Which of the following best explains why teenagers are more susceptible to changing emotions?

• A. Teenagers experience fewer hormonal changes than adults, leading to more emotional variability.
• B. Social influences have little impact on teenagers' emotional experiences.
• C. Their brains are still developing, particularly areas involved in emotional regulation such as the prefrontal cortex.
• D. Teenagers have fully matured emotional regulation systems, making their emotions more stable.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of brain development in emotional regulation, focusing on the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for managing emotions and decision-making.
2. Recognize that during adolescence, the prefrontal cortex is still maturing, which affects teenagers' ability to regulate their emotions effectively.
3. Consider how hormonal changes during adolescence contribute to emotional variability, but note that brain development plays a more critical role in emotional regulation.
4. Evaluate the impact of social influences on teenagers' emotions, acknowledging that these influences are significant rather than minimal.
5. Conclude that the best explanation for teenagers' susceptibility to changing emotions is the ongoing development of brain areas involved in emotional regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex.