This post by David Bernstein at the Volokh Conspiracy reminded me of a new book that I'm currently reading, The Case Against Adolescence by Dr. Robert Epstein. Since I haven't finished the book I can't offer my opinion on the subject, but if Epstein's argument holds true, then perhaps our efforts of protecting young adults through the increasing maze of laws and regulations is unwise. Additionally, many of the arguments proffered by my fellow psychologists for the prohibition of the juvenile death penalty (and given credence by the Supreme Court in Roper v. Simmons) may be faulty. The immaturity that juveniles express about matters as serious as life and death could be a creation of our own modern culture or do not really exist at all. One thing that is likely true is that our understanding of childhood development is surely influenced by our cultural expectations and demands of how we want adolescents to behave. Immaturity may indeed call for more responsibility rather than less.