NEW CASTLE —
“The Generation Gap” is a catch-all term used to describe communication difficulties between young people and adults.
While this gap is sometimes overly dramatized, both children and adults have experienced difficulties in understanding what people on the other side of this generational divide are thinking. And in some cases, it’s speculated the opposing group isn’t thinking at all.
Stereotypes have long played a role in defining the generation gap. Adults often dismiss seemingly inexplicable attitudes and activities among children as the result of immaturity, or perhaps simply a desire to rebel against their elders.
Conversely, young people can see adults as rigid and unimaginative, creating and following rules more out of habit than any other reason.
In recent years, however, science has begun to explore the human brain, and how it changes as individuals age. It may explain some of the generation gap.
And a report published yesterday by TIME.com explores one of the key concerns adults have regarding teenage behavior: The tendency of young people to engage in high-risk activities. These can include everything from drug use to binge drinking to reckless driving — along with a host of more mundane actions that can lead to serious harm.
We suppose it comes as no great surprise that the brains of teens and adults assess risk differently, according to researchers. But the TIME.com report noted that one unexpected discovery was that the rational parts of teen brains spend more time assessing dangers than adults do.
But that’s probably because adults will reject the risks out of hand, while teens will think about them. Playing a game of Russian roulette was presented as an example.
Furthermore, when interviewed, teens tend to view many risks as far more dangerous statistically than they actually are. One example given: Teens surveyed estimated that a sexually active girl has a 60 percent chance of contracting AIDS on average. But in reality, the risk is far lower.
Yet this overestimation of such risks in mathematical terms does not necessarily translate into behavior designed to avoid the danger. Researchers believe teens focus on the immediate rewards of risky behavior, while downplaying the long-term real-life consequences.
No doubt many adults already realize that.
Although such research may be interesting, does it create meaningful opportunities for adults to help young people make better decisions when it comes to risk?
Maybe. One suggestion offered in the TIME.com article involved vehicle simulations that mimic drunk driving. It’s theorized that young people often make bad decisions related to risk because they have limited experience. Simulations that allow teens to see what happens when engaging in risky behavior — without producing actual danger — may create the learning situations their brains need.
Perhaps there are ways to teach teens to better protect themselves — and narrow the generation gap at the same time.
Editorials
Our Opinion: Latest research examines how young people see danger
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Our Opinion: Lousy voter turnout is a missed opportunity
Tuesday’s primary in Lawrence County had its share of winners and losers. But — based on the numbers — the biggest winner has to be voter apathy. Countywide, voter turnout in the primary was a whopping 17.1 percent. In case you missed it, our use of the term “whopping” is sarcasm.
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Our Opinion: Pennsylvania’s primary system is controlled by parties
Should Pennsylvania’s primaries be open to independent voters? That’s an interesting question and one we have explored in the past on this page.
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Our Opinion: State audit says city school district failed to collect from non-residents
Audit information about non-resident students who didn’t pay tuition at New Castle raises more questions than it answers. At least so far. We expect more details when the Pennsylvania auditor general’s office completes its report and the New Castle school district provides its response.
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Our Opinion: Make the most of your power to vote by casting ballot tomorrow
So what kind of turnout will there be for tomorrow’s primary? Recent history suggests somewhere between low and lousy. This year’s elections are devoted to local races, and there are few major ones being contested in the primary.
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Our Opinion: Privatization of county jail is worthy of examination
Generally speaking, we support government efforts to seek more efficient ways to provide essential services. So we have no problem with the decision by the Lawrence County commissioners to solicit proposals for the private operation of the county jail.
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Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
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Our Opinion: You should be frightened, outraged by IRS abuse of power
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones. But a more credible threat may be the Internal Revenue Service. This agency, responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing related rules, has the ability to make life miserable for the average individual.
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Our Opinion: Our endorsements for City Council race
The city of New Castle needs help. Financially distressed and operating under Pennsylvania’s Act 47, New Castle must find ways to reverse its population loss and fiscal challenges.
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Our Opinion: Court frowns on gerrymandering, but only slightly
Pennsylvania legislators have received the green light to put their own political interests ahead of yours. That’s a key point in the latest Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on legislative apportionment in the commonwealth.
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Our Opinion: Study says distracted driving deaths are under reported
Suppose you operated a piece of heavy machinery at your job. And suppose it’s machinery that moves quickly with little effort. What would happen if you decided to take one hand off that equipment — while it was still in motion — and instead focused your attention on a telephone call?
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