialization and compulsory education. Uneducated youth or child-bearing girls were seen by social reformers as indicative of waste and poor upbringing. Incompatible with modern workforce demands in this era, a prolonged, and universal education became the norm for all classes. Nowadays, with advances in workforce/industry/automation, modern industrialized economies are far less beholden to these morals of waste. Indeed, we can now afford to promulgate "adolescence"; now ''itself'' a "wasteful" idea due to advances in educational attainment and lower ages of puberty. From the intuitive perspective, we may again feel obliged to ask why young people continue to be infantilized and disenfranchised. However, for the corporate and political hierarchy, servicing "adolescence" is advantageous for the following reasons:

	===Political compliance===		===Political compliance===
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	====The rise of the "educated idiot"====		====The rise of the "educated idiot"====

	Mid-witted (40-60+% of) children become over-confident, “educated idiots” - who are useful acolytes of the state since they are immersed in a world of theory, with no experience of real world capital systems. The over-confident, “politically engaged” mid-wit at 24/25 is as important as the eternal child at 17/18, as one is the product of the other. In reality, if adolescence is held to be a distinctive “phase of development”, it likely goes on well into the 40s and beyond, as we develop through our ideas and experiences. The confident young adult who disregards this, and believes he has “passed” adolescence with an undergraduate degree, is none the wiser and therefore a useful tool for the establishment.		Mid-witted (40-60+% of) children become over-confident, “educated idiots” - who are useful acolytes of the state since they are immersed in a world of theory, with no experience of real world capital systems and information economies. The over-confident, “politically engaged” mid-wit at 24/25 is as important as the eternal child at 17/18, as one is the product of the other.

			In reality, if adolescence is held to be a distinctive “phase of development”, it likely goes on well into the 40s and beyond, as we develop through our ideas and experiences. The confident young adult who disregards this, and believes he has “passed” adolescence with an undergraduate degree, is none the wiser and therefore a useful tool for the establishment.

	===Delayed wealth transfer===		===Delayed wealth transfer===
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	===Debt-bondage (intellectual)===		===Debt-bondage (intellectual)===

	In post industrial democracies, keeping smarter children in formal education and junior training roles til their late 20s delays attainment while forcing them into debt. ~~This~~ is ~~essentially~~ a shackling of intellect. By the time an intellectually skilled young person has attained a level of formal training "acceptable" to the establishment, the only option to erase their debts is further enlistment as ~~high-level~~ state and corporate servants. This goes on well into the 40s, and beyond in ~~most~~ cases, meaning that income-~~gernarating~~ personal capital (power) can only be accrued by the time a person's motivation and intellect is slowly fading.		In post industrial democracies, keeping smarter children in formal education and junior training roles til their late 20s delays attainment while forcing them into debt. What is less well understood is how this is also a shackling of ''intellect''. By the time an intellectually skilled young person has attained a level of formal training "acceptable" to the establishment, the only option to erase their debts is further enlistment as compliant state and corporate servants. This goes on well into the 40s, and beyond in many cases, meaning that income-generating personal capital (power) can only be accrued by the time a person's motivation and intellect is slowly fading.

	===Adolescence as a market===		===Adolescence as a market===

The Admins at 13:23, 31 May 2024

2024-05-31T13:23:05Z

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	===Adolescence as a market===		===Adolescence as a market===

	:''For the "Troubled Teen Industry" and various takes on it, see for example, [[ageism]]''.		:''For the [[Wikipedia:Help at Any Cost\|"Troubled Teen Industry"]] and various takes on it, see for example, [[ageism]]''.

	Adolescence, while essentially a wasteful idea at the individual level, is a profitable industry. Young people are on the one hand constrained and stigmatized by systemic and social pressures, allowing for therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions to be presented as the inevitable “solutions” of those supposed pathologies of youth. The monetary costs of problems and dependencies our society attaches to adolescence, are offloaded onto the parents. These parents then become indebted state welfare subjects who can be "bought" at the ballot box by political promises based on deficit spending.		Adolescence, while essentially a wasteful idea at the individual level, is a profitable industry. Young people are on the one hand constrained and stigmatized by systemic and social pressures, allowing for therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions to be presented as the inevitable “solutions” of those supposed pathologies of youth. The monetary costs of problems and dependencies our society attaches to adolescence, are offloaded onto the parents. These parents then become indebted state welfare subjects who can be "bought" at the ballot box by political promises based on deficit spending.

The Admins at 17:39, 9 April 2024

2024-04-09T17:39:07Z

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			[[File:Adol.png\|thumb\|Argument concerning the history of adolescence.]]
	__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it. The idea of adolescence as opposed to adulthood emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - along with the emergence of universal education and higher ages of [[consent]]/license. Adolescence has no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or throughout history/cultures.		__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it. The idea of adolescence as opposed to adulthood emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - along with the emergence of universal education and higher ages of [[consent]]/license. Adolescence has no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or throughout history/cultures.

