We all know that raising teens isn't easy, but a report from a new study by the American Psychological Association published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology is quite surprising. Research showed that young chimps may not be so different from the teens living in our homes – though our teens may be more impulsive.
Researchers worked with 40 wild-born chimps at a sanctuary in the Republic of Congo, playing games that tested the attitude of the young animals toward risk-taking and impulsivity.
Lead study author Dr. Alexandra Rosati, professor of psychology and anthropology at the University of Michigan, told CNN that human adolescents are dealing with a changing body and mind and tend to be more impulsive, risk-seeking, and less able to regulate emotions than adults. She added that chimps face many similar challenges as they develop from a young age into adolescence.
