Are we mature by 18?

CrowdScience

BBC

Science, Technology

4.8 • 985 Ratings

🗓️ 20 September 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

18 is the age of majority, or maturity, in most countries around the world. Depending where you live, it might be when you can vote, buy alcohol, or get married. But what's so special about 18 that makes it the beginning of adulthood? CrowdScience listener Lynda didn't feel very mature back then. She recalls a difficult decision that made her wonder what science has to say about when we’re truly grown up. How developed are we, physically, mentally and emotionally, by the age of 18? And how much does this differ between people, or from culture to culture? Presenter Caroline Steel digs around for answers with the aid of neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, biological anthropologist Barry Bogin, and cultural anthropologist Bonnie Hewlett. And even some teenagers. Contributors: Barry Bogin, Emeritus Professor of Biological Anthropology, Loughborough University Sarah-Jayne Blakemore - Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge Professor Bonnie Hewlett - Associate Professor, Cultural Anthropology, WSU Vancouver

Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Richard Walker Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-Ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Neva Missirian

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Kim Ketrau and I want to tell you about my new podcast a new audio drama telling the history of the CIA from the inside out.
0:09.0	The United States of America was suddenly its worst domestic attack.
0:14.0	He's got to convince Congress to give him an open checkbook now.
0:18.0	America has suffered its worst domestic attack of the 20th century at Pearl Harbor.
0:23.0	How do we make contact with the NKGB?
0:27.0	Central Intelligence, starring me, Kim Kertral, Ed Harris, and Johnny Flynn.
0:31.0	There's $50,000 in it for you if you say yes.
0:34.8	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:37.8	What changed when you turned 18?
0:41.0	More responsibilities and like, you know, just feeling like you're not like
0:45.2	a kid anymore you know you have like things you have to pay for and like things you have to
0:49.8	like take care of with the government and fear of like growing old.
0:55.7	Meet friends Marla, Milu and Clara, who recently reached the ripe old age of 18.
1:02.3	Well, very excited because I've been waiting to turn 18 for a very long time
1:06.2	of course. I could finally like go out and get drinks and stuff like that so it's very fun.
1:11.7	I've been so excited and it's finally there so
1:14.0	I was excited about being able to show my ID because now I can get in wherever I want
1:19.7	normally you when you're 17 and you want to get a drink you have to like play dumb and like oh no I forgot my idea I forgot my idea and now I'm like yeah I am actually
1:29.8	18 yeah look at it so I feel very proud when I'm buying cigarettes or drinks, like I feel very mature. But do you feel mature in any other ways?
1:38.8	Do we?
1:43.2	Yeah, I don't even know how to do the laundry.
1:45.2	So like how am I supposed to live by myself?
	...

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