The effect you're referring to is a symptom of lack of mylenation on the neural pathways to the prefrontal cortex. It keeps developing in many people till the m

The effect you're referring to is a symptom of lack of mylenation on the neural pathways to the prefrontal cortex. It keeps developing in many people till the mid 20s. It makes it so accessing empathy (and judgement in general) non-instantaneous for teens. Adults have the mylenation, so can far more quickly access the prefrontal cortex's gifts in a split second manner. http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/youngadult/brain.html http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/youngadult/brain.html for more on this effect While you certainly may be able to learn things as well, this is a developmental brain function issue too. There is a limited amount of training, and a certain amount of waiting, involved in getting an adult.