Have you ever wondered why your teenager can seem mature and thoughtful one moment, and impulsive, emotional or resistant the next?
Understanding what is happening in the developing teenage brain can help us make sense of some of the changes we see during adolescence and, importantly, shape how we support young people through them.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr John Coleman OBE, a leading psychologist specialising in adolescence whose work has helped shape our understanding of this stage of life. Dr Coleman has spent decades researching and working in adolescent development across psychology, education and policy, translating research into practical insights for parents, educators and professionals.
Drawing on his latest book, The Psychology of the Teenage Brain, published by Routledge, we explore what happens to the brain during adolescence and what these developmental changes can mean for behaviour, learning and everyday family life.
ποΈ In this episode, we discuss:
β How the brain develops and reorganises during adolescence
β Why teenagers can be particularly sensitive to rewards, novelty and new experiences
β The role of hormones and dopamine during the teenage years
β What executive function is, why it is still developing and how parents can support it
β Why sleep patterns shift during adolescence and how this can affect everyday life
β How social relationships, parenting and digital environments can shape the adolescent experience
Whether you are raising a teenager, teaching adolescents or simply want to better understand the developing teenage brain, this episode offers an evidence-informed perspective on what is happening beneath the behaviour and how we can better support young people through this important stage of development.
π Links & Resources
π The Psychology of the Teenage Brain by Dr John Coleman OBE, published by Routledge https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-the-Teenage-Brain/Coleman/p/book/9781032363950
Dr John Coleman https://www.jcoleman.co.uk/
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