How is it that a 4yo kid and an 8yo kid look and behave so differently while a 21yo person might as well look and behave the same as someone who is 5-6 years older?
In: Biology
Behaviour changes: Almost certain it has to do with the number of neurons and neuronal connections that are expanding exponentially at that age. I think we reach our maximum number around 15 yo, based on unchecked memories of bio class.
Then there is the amount of stuff you have to learn. There is a lot to learn when you’re 4, if only, to take a simple example, in terms of vocabulary. More things are new. You’re still learning new words when you’re 20, to continue with that example, but it’s much rarer that you actually do come across a word you didn’t know before, so the process is slowed.
And finally, as someone who’s just hit 30, I’d like to point out there’s also a biased idea that young adults have, whereby they feel at 20 they are finally a grown adult and assume people around 25 or 30 feel similar to them. They don’t. Personally when I remember the person I was 5 years ago, I’m astounded at how different I have become. Things change more slowly but experience does rack up and your outlook on the world does change wildly as you continue to age. I don’t feel like a 21 yo person behaves the same as someone who in 5-6 years older. (Here I’m talking of the average person, as certain individuals will of course be more or less mature or childish.)
Finally, regarding the physical aging (“looking different”), I think it has to do with a certain growth hormone that is programmed to make you keep “expanding” your body (choosing a silly word on purpose) until it reaches the size that’s designed in your DNA. Once you’ve reached it, it’s just a question of cells dying out, being replaced, mutating, losing elasticity (lines)…
Once again, going by things I vaguely remember learning and reading about so take it with a grain of salt or wait for more knowledgeable people to confirm / qualify.
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