Child of Our Time

Episode
Changing Times
Broadcast Info
2017 (56 mins)
Description
Since we last filmed with them, the Child of our Time teenagers have transformed into young men and women. As they step out into the adult world - finding love, taking risks, exploring their sexual identity - the latest science is revealing how this behaviour is influenced by huge changes going on in their brains.
As a child Matt was always one of the shyest of the group. Today he couldn’t be more different - he’s a party-loving extreme-sport enthusiast. We see how his parents worked hard to boost his confidence as he grew up. But the real reason for this change is in his brain. Scanning shows how his brain is behaving very differently to his fathers - the brain’s reward centre fires more strongly in teenagers than adults. And this extreme reaction to pleasure isn’t the only change in our teenagers.
Growing up on a farm in South Wales, Megan described herself as tomboy and wasn’t interested in appearance. At 16 she’s very attentive to her looks, as are all our teens. And there’s a good reason for this. Recent research has revealed that the pre-frontal cortex in teenager’s brains responds far more strongly to being judged than adults do. They are far more sensitive to what others may think. For teenagers growing up in an age of constantly posting selfies, and being judged by others online, this is a potent mix.
Brain and hormone changes mean the world of love and sex is almost irresistible at 16. Charlie is the first of our teens to be in a long term relationship. Her mother Toni was pregnant with Charlie at the same age, following a family tradition of young mums, and both Toni and Charlie are determined that Charlie takes a very different path. Today teen pregnancies are the lowest they’ve been for 50 years.
A few months ago Eve had something important to tell her father. He was worried she was pregnant, but instead she told him she was gay. For Eve, brought up on an isolated religious community, it took a while to recognise her feelings. Now her father and friends are all supportive in her search for love.
And the drive to experiment isn’t limited to love and sex. Megan is preparing for her 16th birthday party and the guests will be bringing their own alcohol. As a child Megan in Wales was always encouraged to take risks in a safe environment, and it’s the same with alcohol now. Within half an hour all the booze is drunk. So how do our peers influence our ability to make important judgements about risk? Latest brain science shows that peer pressure isn’t necessarily from outside, but from within. The reward centres in teenagers brains fire more strongly when taking risks in front of their friends. But this can sometime shave devastating consequences.
In Lancashire, biker Jamie Craven almost lost his life after a night out drinking with friends. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2004. His drinking binge sent him into a coma which has shocked him into taking a more responsible attitude to life.
The group of friends we choose when we’re 16 , can have a huge impact on our adult life. In East Yorkshire talented singer-songwriter Rhianna Lees lives with mum Tanya who is recently separated from husband Andy. Rhianna has a close-knit group of supportive, like-minded friends, who define themselves as ‘alternative’. New research shows that the social tribe we choose at 16 can have a long lasting impact on our success in later life.
One of the reasons our teenage years have such an impact is because our brains are very plastic - as nerve connections we use are being strengthened and those we don’t wither away. It means that teenagers think more creatively than at any other age. For intellectually curious identical twins Alex and Ivo Lloyd-Young this means making the most of this window of opportunity for learning. They live with mum Berenice and dad Alastair in Glasgow and have a packed week of challenging activities from music to science.
As our teenagers navigate the perils and pleasures of adolescence we uncover how our experiences at 16 shape our brains forever. Being 16 is more than just a moment in time. It is an age that fundamentally shapes you and the adult that you become.
Genre
Science; Research; Biology

How to cite this record

The Open University, "Child of Our Time". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/227249 (Accessed 10 Jan 2025)