Our teens and children face many struggles, obstacles that can potentially harm them. There are, however, also factors that can support and strengthen teens. One of the most important factors of course is a strong, supportive family. A study published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence and completed by a team from CANDLE (USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education) presents another positive support that nurtures teen development, even in the face of adversity. Previous studies have shown that witnessing community violence impacts the teen brain in a pattern similar to the pattern of PTSD in solders who have been deployed to war. Key areas of the brain shrink. This study built on those findings and found that teens who engaged in “transcendent thinking” about the violence they had witnessed showed greater resilience to the negative effects of the violence. Specifically, transcendent and reflective thinking promoted growth in brain areas impacted by violence.

Participants of this study were from low socioeconomic status backgrounds and lived in urban areas. However, I fear all our children witness too much violence. Simply by watching the news our children witness violence. With that in mind, I believe all children might benefit from the findings of this study. Specifically, transcendent and reflective thinking may help provide an antidote to the violence they witness (as we work to actually curtail the violence itself, of course). How?

Transcendent thinking “moves beyond reacting to the specifics of social situations to also consider the broader ethical, personal, and social implications” of the situation. In other words, transcendent thinking takes time to reflect on why various social situations arise and occur as well as what could be done to make the world better for everyone. Why does this happen in general? Why did this specific situation happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening in the future? How could things be different? Questions like these represent questions that promote transcendent thinking. Engaging our children and teens with explorational type questions can help them learn transcendent thinking and begin to utilize it in their lives. We can explore these types of questions when they:

• experience violence of any kind in the community,
• witness violence on the news,
• see violence in a movie.

By teaching our children to think beyond the specific situation to the “why’s” of the situation and the “what’s” involved in making the situation better, we promote brain growth that can increase brain resilience and emotional health.  And we might find ourselves nurturing a generation that will offer positive solutions to some of the world’s ongoing struggles. Still, supporting a teen who can live their life with greater insight and joy remains the greatest reward in this process for any parent.