What Are They Thinking?!

The Straight Facts about the Risk-Taking, Social-Networking, Still-Developing Teen Brain

By: Aaron White, Scott Swartzwelder

Narrated by: Aaron White

Groundbreaking developments in adolescent brain research underpin this straightforward guide to understanding - and dealing with - teen behavior.

Adolescence has long been characterized as the “storm and stress” years, and with recent developments in digital communication, it seems today’s teens are in for a more complicated journey than ever before. Even the most sympathetic, “in-touch” parents might throw their hands up in frustration at their teen’s unpredictable and risky behavior and ask: what are they thinking?!

It turns out that teens’ thrill-seeking activities and quests for independence aren’t just the result of raging hormones, but rather typical effects of the unique structure and development of the adolescent brain. In easily navigable chapters full of practical anecdotes and examples, acclaimed scientists Aaron White and Scott Swartzwelder draw from the most recent studies on the teen brain to illuminate the complexities of issues such as school, driving, social networking, video games, and mental health in kids whose crucial brain connections are just coming online.

©2013 Aaron M. White and Scott Swartzwelder (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Accurate, helpful and engrossing

I am an ADHD specialist and I spend a lot of time in my office reassuring parents and teens about the frequent occurrence of exactly the issues discussed in this book.

The data presented is up to date and, indeed, more recent than that I have been using with my patients and their parents. It is made clear when evidence is supportive, but not definitive. When there are no "gold standard " randomized controlled studies, that lack, too, is overtly stated.

My only negative criticism lies in the vignettes that start each chapter and are used to illustrate occasional other information. Maybe it's just me, but it took me a few chapters to realize that the author/ narrator was quoting other parents and not giving his own experience. Until I wised up, I was amazed at the stress he must be under!