Age vs. Maturity (In Teenagers)

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thread starter KuroShikaku Nov 02 2010 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Hello, Basil. This is something I've meant to bring up for quite a while: the general relationship between age and level of maturity.* Note, the views expressed in this thread are merely of my observation, and not based on any scientific research or experimentation. *Maturity: By the dictionary, a state of being advanced, physically, mentally, or emotionally. For the purpose of this thread, it is a measure of the ability to empathize, reason, and make decisions based on morals and context. By what I've seen, if someone were to draw a graph of this relationship, it would look like a scribble. It would start at the origin, (0,0), as of course humans are not truly conscious of their decisions immediately after birth. Then we have an arc, concave down (or as some know it, "increasing at a decreasing rate"), up to about age 12. From that point, it drops sharply back to the level it was at 8 or 9. It turns around again at 15-ish and continues upward to level off somewhere in the 30s. Then it drops again at like 60 but that's a discussion for another thread. What I'm trying to focus on is that part from 12 to 15. Why do most teenagers have that drop in maturity?* The answer to this has eluded me since the day I began to notice it. My friends who were once intelligent became unable to make the decisions that seemed obvious to me. There was no apparent cause, but there was a correlation. This age gap, 12 to 15. *I say most here because, like with every correlation, there are exceptions. There are many in this age group that I have observed to be more mature than adults. However, those minorities do not represent the whole. This is a treat for those exceptions. Anyone who can tell me the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus gets a fresh batch of e cookies. It shouldn't take much effort even if you don't know it; just Google it. However, my prediction is that only the exceptions will have read this paragraph before commenting on the thread. I understand that I am leaving out the people who simply left the thread because they saw that there were a lot of words. I cannot determine at this point the maturity of those people, but both exceptions and non-exceptions may have that response. I am saying that those who will comment on the thread without reading what I've written are proving my theory if they fall in the age group of approximately 12 to 17 (17 because it takes a while for the maturity to climb back up). They failed to make the connection that because they didn't read the thread starter, they do not know what the topic of discussion is supposed to be, and cannot make a thoughtful response, so they should not make a response. Also, I'm adding the part below just for those people. Mock them at your will; I know I will. SUMMARY: When you get older, your body matures and you can do more fun stuff with it. =D First poster was clever.

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Pookiemookie + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

The better question before asking yours is: What is maturity? Your discussion lacks this. How can we measure something we cannot determine through agreeable fact rather than opinion? That's besides the point, though. The drop in maturity, in my opinion, comes from the sudden influence by other peer's actions. At the ages of thirteen through fifteen, teenagers feel much more unattached to their bodies. Rather focusing on how they view themselves, they focus on how others view them. This may cause the drop in teenager's maturity as they are more reliant on other people's decisions, somewhat like a child depends on a parents wisdom. Edit: The fundamental theorem of calculus specifies the relationship between the two central operations of calculus: differentiation and integration. ^One sentence response stolen off of Wikipedia. Laziness has overcome me.

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ZigenLadey 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I think I was more mature at age 13 in my decisions and everything has gone downhill from there. Not decision-wise, but emotionally. and your summary is terrible.

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Ztarfish 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I'm 19 and terribly immature.

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JesusIsASpoon 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I like how the summary has pretty much nothing to do with the thread. :P I think that people's maturity drops between 12-15 because it seems to be that gap where you're not a child anymore but not really an adult. It's an awkward time for most of the people I know, and they try to go back to how innocent their lives were in their earlier years. But hey, that's just a guess. This observation is pretty interesting.

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KuroShikaku 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] JesusIsASpoon : I like how the summary has pretty much nothing to do with the thread. :P I think that people's maturity drops between 12-15 because it seems to be that gap where you're not a child anymore but not really an adult. It's an awkward time for most of the people I know, and they try to go back to how innocent their lives were in their earlier years. But hey, that's just a guess. This observation is pretty interesting. [/quote] Hey, I like the cut of your jib. I never thought of it that way. And that somewhat explains the exceptions, which are usually the people who consider themselves to be adults at even this age.

My Characters: HanabiKen - 71 Mardia Chief Bandit

JesusIsASpoon 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] KuroShikaku : Hey, I like the cut of your jib. I never thought of it that way. And that somewhat explains the exceptions, which are usually the people who consider themselves to be adults at even this age. [/quote] Yeah, I'm in the same awkward-ness, or whatever you'd call it, as the majority, and it's how I feel about the whole thing.

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ultimo 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Im Mature because my 9th grade friends think I was in there grade :D im in 7th

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iElite 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Ever since I was like 1, I could never speak in front of crowds and I was socially awkward.

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NoCookieforYou 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I'm 15 and way more mature than people would expect for my age |: I hang out with people 17+ usually

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Noctisology + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

well I personally believe that at the ages of 13-18 that you are increasing and decreasing at a equal rate in maturity. what I mean by that is that your actions of imaturity carry more consequences and so you attempt to do more immature things that are not so serious. and on the other hand you are getting older so you know that it is expected of you to act "grownup". so yea thats my opinion. ps what's your definition of maturity?

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SneakyMist 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Age really doesn't stand a chance against maturity. Ask yourself: Would you rather spend a day with a 20 year old a$$hole who stalks girls and scares children, or a 10 year old, who treats you with the upmost respect, and never undermines you, think about it......

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xxryzinxx 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

whats so good about being mature? you don't get fun out of the small things. But if you mean like crying over a little thing then yes that is a downfall for being immature.

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KuroShikaku + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] Pookiemookie : Edit: The fundamental theorem of calculus specifies the relationship between the two central operations of calculus: differentiation and integration. ^One sentence response stolen off of Wikipedia. Laziness has overcome me. [/quote] That is its purpose, but that does not tell me what it is. :o SneakyMist You did not read the thread, and it is quite obvious. Please do not attempt to comment until you have.

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SneakyMist 11/02/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote=xxryzinxx]whats so good about being mature? you don't get fun out of the small things.quote] Well would you rather have people think of you as a nice young man, or an ignorant child?

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