If Young Men Say It's a Bad Idea, Believe Them

"The research on brain development in young men has been clear for decades. The prefrontal cortex, the part that governs judgment and risk assessment, doesn't fully mature until the mid-20s. Their ability to predict long-term consequences is biologically limited, which is why they're far more prone to impulsive, risk-filled behavior. So when they, of all people, with all their biological handicaps and history of foolish decision-making, look at something and say, "This is a bad idea," maybe the rest of us should pay attention."

"Naturally, people started building the fire higher, because that's what young men do. At one point, my friend who started the whole thing muttered, almost to himself but loud enough to hear, "This was a bad idea." Those of us nearby chuckled. We knew it was, but that didn't stop us. It ended, as you might expect, with one poor soul not quite setting his feet right before the jump. My guess is he still carries the burn marks to this day."

At a late-night beach bonfire, a college friend leaped over a flaming cement pit, sparking a competitive rite of passage as other young men took turns attempting the jump. The fire grew higher and one participant later muttered, "This was a bad idea," but the dares continued until someone misstepped and suffered burns. Research on brain development explains why such behavior is common: the prefrontal cortex, which governs judgment and risk assessment, does not fully mature until the mid-20s, limiting the ability to predict long-term consequences. Young men are therefore biologically more prone to impulsive, risky actions, so their warnings warrant attention.

Read at Psychology Today