‘Brats’ turn brash, tackle them young

Simmi Waraich

Worldwide, the leading causes of death among 15 to 29 year olds are roadside accidents, murder and suicide. Reasons are impulsivity, sensation seeking and substance abuse. An adolescent brain’s impulsive area i.e. the limbic system, matures earlier than the executive functioning area of the brain. In addition, adolescents are egocentric. They also have a feeling of invulnerability — that nothing can happen to them. 

They can be sensation seeking as well, which means they seek out high-risk activities. While this youthful brain can start revolutions, on the flipside, it can also lead to disasters, such as accidents due to overspeeding or drugs.

Patriarchy runs deep in North India. In Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, female foeticide is common, and so is the preference for son. The result is an abysmal female-to-male ratio in the 0-6 age group.

Traditionally, the Indian society was close knit. Overindulgent mothers and grandmothers gave in to the male child’s demands. Having never faced rejection, the boys develop a sense of entitlement. 

While the female children grow up to be responsible individuals, owing to the chores they are given, boys more often than not run unhindered and unsupervised. No rules are set at home. No responsibilities are assigned. The same get compounded to make the boys believe that they can take law for a ride. General lack of traffic awareness in Punjab and Haryana also means  that adolescent brain hasn’t learnt any checks and balances.

Teaching the brain responsibility from an early age is necessary and that is where the role of the family emerges as primary. Demarcating boundaries for children and directing them to respect rules can change the trajectory of the impulsive behaviour and channelise the mind on a productive path. 

— The writer is a Chandigarh-based psychiatrist