Beyond the reward system, adolescents also have an intensified social comparison complex. In popular culture, adolescents are known for their individual insecurities, comparing themselves to others continually. This trope is founded in real adolescent behaviors that can be pointed specifically to differing neurological developments. First off, adolescents have difficulties forming the same self-protective biases that adults can (Rodman et. al., 2017). Typically, in response to social threats and rejection, adults are able to cushion their egos and negative responses with self-protective biases. Adolescents, however, are unable to form these biases and internalize said rejection, in turn feeling worse about themselves. Rodman et. al. (2017)
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One area that becomes ever important through social comparison is the medial OFC (and OFC generally). In three different fMRI studies, the medial OFC was a key player determining individual’s behaviors.
First, using fMRI data in response to social-evaluative feedback, there was increased activity in the following regions: the amygdala, insula, OFC, medial PFC, and lateral PFC. Further, medial OFC activity predicted whether or not the threat increased desirability (Hughes & Beer, 2013).
Second, the medial OFC has also been shown to have a role in the decision threshold for these social responses. Specifically, in another fMRI study, the medial OFC was recruited more heavily in scenarios when individuals were held accountable and was key in shifting decisions towards a less self-serving state (Hughes & Beer, …show more content…
From a psychological perspective, social networking sites primarily give users a positive experience and create a sort of psychophysiological pattern. Individuals get caught in compulsion loops, seeking more and more positive responses and rewards, unable to break out of these loops because of a lack of self-control (Mauri et. al., 2011). For adolescents, cognitive control is a more difficult task than when compared to adults. This lack facilitates only further use to get more and more rewards, leaving the sites less
One area that becomes ever important through social comparison is the medial OFC (and OFC generally). In three different fMRI studies, the medial OFC was a key player determining individual’s behaviors.
First, using fMRI data in response to social-evaluative feedback, there was increased activity in the following regions: the amygdala, insula, OFC, medial PFC, and lateral PFC. Further, medial OFC activity predicted whether or not the threat increased desirability (Hughes & Beer, 2013).
Second, the medial OFC has also been shown to have a role in the decision threshold for these social responses. Specifically, in another fMRI study, the medial OFC was recruited more heavily in scenarios when individuals were held accountable and was key in shifting decisions towards a less self-serving state (Hughes & Beer, …show more content…
From a psychological perspective, social networking sites primarily give users a positive experience and create a sort of psychophysiological pattern. Individuals get caught in compulsion loops, seeking more and more positive responses and rewards, unable to break out of these loops because of a lack of self-control (Mauri et. al., 2011). For adolescents, cognitive control is a more difficult task than when compared to adults. This lack facilitates only further use to get more and more rewards, leaving the sites less