Challenging Stereotypes of Teens: Reframing Adolescence as Window of Opportunity

In this review, we seek to challenge negative stereotypes of adolescence and unpack the many ways that the developing brain contributes to positive development during the adolescent years. In particular, we will show that risk-taking is not inevitable and risks can be highly adaptive and positive; adolescents are not overly self-centered but engage in other-oriented prosocial behaviors in remarkable ways; adolescents are not only susceptible to negative peer influence but can resist negative peer influence and conform more to positive peer influence; and adolescents do not orient away from the family, but the family remains a constant and important source of influence into adolescence. We outline considerations that researchers can use to reframe their research questions to provide a more balanced perspective on adolescent development, thereby promoting positive development. Public Significance Statement Adolescents have long been characterized as irresponsible, self-centered, and are assumed to engage in socially unacceptable risky behaviors, be overly susceptible to negative peer influence, and orient away from the family. Such characteristics of adolescence are largely based on negative stereotypes of adolescence. We challenge these stereotypes of adolescence and unpack the many ways that the developing brain contributes to opportunities for positive development during the adolescent years.