The Admins at 16:50, 31 March 2024

2024-03-31T16:50:54Z

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	===Confounding variables===		===Confounding variables===

	Using the above as an example, the obvious conclusion is that since the prevailing western social context frames both loss of virginity (particularly among girls) and alcohol use as delinquent behaviors, they will often occur in the same unsupervised youth who are contravening social boundaries. It is also likely that youth who suffer from abusive or drug-dependent parents will be unsupervised for long periods of time, and engage in a wide variety of behaviors that are defined as socially delinquent. The true causes of negative outcomes in youth will correlate with numerous socially taboo behaviors (symptoms) – that much is obvious. What this does not prove, is the intrinsic harmfulness of some of these by-product phenomena (sex, drinking, drugs), which are often cathartic with respect to the negative social context. It is also true that the negative social/caregiver context may have a poisoning effect on the catharsis behaviors (excess, overdosing, lack of contraception, use of drugs during periods of mental vulnerability, and the ensuing dependency relationship).		Using the above as an example, the obvious conclusion is that since the prevailing western social context frames both loss of virginity (particularly among girls) and alcohol use as delinquent behaviors, they will often occur in the same unsupervised youth who are contravening social boundaries. It is also likely that youth who suffer from abusive or drug-dependent parents will be unsupervised for long periods of time, and engage in a wide variety of behaviors that are defined as socially delinquent. The true causes of negative outcomes in youth will correlate with numerous socially taboo behaviors (symptoms) – that much is obvious. What this does not prove, is the [[intrinsic harm\|intrinsic harmfulness]] of some of these by-product phenomena (sex, drinking, drugs), which are often cathartic with respect to the negative social context. It is also true that the negative social/caregiver context may have a poisoning effect on the catharsis behaviors (excess, overdosing, lack of contraception, use of drugs during periods of mental vulnerability, and the ensuing dependency relationship).

	Many cultures present, and throughout the not too distant past have encouraged an early age of “first sex” and drinking, supervising these behaviors and adopting them as institutional norms. Within a supportive culture, these behaviors come to be seen as healthy and adaptive. With no apparent reason for this to be documented, studied or pathologized in any way, we rarely hear about these alternative norms in the history books, only gaining an insight on those rare occasions western anthropologists, missionaries and ethnographers come into contact with them.		Many cultures present, and throughout the not too distant past have encouraged an early age of “first sex” and drinking, supervising these behaviors and adopting them as institutional norms. Within a supportive culture, these behaviors come to be seen as healthy and adaptive. With no apparent reason for this to be documented, studied or pathologized in any way, we rarely hear about these alternative norms in the history books, only gaining an insight on those rare occasions western anthropologists, missionaries and ethnographers come into contact with them.

Prue: /* External links */

2024-03-23T20:33:30Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:33, 23 March 2024
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	*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence Wikipedia] - Article laden with junk-science.		*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence Wikipedia] - Article laden with junk-science.
	*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Epstein Robert Epstein] - Challenges the foundations of the concept.		*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Epstein Robert Epstein] - Challenges the foundations of the concept.
			*Jane C. Hu, [https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/brain-development-25-year-old-mature-myth.html The Myth of the 25-Year-Old Brain] (''Slate'', Nov 27 2022).

	==References==		==References==

	[[Category:Official Encyclopedia]][[Category:Facts of life]][[Category:Child Advocacy]][[Category:Sociological Theory]][[Category:Hysteria]][[Category:Youth]][[Category:Terminology]][[Category:Terminology: Academic]][[Category:Terminology: Popular]][[Category:Terminology: Charity, NGO & "Professional"]][[Category:Research]][[Category:Research: Victimology and other Pseudoscience]]		[[Category:Official Encyclopedia]][[Category:Facts of life]][[Category:Child Advocacy]][[Category:Sociological Theory]][[Category:Hysteria]][[Category:Youth]][[Category:Terminology]][[Category:Terminology: Academic]][[Category:Terminology: Popular]][[Category:Terminology: Charity, NGO & "Professional"]][[Category:Research]][[Category:Research: Victimology and other Pseudoscience]]

The Admins at 13:37, 15 March 2023

2023-03-15T13:37:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:37, 15 March 2023
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	__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it. The idea of adolescence as opposed to adulthood emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - along with the emergence of universal education and higher ages of consent/license. Adolescence has no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or throughout history/cultures.		__NOTOC__'''Adolescence''' (from Latin ''adolescere'' 'to mature') generally refers to a period of life spanning from late puberty, but ending at legal adulthood or not far beyond it. The idea of adolescence as opposed to adulthood emerged in the post-industrial late 19th and early 20th centuries - along with the emergence of universal education and higher ages of [[consent]]/license. Adolescence has no prevailing [[Research: Cognitive ability\|basis in nature]] or throughout history/cultures.

	==Paradox or purpose?==		==Paradox or purpose?==

The Admins at 20:21, 22 December 2022

2022-12-22T20:21:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 22 December 2022
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	===Adolescence as a market===		===Adolescence as a market===

			:''For the "Troubled Teen Industry" and various takes on it, see for example, [[ageism]]''.

	Adolescence, while essentially a wasteful idea at the individual level, is a profitable industry. Young people are on the one hand constrained and stigmatized by systemic and social pressures, allowing for therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions to be presented as the inevitable “solutions” of those supposed pathologies of youth. The monetary costs of problems and dependencies our society attaches to adolescence, are offloaded onto the parents. These parents then become indebted state welfare subjects who can be "bought" at the ballot box by political promises based on deficit spending.		Adolescence, while essentially a wasteful idea at the individual level, is a profitable industry. Young people are on the one hand constrained and stigmatized by systemic and social pressures, allowing for therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions to be presented as the inevitable “solutions” of those supposed pathologies of youth. The monetary costs of problems and dependencies our society attaches to adolescence, are offloaded onto the parents. These parents then become indebted state welfare subjects who can be "bought" at the ballot box by political promises based on deficit spending.
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	==See also==		==See also==

			*[[Ageism]]
	*[[Research: Teen pregnancy]]		*[[Research: Teen pregnancy]]
	*[[Research: Cognitive ability]]		*[[Research: Cognitive ability]]