Examining Adolescent Brains in Detail through 'Inside Out 2': Key Insights for Everyone
Title: Insights into Adolescence: A Deep Dive into The Inner Workings of a Teenager
The animated film, "Inside Out 2", explores the life of the main character, Riley, as she enters her teenage years and grapples with the emotional turmoil that comes along.
Evidently, the teenage brain undergoes significant alterations, as mentioned by Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist in Ohio who contributed to the film. These alterations bring forth new, complex feelings such as embarrassment, envy, ennui, and anxiety.
The struggles faced by adults in raising a teenager may seem daunting, but research highlights the importance of positive expectations, as per Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Temple University in Philadelphia. A positive outlook can lead to a better relationship with one's teen.
Damour hopes that the movie sheds light on the adolescent period, fostering greater understanding and closer relationships.
The advent of complex emotions
As puberty sets in, the emotions within Riley become more potent, with even the slightest trigger causing a significant reaction. This reaction matches the psychological changes occurring during this phase.
"One of the key aspects of emotional development in adolescence is the quick arousal of both positive and negative feelings," Steinberg explained. These feelings are stronger compared to those of children or adults.
Moreover, the brain in adolescence has further developed its capacity for abstract thought, thus giving rise to more intricate emotions, Damour noted. She is also the author of "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents."
The increased anxiety, embarrassment, envy, and even ennui experienced by teens can be attributed to this elevated emotional sensitivity and abstract thinking abilities.
In fact, ennui isn't just a mere side effect; it often serves as an essential escape for teens in tricky social situations, Damour pointed out.
The emergence of sarcasm and eye rolls
In the movie, as we gaze upon the islands in Riley's brain representing different aspects of her personality, we observe the friend island growing larger, while that of family shrinks a bit.
This period should serve as both a comfort and a lesson for families: teens naturally tend to focus more on their friend circle, which is perfectly normal and beneficial.
"The role of teenagers is to become increasingly self-reliant," Damour asserted. Although they might not yet be prepared physically to be independent, they practice psychological independence by forming close bonds with friends.
"To put it another way, if a toddler were expected to always like broccoli and then, suddenly, one day, they decide they don't, that would be strange. Similarly, when teens start to express different opinions, it's a sign that they are evolving and learning to establish their identity," Damour explained.
Sometimes, this quest for independence might lead to sarcasm or eye rolls, which parents might interpret as rejection. However, Damour suggests adopting a more neutral approach, acknowledging the behavior as impolite and moving on instead of escalating the situation with retaliation and anger.
The process of self-discovery
When asked to define themselves, children tend to provide responses such as their favorite sports or where they live. In contrast, teenagers offer more nuanced, complex responses that reflect their distinct personality traits. This newfound understanding of self brings both benefits and challenges.
"We want teenagers to reflect on who they are and where they're going. We want them to have a comprehensive understanding of themselves and others," Steinberg explained.
However, this self-awareness can make teens more susceptible to various mental health issues, as they begin to ponder over their strengths and weaknesses.
As they navigate their adolescence, teens develop a sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, self-confidence often falters in teens who don't feel they measure up.
"These days, social media, academics, and sports give teenagers ample opportunities to compare themselves with their peers. So the goal, with the help of adults, is to enable teens to recognize their shortcomings while still perceiving themselves as valuable," shared Damour.
The predisposition to anxiety
Anxiety can affect individuals of all ages, but teens are particularly susceptible.
According to Steinberg, teen brains are particularly sensitive to social situations, and they prioritize their standing within a group. As a result, teens may experience more anxiety when navigating new social environments.
However, this feeling of anxiety isn't inherently negative, Damour added. In fact, it can motivate teens to prepare for challenging situations and foster personal growth.
"Strife can be advantageous for youngsters, especially when it serves to fuel their efforts during an exam they've neglected to prepare for, according to one expert. Such distress helps us adjust our course, anticipate trouble, and recognize potential threats.
However, when turmoil takes charge, the portrayal of this overwhelming emotion in movies serves as a crucial lesson for teenagers.
We tag irrational anxiety as an overestimation of threats and an underestimation of our capacity to tackle them, the expert explained.
In clinical practice, when guiding individuals to manage their anxiety, we're not aiming to eliminate it entirely. Instead, we seek to bring it to an appropriate level.
So, how do you assist your teen in navigating these significant emotional shifts? Don't back off and try to be their buddy during their quest for independence, counselors advise.
Instead, maintain high expectations for their behavior towards others. But remember, adolescence isn't something teens inflict upon adults; it's a challenging developmental stage they're navigating, an expert noted.
Maintain a harmonious balance between maintaining a connection and setting boundaries, and swap out "because I said so" with open dialogue, they added.
It's also crucial to initiate discussions about emotions, letting your teen know it's okay to feel intensely, but also that you're available to help them process those feelings.
Never dismiss their feelings by saying things like 'Don't let things bother you' or 'Your reaction is too extreme for the situation.' Instead, show empathy and understanding.
Parents may be tempted to shield children from the pain that comes with growth, but we must demonstrate that uncomfortable feelings are essential and worthwhile, the expert stressed.
Discussing feelings can be tricky due to their abstract nature. The expert hopes that entertainment and media that normalize emotions and offer visual representations can spark conversations within families. Because often, merely reaching out to teens and helping them identify their feelings is a step towards solving problems, she added.
As soon as you address feelings, they become less daunting, the expert said. You don't have to solve the problem, but you should be able to discuss it."
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The movie "Inside Out 2" not only explores the emotional turmoil faced by the main character during adolescence but also highlights the role of entertainment in fostering understanding about complex emotions experienced by teens.
Furthermore, engaging with entertainment that normalizes emotions can help parents initiate discussions with their teenagers, making it easier for them to process and address their feelings.
