你的“前额叶皮层未发育完全”成了新的替罪羊

You've probably often seen a certain term online.

This term is called "prefrontal cortex."

It sounds very scientific, right?

Actually, it's a part of our brain.

This part is at the very front of our brain.

It's very important because it helps us make decisions.

If you want to plan something, you need to use it.

If you want to control your temper, you also need to use it.

Scientists say this part develops very slowly.

For many people, it doesn't fully develop until after age twenty-five.

So many young people have found a great excuse.

When they make mistakes, they don't feel it's their own problem.

They say, my prefrontal cortex hasn't fully developed yet.

It's like finding a scapegoat for their own mistakes.

Let's look at some examples from daily life.

For example, a college student bought a lot of things online.

He spent all of his monthly living expenses.

Then he had no money to eat.

In the past, he might have felt very regretful.

He would have felt he spent money too recklessly.

But now, he might post on social media.

He says, you can't blame me.

It's because my brain hasn't fully grown yet.

My prefrontal cortex doesn't know how to control spending.

Also, many young people act this way in relationships too.

If they lose their temper badly at their boyfriend or girlfriend.

They said some very hurtful things.

Afterward, they might not apologize right away.

Instead, they say, my brain is still developing.

So I can't control my emotions.

This kind of excuse is becoming more and more popular online.

Not only do people not feel embarrassed, they actually find it amusing.

As if simply invoking a scientific term makes the mistake disappear.

But is this way of thinking really correct?

Although scientists say the brain doesn't fully develop until age twenty-five.

That doesn't mean people under twenty-five don't know right from wrong.

Teenagers actually already know what is good.

They also know what is bad.

You can't push all your problems onto the brain.

If you always do this, there will be a big problem.

The problem is that you'll never grow up.

Our brains are very smart.

How does it develop?

The brain learns through our actions and experiences.

If you did something wrong and feel very sad about it.

Then you tell yourself you can't do this again next time.

At that moment, your brain is learning.

Your prefrontal cortex becomes stronger.

But if you immediately make excuses for yourself.

You say it's not my fault, it's the brain's fault.

Then your brain loses the opportunity to learn.

It won't remember this lesson.

Next time you encounter the same situation, you'll still make the wrong choice.

We can compare today's young people with those from the past.

Young people in the past took on responsibilities earlier than today's young people.

Many people in the past started working at eighteen.

They not only had to take care of themselves, but also their families.

Did their brains develop earlier than ours today?

Actually no, everyone's brains are the same.

The difference lies in environment and responsibility.

People in the past didn't have the excuse of "undeveloped prefrontal cortex."

When they made mistakes, they had to solve them on their own.

So they learned fast and matured fast.

Living conditions now are much better than before.

Young people's pressure is actually not as great as before.

So everyone has more time to focus on themselves.

Why is this scientific excuse so popular online?

Because short videos tell us about these things every day.

Short videos like to simplify complex problems.

They tell you that you always get angry because your brain hasn't fully grown.

You're always late also because your brain hasn't fully grown.

This makes many people feel comfortable hearing it.

Because admitting you're wrong is a painful thing.

Pushing responsibility onto a body part is much easier.

It's like when you didn't do well on a test.

You don't say you didn't study; you say the pen was bad.

But we should be careful about this comfortable feeling.

If you get used to avoiding responsibility, the consequences will be serious.

At work, your boss won't care whether your brain has developed or not.

The boss only cares whether you can do the job well.

If you mess up something important.

Then you tell your boss, my prefrontal cortex hasn't fully developed.

You'll definitely be fired by your boss.

Your friends might also be driven away by you.

Friends can forgive you once or twice.

But if you always hurt others and refuse to admit fault.

Eventually everyone will leave you.

Actually, twenty-five is not a magical number.

It doesn't mean you know nothing at twenty-four.

And then suddenly become smart after your twenty-fifth birthday.

Brain growth is a very long process.

In this process, you need to keep practicing.

Every time you make a decision on your own, you're exercising your brain.

Every time you bravely admit a mistake, you're also exercising your brain.

It's just like going to the gym to exercise your body.

If you don't lift weights, your muscles won't grow.

If you don't take responsibility, your brain won't mature.

So when we hear this term again.

We can have a laugh, but don't take it seriously.

Scientific knowledge is meant to help us understand ourselves.

It's not meant to give us an escape route.

Knowing that your brain is still developing is a good thing.

It means we still have a lot of room for improvement.

We can tell ourselves, I'll do better in the future.

If you have a quick temper, practice deep breathing more.

If you like spending money recklessly, let your family manage your money.

Find ways to solve problems instead of making excuses.

It's actually very normal for young people to make mistakes.

No one expects you to do everything right from the start.

What matters is your attitude after making a mistake.

You need to carry the responsibility on your own shoulders.

Only then can you truly become an adult.