Description
Book SynopsisA research-based guide to debunking commonly misunderstood myths about adolescence Great Myths of Adolescence contains the evidence-based science that debunks the myths and commonly held misconceptions concerning adolescence. The book explores myths related to sex, drugs and self-control, as well as many others. The authors define each myth, identify each myth's prevalence and present the latest and most significant research debunking the myth. The text is grounded in the authors' own research on the prevalence of belief in each myth, from the perspective of college students. Additionally, various pop culture icons that have helped propagate the myths are discussed. Written by noted experts, the book explores a wealth of topics including: The teen brain is fully developed by 18; Greek life has a negative effect on college students academically; significant mood disruptions in adolescence are inevitable; the millennial generation is lazy; and much more. This important resource: Shatt
Table of ContentsForeword x
Preface xvii
Introduction 1
1 Development of the Body, Brain, and Mind 7
1 Adolescence ends at 18 years old 8
2 Girls are universally experiencing puberty sooner in recent years 16
3 The teen brain is fully developed by age 18 24
4 Anorexia treatment usually requires teens to be separated from their parents 33
5 Technology has made teens better at multitasking 38
Mini myths for development of the body, brain, and mind 46
6 Pubertal "early bloomers" fare better than "late bloomers" 46
7 Teens can study better while listening to music 48
8 The "Freshman 15": College students gain 15 pounds their freshman year 50
9 Horses are helpful in the treatment of eating disorders, autism spectrum, and more 51
10 The onset of puberty is very upsetting to most teens 52
11 Male teens are much less likely than females to be preoccupied with their physical appearance 54
12 Most teens hardly ever engage in leisure reading these days 55
13 Greek life has a negative effect on college students academically 56
14 Paying for prep courses is the best way to make large gains on the SAT 57
2 Development of the Self 59
15 Significant mood disruptions in adolescence are inevitable 60
16 Teens should have a job in high school to build character 64
17 Risky behavior in adolescence is inevitable 68
18 Taking care of an infant simulator doll increases abstinence from sexual activity 72
19 College placement tests are useless at predicting academic success in college 77
Mini myths for development of the self 82
20 College students' lives are full of random hook]ups 82
21 Teaching teens about contraception makes them more likely to engage in sexual activity 84
22 Abstinence]only sex education programs are effective at keeping teens abstinent 85
23 The HPV vaccine increases teen sex 86
24 The millennial generation is lazy 87
25 High school football players are more likely to become seriously injured than cheerleaders 88
26 Offenders hide sexual interest when using the internet to initiate sex offenses against teens 90
27 Conversion therapy effectively turns homosexual teens into straight teens 91
28 Teens underestimate the consequences of risky behavior and adults do not 94
3 The Social Environment 96
29 More quality time with teens can make up for less quantity of time 96
30 Successful transition from adolescence to adulthood is achieved through detachment from parents 98
31 Popular teens are usually mean 107
32 Peer pressure only causes teens to make bad decisions 112
33 Boys only use sticks and stones to hurt while girls use words instead 117
Mini myths for the social environment 121
34 Most teens have a strained relationship with their parents 121
35 Asking teens if they have thought about suicide "plants a seed" and makes them more likely to actually attempt suicide 123
36 Teens only listen to their peers 125
37 When girls are sexually assaulted it is usually by a stranger 125
38 Most college students graduate in 4 years 126
39 College is the happiest time of one's life 127
4 Problems in Modern Society 130
40 Teens these days are worse behaved than those of previous generations 130
41 School violence is on the rise 139
42 Boot camps get teens "on the right path" 149
43 Most teens party with drugs or alcohol on weekends 154
44 DARE programs prevent teen drug use 158
45 Listening to heavy metal or rap music makes teens more likely to defy authority 165
Mini myths for problems in modern society 173
46 Teens have the highest suicide rate 173
47 Goggles mimicking drunkenness help prevent impaired driving 174
48 Teens can be "scared straight" 176
49 Sexting is only a teen problem 177
50 Traditional High School Driver education courses have a strong record of making teens safe drivers 178
Index 180
