Value Added Abstract
Michael Lindsey
Abstract
Neuroscience has documented the substantive growth of frontal lobe gray matter during the adolescent years, similar to the brain growth spurt in early childhood – both precursors of preparation for quantitative and qualitative adaptive learning. Several United States Supreme Court decisions (Roper v. Simmons; Graham v. Florida; JDB v. North Carolina; Miller v. Alabama) have affirmed the historical chronological age of ‘majority’ being 18 years old, is inconsistent with what it means to be an adult. Mature cognitive processing is more appropriately characterized by the “Jean Piagetian” formal operations stage, i.e., abstract thinking, logical thinking, decision-making, and long-term planning. Formal operations is now acknowledged to be achieved during a young adult’s mid-20’s years of age. Not yet answered is what are the effects on ethnic minority young adults (mid -20’s), who have social, economic, academic, and/or educational deprivation? This chapter will explore these issues.