Developmental Characteristics:
* Physical Immaturity: Their bodies are still developing, impacting strength, coordination, and overall physical capabilities. This is particularly true in early adolescence.
* Cognitive Immaturity: Their brains are still developing, especially the prefrontal cortex responsible for executive functions like planning, decision-making, impulse control, and risk assessment. This impacts their ability to fully understand consequences, long-term planning, and complex situations.
* Emotional Immaturity: Emotional regulation is a developing skill. Minors may experience intense emotions, have difficulty managing them, and react impulsively.
* Social Immaturity: Their social skills and understanding of social dynamics are still evolving. They are often more susceptible to peer pressure and may struggle with navigating complex social situations.
* Dependence: They typically rely on adults for support, guidance, and care, though the level of dependence varies with age and individual circumstances.
Legal Characteristics:
* Limited legal capacity: They lack the legal capacity to enter into contracts, vote, or make many important decisions without parental or guardian consent.
* Vulnerability to exploitation: Due to their developmental stage and limited legal capacity, they are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and manipulation.
* Protection under the law: Laws exist to protect minors from harm, exploitation, and premature exposure to adult situations.
It's crucial to remember that these are general trends. Individual minors vary significantly in their maturity levels and abilities due to factors such as genetics, environment, experiences, and individual differences in development. Attributing all characteristics of "minors" to every individual in that age range is a harmful oversimplification.