Politics Central: The Glenn and Helen Show: Should Adolescence Be Abolished?

Are we infantilizing teens to the point that we are raising a nation of wimps? Is adolescence extended so long that people have grey hair by the time they become adults? Robert Epstein, Director Emeritus of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies in Massachusetts and author of The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen talks about these questions and more on today’s podcast. Epstein’s new book argues that adolescence is an artificial and unnecessary part of life that people are better off without. Find out how your teen’s exposure to school and Western media may be setting him or her up for incompetence, poor judgement and social-emotional turmoil. What can you do about it? Read the book or listen to the podcast to find out. Or go take Dr. Epstein’s competency test to find out how adult your teen is (or how adult you are) at www.howadultareyou.com or visit his website at drrobertepstein.com.

The Glenn and Helen Show: Should Adolescence Be Abolished?

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Comments (7)

Kevin Newsom :

This is quite interesting. Does the author discuss how his notions relate to fairly recent research regarding the adolescence brain? We are finding out just how impaired adolescents are, especially with regard to judgment and what we typically call common sense.

I see these new understandings of the teenage brain increasing the desire to protect our adolescents.

Apr 12, 2007 09:52 AM

Dr. Robert Epstein :

The "teen brain" idea is completely fraudulent. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever to support the idea that developmental defects in the teen brain underlie the irresponsible behavior we often see. You can download my new article on this topic, "The Myth of the Teen Brain," at my website, or you can read the article in the new issue (April/May 2007) of Scientific American Mind. It will also appear in a special issue of Scientific American on child development this summer.

Apr 12, 2007 04:38 PM

dfenstrate :

Does the author discuss how his notions relate to fairly recent research regarding the adolescence brain? We are finding out just how impaired adolescents are, especially with regard to judgment and what we typically call common sense.

Listen to the podcast, that you might learn.

Short answer: Yes, he addresses it, and calls it fraudulent 'research'.

Apr 12, 2007 06:39 PM

Synova :

Why yes, Kevin. I think he said something like, "It's fraud." And then he said "fraud" again.

Several times.

And then he agreed that it is exactly the same as back when they said that black people had impaired brains.

Apr 13, 2007 02:51 PM

Helen Smith :

Kevin Newsom,

Dr. Epstein does address the brain studies in the podcast, he says they are fraud and points to an article in "Scientific American Mind."

Apr 13, 2007 03:59 PM

John :

Good interview! I hate to ask but it's been bugging me since I listened to this podcast yesterday, what is that song at the beginning??? It sounds familiar but I can't recall where it's from! Thanks.

It's "The High School Song" by Audra and the Antidote. www.theantidote.net. -- Ed.

Apr 14, 2007 08:48 AM

C Chase :

Dr. Epstein,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I remember taking a course in "Adolescent Psychology" for my education degree when I was eighteen years old, and thinking "This is BS!" Nothing we studied had anything to do with the "adolescent experiences" of either myself or any of my friends.

What you say makes a lot of sense to someone only recently out of "adolescence." Again, thank you!

Apr 16, 2007 08:36 AM


	Found in: Glenn & Helen Show ; Podcast April 11, 2007 4:50 PM The Glenn and Helen Show: Should Adolescence Be Abolished? Are we infantilizing teens to the point that we are raising a nation of wimps? Is adolescence extended so long that people have grey hair by the time they become adults? Robert Epstein, Director Emeritus of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies in Massachusetts and author of The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen talks about these questions and more on today’s podcast. Epstein’s new book argues that adolescence is an artificial and unnecessary part of life that people are better off without. Find out how your teen’s exposure to school and Western media may be setting him or her up for incompetence, poor judgement and social-emotional turmoil. What can you do about it? Read the book or listen to the podcast to find out. Or go take Dr. Epstein’s competency test to find out how adult your teen is (or how adult you are) at www.howadultareyou.com or visit his website at drrobertepstein.com. Listen to this podcast or download The Glenn and Helen Show: Should Adolescence Be Abolished?. Free show subscription available at iTunes. The Glenn and Helen Show: Should Adolescence Be Abolished? ——— Return to Pajamas Media homepage digg this del.icio.us comment email print x Email this link to: Your email address: Message (optional): Comments (7) Kevin Newsom : This is quite interesting. Does the author discuss how his notions relate to fairly recent research regarding the adolescence brain? We are finding out just how impaired adolescents are, especially with regard to judgment and what we typically call common sense. I see these new understandings of the teenage brain increasing the desire to protect our adolescents. Apr 12, 2007 09:52 AM Dr. Robert Epstein : The "teen brain" idea is completely fraudulent. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever to support the idea that developmental defects in the teen brain underlie the irresponsible behavior we often see. You can download my new article on this topic, "The Myth of the Teen Brain," at my website, or you can read the article in the new issue (April/May 2007) of Scientific American Mind. It will also appear in a special issue of Scientific American on child development this summer. Apr 12, 2007 04:38 PM dfenstrate : Does the author discuss how his notions relate to fairly recent research regarding the adolescence brain? We are finding out just how impaired adolescents are, especially with regard to judgment and what we typically call common sense. Listen to the podcast, that you might learn. Short answer: Yes, he addresses it, and calls it fraudulent 'research'. Apr 12, 2007 06:39 PM Synova : Why yes, Kevin. I think he said something like, "It's fraud." And then he said "fraud" again. Several times. And then he agreed that it is exactly the same as back when they said that black people had impaired brains. Apr 13, 2007 02:51 PM Helen Smith : Kevin Newsom, Dr. Epstein does address the brain studies in the podcast, he says they are fraud and points to an article in "Scientific American Mind." Apr 13, 2007 03:59 PM John : Good interview! I hate to ask but it's been bugging me since I listened to this podcast yesterday, what is that song at the beginning??? It sounds familiar but I can't recall where it's from! Thanks. It's "The High School Song" by Audra and the Antidote. www.theantidote.net. -- Ed. Apr 14, 2007 08:48 AM C Chase : Dr. Epstein, Thank you, thank you, thank you! I remember taking a course in "Adolescent Psychology" for my education degree when I was eighteen years old, and thinking "This is BS!" Nothing we studied had anything to do with the "adolescent experiences" of either myself or any of my friends. What you say makes a lot of sense to someone only recently out of "adolescence." Again, thank you! Apr 16, 2007 08:36 AM Comments have been archived for this page.	Election Central Issues Central Media Central Freeranger Central Glenn & Helen Show The Sanity Squad Pajamas Media Politics @Squidoo Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers RSS Feeds RSS \| Atom Pajamas Media Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers Suggestion Box Subject: Message: