psychology regarding today's youth

I was reading Carl Pickhardt's blog today, and it got me thinking.

1. I know this is only a generalization on teenagers, but to how many people does it actually apply to?
2. The three freedoms ("for the freedom to focus on SELF, for the freedom to have FUN, and for the freedom to gratify wants NOW.") aren't necessarily a priority for me...is that good raising on my parent's side, or a mental deficiency on mine?
3. What is with all of the CAPITAL LETTERS? No offense, Dr. Pickhardt, but please choose less things to emphasize.
4. This is directed to mid-adolescence--ages 13 to 15. Does it apply to 16-20 year olds as well?
5. I couldn't help but feel a bit...objectified, especially considering most of these things said aren't true or don't pertain to me.

A brief summary for those who don't follow links: teenagers of this age range (13-15) typically want more freedom and their priorities are screwed up. It's the parent's responsibility to persuade their children to make more responsible priority lists. However, if the teen is on drugs or has a persuasive peer group, this is hard because they have little to no free will ("What they don't trust is how group pressure can override individual judgment and how temptations for trouble and dangerous exposures lurk in the larger world outside of family.") and if you parents ever approach them to talk, they will not want to speak with you. ("And be prepared for the teenager's use of protective belligerence at this prickly age when there is something important you want to discuss.")

My initial response (after the capital letters thing): I can't believe he wrote a book on all this. Do parents really believe this stuff? It feels almost as if this doctor has based his findings on stereotypes. There is not one mention of previous patients or contacts who proved this piece right or wrong. He even wrote a mini-manual for parents of teenagers who fit this wild child description. ("FIVE PILLARS OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY support this structure...")

Also, rereading this, I noticed the hypothetical teenager switched from a 'he' to a 'she' around the time talk about responsibilities gives way to talk about irresponsibility and drugs. Just an observation. It may not mean anything.


How important is freedom to kids my age? I don't go to parties or really step out of the house at all. I focus less on 'now' because my schedule is filled with preparing for 'later'. I find it hard to believe I'm the only one with this mindset.

March madness on Zinch!

What an insane scholarship!

To quote Brad Hagen: "Zinch March Madnezz was brought about for a couple reasons. Most importantly our scholarship committee felt too many people deserved the scholarship, it’s hard to pick just one when so many were qualified. So, we picked semi-finalists- then we turned it over to the public and let y’all decide who won in an American Idol style voting. All semi-finalists were students that we felt deserved the scholarship."

Needless to say, I'm going for it. 20K is a lot of money and--depending on the college I end up going to--can pay for more than half of my first year's tuition. Wish me luck!