Excellent points, Alex. As a frame of reference, average life expectancy in 1900 for an American was 49. It's @ 76 today. That has a bearing on not only what you've observed, but I believe, the divorce rate as well. I truly believe that adolesence is a manufactured Western concept that is not part of the usual life cycle. Nature tells us when we're adults...it's called puberty. Every culture recognizes this, and there are significant transition rituals at this time (e.g. Confirmation, for Catholics). Our society has become so complex that 15 year olds are not able to support themselves, by and large (i.e. unable to "survive"). I believe what we observe as "hormones out of control" is actually the natural order of things. It's our societal structure that has changed. Every instinct in the teenager, passed down through millenia of evolution, is telling him/her to leave the nest, find a mate, etc. Our society tells them to stay put, and keep their pants on. I think that is why adolesence is such a challenge. We are fighting the powerful tide of survival/propogation instincts.
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