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It's interesting that the Dalai Lama stated "after twenty we begin to grow old" -- for the majority of us, that seems to be when life barely begins itself.

by NhanH 12y ago

bhrgunatha 12y ago
Perhaps he's being more literal and he means (roughly) peak physical maturity. Although I've read different estimates - I seem to remember people mention somewhere in the 20s for when your body has completed it's full physical growth cycle.
dredmorbius 12y ago
I'd also argue that full intellectual maturity comes well after age 20. The intensity may be higher earlier on, but maturity, as I've witnessed it, seems to peak later (assuming it does develop at all). (Edit to add): It's been known for a while that physiological maturity of the brain occurs after age 20: "Adulthood: What the Brain Says About Maturity" http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/28/do-we-need-to-redefine-adulthood/adulthood-what-the-brain-says-about-maturity http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/28/do-we-need-t... Neuroscientists now know that brain maturation continues far later into development than had been believed previously. Significant changes in brain anatomy and activity are still taking place during young adulthood, especially in prefrontal regions that are important for planning ahead, anticipating the future consequences of one’s decisions, controlling impulses, and comparing risk and reward. Indeed, some brain regions and systems do not reach full maturity until the early or mid-20s. "The Adolescent Brain -- Why Teenagers Think and Act Differently" http://www.edinformatics.com/news/teenage_brains.htm http://www.edinformatics.com/news/teenage_brains.htm A recent study by Lebel and Beaulieu (see below) reinforce the above findings that the human brain doesn't stop developing at adolescence, but continues well into our 20s. My "if it develops at all" comment has more to do with theories of cognitive development -- higher levels of functioning are fairly rare. Jean Piaget's work is recommended: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maturity_(psychological) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maturity_(psychological) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget%27s_theory_of_Cognitive_Development-Educational_Psychology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget%27s_theory_of_Cogn... My speculation that full intellectual maturity lags physiological mature is my own, I've no references on that.

It's interesting that the Dalai Lama stated "after twenty we begin to grow old" -- for the majority of us, that seems to be when life barely begins itself.

by NhanH 12y ago

It's interesting that the Dalai Lama stated "after twenty we begin to grow old" -- for the majority of us, that seems to be when life barely begins itself.

bhrgunatha 12y ago

Perhaps he's being more literal and he means (roughly) peak physical maturity. Although I've read different estimates - I seem to remember people mention somewhere in the 20s for when your body has completed it's full physical growth cycle.

dredmorbius 12y ago

I'd also argue that full intellectual maturity comes well after age 20. The intensity may be higher earlier on, but maturity, as I've witnessed it, seems to peak later (assuming it does develop at all). (Edit to add): It's been known for a while that physiological maturity of the brain occurs after age 20: "Adulthood: What the Brain Says About Maturity" http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/28/do-we-need-to-redefine-adulthood/adulthood-what-the-brain-says-about-maturity http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/28/do-we-need-t... Neuroscientists now know that brain maturation continues far later into development than had been believed previously. Significant changes in brain anatomy and activity are still taking place during young adulthood, especially in prefrontal regions that are important for planning ahead, anticipating the future consequences of one’s decisions, controlling impulses, and comparing risk and reward. Indeed, some brain regions and systems do not reach full maturity until the early or mid-20s. "The Adolescent Brain -- Why Teenagers Think and Act Differently" http://www.edinformatics.com/news/teenage_brains.htm http://www.edinformatics.com/news/teenage_brains.htm A recent study by Lebel and Beaulieu (see below) reinforce the above findings that the human brain doesn't stop developing at adolescence, but continues well into our 20s. My "if it develops at all" comment has more to do with theories of cognitive development -- higher levels of functioning are fairly rare. Jean Piaget's work is recommended: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maturity_(psychological) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maturity_(psychological) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget%27s_theory_of_Cognitive_Development-Educational_Psychology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget%27s_theory_of_Cogn... My speculation that full intellectual maturity lags physiological mature is my own, I've no references on that.