Just too young to know better

ONE of the most thought-provoking items recently printed in an Irish newspaper was that of Sean McCarthaigh, in the Irish Examiner on October 11, 2011.

The article, entitled “21% of young male drivers have raced on roads” related to a study conducted on the psychology of risky driving by young drivers. The study was carried out by Dr Kiran Sarma, a lecturer in psychology at NUI Galway.

In his article, the reporter told us that “Dr Sarma highlighted how biological studies had shown that the part of the brain which involves risk assessment is not fully developed in most adults until after the age of 25”.

If this claim is scientifically accurate, then it has massive implications for everything that relates to people under the age of 25.

It surely screams that nature dictates that young adults are not biologically prepared to make mature, rounded decisions on life’s myriad of problems.

It respectfully rubbishes the notion that human beings are complete adults at the age of eighteen. This raises huge doubts around a raft of so-called entitlements that society grants to young people who reach this notional age of maturity. It begs for a whole new wisdom to be applied to the way that adult society legislates for our vulnerable young.

Dr Sarma’s study surely warns that young people may not be emotionally equipped to make proper decisions on a host of issues that involve risk to their spirit, body and soul.

In layman’s terms, using this scientific information, it therefore needs to be seriously discussed if young adults under 25 are actually biologically mature enough to make a realistic judgement on life or death issues like: Drinking a mind-altering drug like alcohol; Voting on the future of a country; Deciding on the fate of an unborn child; Fighting in war; And being parents.

In the run-up to the recent presidential election, many snide and devious comments were passed on the suitability of Michael D Higgins for the office of president because of his age. Dr Sarma’s study of the brain gives much food for thought on this particular issue.

Tom Fitzgerald

Four Roads

Askeaton

Co Limerick