Chapter 3 addresses the physical growth and aging across the Life-Span.
Read the article, “Crime, Culpability, and the Adolescent Brain”, located in Week 3/Chapter 3 folder and address the questions outlined below. Be sure to incorporate the information in the text and in chapter 3 when addressing this assignment (Module 3.2 and the research to practice section in this chapter module).
In a landmark 2005 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that murderers who were younger than 18 at the time of their crime should not be put to death. In order to reach their conclusion, the justices relied heavily on psychological and neurological research showing that the brains of adolescents are not fully mature until around 20 years old. In particular, the frontal lobes—where much of our ability to process the consequences of our actions is located—are usually among the last areas of the brain to fully mature. This, along with other evidence showing that teenagers often lack the ability to control their impulsive behaviors, led the majority of the justices to conclude that adolescents younger than 18 are not fully culpable for their actions.
Address the following questions for this assignment:
Discuss your thoughts about the article, “Crime, Culpability, and the Adolescent Brain”. Based on the evidence provided, do you believe the ruling is fair? Do you agree or disagree with the ruling? Why? If teenagers have impaired judgment, and lack the ability to control impulsive behavior, can they be held responsible for any of their actions? Where should the line be drawn? How much of our behavior is biological, and how much is personal choice?
