Emotional Development In Adolescence

An adolescent is anyone who is making the transition from childhood into adulthood. During adolescence, a person is in the process of developing physically, emotionally, and cognitively. The theory blames an adolescents lack of complete development for the increased rates of suicide in this age group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is now the second leading cause of death among adolescents over homicide. The next few paragraphs explore an adolescents development as an explanation to the surprising evidence proving suicide as a leading cause of death among adolescents.

The development of an adolescent, or teenager, is a difficult process that is accompanied by physical changes, emotional imbalances,

In an article by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suicide is "associated with feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or problems with attention and hyperactivity." The AACP later goes on to say that "suicide attempts may be associated with feelings of stress, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, disappointment, and loss." In other words, overwhelming and unfamiliar emotions drastically increase an adolescents chance of committing suicide. As adolescents grow, adults expect them to be fully capable of handling adult level situations. The new situations range from dating to working, and even being a consumer in a tricky market. These new challenges trigger the unsuspecting adolescents ' emotions and send them on an emotional downfall. This emotional downfall takes an especially heavy toll on adolescents and increases suicidal

The amygdala and hippocampus develop at a different rate than that of the prefrontal cortex. The amygdala and hippocampus are responsible for feeling emotions, impulses, and making decisions. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, regulates both of these regions and therefore controls emotion related behavior. As reported by the Boston Globe in an article, the hippocampus and amygdala "mature well ahead of the section of the brain that regulates those emotions and impulses" (also known as the prefrontal cortex.) If different sections of the brain develop at different rates, it is logical that the most developed parts would have more control. This plays a role in adolescent suicide because undeveloped minds are at a biological disadvantage. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is not prepared to handle or understand developing emotions or actions. To put it differently, if the prefrontal cortex developed at the same rate as the hippocampus and amygdala, adolescents would be more prepared to handle decision making, impulses, and difficult