What is a prominent reason adolescents are more concerned with immediate issues compared to adults?

Adolescents often exhibit a heightened focus on immediate issues as a result of their developmental stage. This tendency stems from a combination of cognitive and emotional factors unique to adolescence. During this time, individuals are still fine-tuning their decision-making processes and may struggle to fully appreciate future consequences. Their ability to weigh long-term implications against short-term rewards is still maturing, which makes immediate concerns appear more significant and pressing.

This focus on the here-and-now is also influenced by the increasing importance of peer relationships and social dynamics that are prominent during these years. Adolescents are navigating their identities and social standings, leading them to prioritize situations that yield instant feedback and gratification. Because of these developmental characteristics, they often place greater importance on immediate experiences rather than contemplating future effects or decisions, which is indicative of their stage of cognitive development compared to adults who generally have a more developed capacity for foresight and abstraction when evaluating situations.