N4L 023: "Born To Be Wild" by Jess P. Shatkin, MD, MPH

Dr. Jess P. Shatkin, nationally acclaimed psychiatrist, unveils truths about adolescents in his latest book, Born to Be Wild: Why Teens Take Risks, and How We Can Help Keep Them Safe. Decoding the adolescent brain (ages 12-26), Shatkin walks us through science, stories, analogies, clinical anecdotes, and research-based observations. The bad news is teens are actually hard-wired to take risks; the good news is we can still raise safe, resilient kids.
Drawing on decades of medical and sociological research, Dr. Shatkin offers a surprising finding: teens know they are not invincible. In fact, they often overestimate their chances of being harmed while engaged in risky behavior. So, rather than telling them of what they already know (risky behavior is dangerous), we’re better off telling them “One time is all it takes.”
Drinking, driving, and drugs are just three of many dangers that panic parents of teens. To deal appropriately with risky behaviors, adults need to understand the adolescent brain, which is not fully developed until the mid-20s. The upside: during those formative years, teens are highly creative. The downside: adolescents are genetically engineered to prioritize emotions over logic. Consequently, they often make risky choices to be socially accepted or to avoid emotional pain. In such circumstances, peers can trump parents. In fact, if a peer is watching—even a peer they don’t know—adolescents are more likely to take risks.
So, what can parents do to help halt high-risk behaviors? Begin by improving their own parenting practices. Dr. Shatkin recommends using any version of Parent Management Training (PMT) to learn effective techniques. Giving tactful praise, for example, is far better than objecting to negative behavior. Another strategy is increasing parental monitoring by simply spending time with teens. Being together helps open communication and also lowers the chances of risky behavior. In addition, when parents create homes with low-level conflict, raise teenagers whose brains are driven by less demanding reward centers. In short, youth with warm and rewarding interpersonal relationships engage in fewer risk-taking behaviors.
Dr. Shatkin prevails upon teachers and schools to help, too. Promoting character education, having later start times for high schools, and providing healthy lunches are a few remedies with long-lasting positive effects. In the end, the best intervention is prevention.
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