Why do adolescents sometimes make choices that adults struggle to understand? And why are young people more susceptible to crime during adolescence?

In collaboration with podcasters Alain Meijer of the National Undermining Program and Maartje Regts, a student in Integrated Safety Science from the BOOST student team, our Healthy Start researcher Ilse van de Groep and Laura van Duin, a social worker at De Nieuwe Kans, delve into the adolescent brain in a podcast episode. This episode is part of a #ONDERMIJNING series by the Dutch Police, which takes you inside the hidden world of organized crime and its impact on our society.

The conversation will share crucial scientific insights that help us understand risk behavior and prevent undermining crime. By connecting knowledge from different disciplines, we aim to contribute to a healthy and safe start for all young people. Together, we will explore how neurological and behavioral changes during adolescence can lead to risky or even criminal behavior. Laura brings valuable practical experience: how do young adults look back on their adolescence? What worked for them? Ilse provides scientific insights into how the brain works during puberty.

Intrigued? Listen to the episode here: