The Negative Influence Of Decision-Making In Romeo And Juliet

For years, adults have questioned teens' decision-making skills and whether they genuinely understand the effect of their actions. Sadly, it is not uncommon to see teens make irrational choices, and Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is one of the best examples. In the play, both Romeo and Juliet are carried away by their love for each other and show impulsivity and recklessness, which leads to their death. At this age, adolescents tend to be incredibly naive, immature, and irrational, all of which are illustrated through their decisions. Being a teenager negatively affects one’s decision-making skills because the brain has not fully matured, teens are highly influenced by social media, and things like concussions can severely alter the abilities

For instance, studies have shown how responsive the adolescent brain is to rewards due to some parts of the brain being underdeveloped. The article “Teenage Brains Are Malleable And Vulnerable, Researchers Say” states, “When a lot of points were at stake, teens actually spent more time studying the dots than adults, and brain scans showed more activity in brain regions involved in making decisions” (Hamilton, 9-10). Instead of acting solely on impulse, teens took their time and made better decisions. Their sensitivity to these sorts-of rewards forces them to push many parts of their brain to work harder while motivating their overall behavior. In addition to rewards, people also have a love for the thrill, especially during adolescence. But this passion for excitement leads to impulsivity, which results in the formation of bad choices. However, this isn’t true all the time, as sensation-seeking isn’t always because of impulsivity. “Teen Brains” by David Dobbs says, “And although sensation seeking can lead to dangerous behaviors, it can also generate positive ones: The urge to meet more people, for instance, can create a wider circle of friends, which generally makes us healthier, happier, safer, and more successful” (Dobbs, 6). It seems as though seeking sensations still has some benefits. But even though the brain's reward system and teenagers' love for sensations have some positive effects, they are heavily outweighed by the negative