Profanity is the native language of teenagers. Adolescence is a time of intense, roller-coaster emotions and profanity seems to be the most common way for teens to express these strong feelings.
Profanity has the guttural, growling and powerful sounds that “feel good” to bark and may be the first observable act of rebellion. Meant to shock and alarm parents, it heralds the teen’s attempts to declare that they’re growing up.
It’s a signal of belonging to the most important group in the world-their friends. It’s also a reflection of their still-developing prefrontal cortex where reasoning takes place.
In the teen years, it’s the amygdala, the seat of emotions, that’s running the show. Most teens know the rules: Don’t swear in front of authority figures or someone you don’t know well. So, decide on the rules for your teens and their friends when they are in your home. Don’t make them guess; set them up for success.
Claudia
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