I had sympathy for Steph on tonight's highlights - she's 22 and she had two older women excluding her - she actually accepted negative comments from the other h/m's but Danielle lost her temper with something to do with messages from her children - don't think that was on offer, at all

by 22 , she'd have been through

either
a year into working after having already had 3 years of uni as some 22 year olds have,
or already been working 4 years since school,
or married with children by same age

sick of this being used to excuse anything about this woman

she wanted to get Married this year too, so if she thinks she's old enough for that, why is she not an equal to anyone else in there ,regardless of age

I'm sure there will be many 22 year olds how feel incredibly insulted by your post. What a ridiculous thing to say.

I agree she has issues and insecurities, but she will still have those when she is 42 if she doesn't deal with them.

Her age isn't an excuse or an explanation.

Christophers in his 30s isn't he,
he's no where near as confident as Stephanie is

FROM SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.COM:

In an ongoing study that kicked off in 1991, Jay Giedd of the National Institute of Mental Health has been tracking the brain development of nearly 4,000 people ranging in age from a few days to 96 years. Every two years, Giedd invites his volunteers to the lab to scan their brains with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Giedd and his colleagues have learned that, contrary to neuroscientists' earliest assumptions, the brain continues to markedly rewire itself even after puberty.

Between 12 and 25, the brain changes its structure in a few important ways. Like an overeager forest, neurons in the early adolescent brain become bushier, growing more and more overlapping branches whose twigs reach toward one another, nearly touching except for tiny gaps known as synapses.

.....

I was pregnant with my second child at 22 as well as running a business. My kids are all grown up now and my youngest 20 with my daughter 23.

She is a woman and an adult. The law says that she was an adult 4 years ago.

The amount of times she has thrown around that she is 22 years old is incredible. I'm not saying that Gemma and Danielle haven't played their part as they too have said and done things that are awful but my god Stephanie knows exactly what she is doing.

She uses the word manipulation yet she is a master if manipulation. Im 22 they are bullies being said again and again. If she really felt bullied she wouldn't be saying the things she does about Gemma and Danielle.

If my daughter behaved like that I would be embarrassed,

The one thing I do feel sorry for her for was her knickers, That was really horrible of everyone in the house to pass comments and humiliate her about it. I suspect they had had enough of her leaving her mess around and clothes everywhere as its been commented on many times and caused arguments. However no one should be treated like that.

Apart from that she has brought most of it upon herself and is doing what she can to try and hide the fact that her behaviour around Jez is awful when she has a boyfriend.

I'm a 22 year old. I am mature enough to handle Gemma and Daniella. People's dislike of Collins are making them grasp at straws, 16 year olds join the army for God's sake.

I'm 21. I don't know anyone who doesn't know how to behave properly (and most either live on their own, or contribute to the household). It might excuse the odd bad decision, but not lacking basic behaviours.

A generation thing I was just making a point it's all true of course
but my advice to any young person now ,stay free for as long as you can And enjoy as much as you can. Marriage and kids a wonderful but at the right time and when you're ready

Well, that certainly was NOT my intention. And I apologise if that was or is the case.

As I have explained, I meant the term "baby age" in the CONTEXT of what is being discussed on BB and on this forum!!!!! Not in ABSOLUTE terms. But in terms of the comparison of Steph's age with the OLDER members of the house who she feels have been exploiting her immaturity and lack of full conceptions. SURELY people can understand that and not take the term literally?

As a 40 year old, I know it to be MASSIVELY different (in terms of growth, bone structure and emotional development), than a person of 22. At that age, certain elements of the body are STILL growing. And I can continue to post scientific evidence (like I have done above) of everything I said, showing how one is NOT fully developed yet AT THAT AGE (whether you like to hear that or not). Why does that need to be taken as an insult? Get over yourselves!!

I used the term "baby age" as MANY people do in life as a general term to refer to someone who is very young in the RANGE OF AGES and in terms of Steph's current experiences in there and what she has been saying. That was the CONTEXT

Oh please, my daughter is 23 and she is a grown woman. She is independent, responsible and I know she would not be pleased if I tried to tell her that she was not yet a woman lol

she's in her 23rd year isn't she ?
everythings developed fully by that age

Hate the excuses given to Stephanie
She gives out many nasty vindictive remarks at Gemma , she's not backward in coming forward , so she should shut up if she's going to bawl her eyes out when she gets same back at her if she can't take it

Most of us know right from wrong by 22, she's always going on about how much she's done , life experience she's had , so she should stop pulling the age card, she's boasted about her 'experience' for long enough , and in her industry she works with people of all ages, so she'll have learned to get on with all ages, more than the average 22 year old,who tend to just mix with peers same age group

She turns on the poor me everytime someone gives her a bit of home truths, she's good at that

What planet are you actually on? You are describing a 16 year old girl there NOT a 22 year old woman. I think this is why Steph is the way she is, she has too many people like you telling her that "it's ok you're still a baby" (where the heck is that rolleyes gone)

There is no one size fits all. It's a mix of nature and nurture.

I was a mum at twenty two and again at twenty six.....and a damn good one, as evidenced today by two wonderful, successful "gentle"men. Yes, I learned more as time went on, due to life experiences, and achieving a degree, but I was as mature as I needed to be at twenty two, to fit into society as a well rounded adult.

I look at Stephanie, with sadness. She has been treated like a little princess all her life apparently......and it has resulted in the person we are seeing right now. Totally devoid of self awareness.

Incorrect.

Development of bone structure:

The two main forms of ossification occur in different bones, intramembranous (eg skull) and endochondral (eg vertebra) ossification. Ossification in general continues postnatally, through puberty until mid 20s.

UNSW Embryology

none of the above excuses Stephanie
Part of the brain responsible for emotional intelligence is fully formed by the age of 21
She's nearly 23
She thinks with her head not with her leg !

If 22 is too young then she shouldn't be having sex .

I think we're really seeing in modern times just how young it is, because people have the freedom to make their own choices (due to economic freedom, less regimented & hierarchical society, bigger range of socially acceptable life paths etc) which they didn't have so much in past decades/centuries. So they're more exposed and have more opportunities to display their immaturity. This means that nowadays in a weird way, the early 20s has become a 'younger' age than it used to be. We're able to see more clearly now that in your early twenties your brain and your mind really isn't as cut out for all the rigours of adult life as the average 40 year old's is. Of course there are outliers, a lot of outliers even. But I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that in general.

I am pretty sure Steph's bone structure hasn't been an issue in the house so far.

seriously- what the hell has bone structure got to do with steph behaving like a brat?

also- are you suggesting that a 22 year old can only be considered an 'adult' when not in the company of older people?
that somehow a 22 year old regresses to being a child again when surrounded by 40 somethings??

22 is a baby age

BiB...Err sorry, but yes you are fully grown, and completely responsible for your own behaviour and actions.

Others here were responsible parents by that age. At 22 I had been a policeman for 3 years. If I had then come to you because you needed help, would you have turned me away, because you thought I wasn't adult enough to help or understand you

As I type, there are 22 year olds who joined the armed forces at 16, and now with 6 years experience of life. Are they still not yet adults ?

You don't have to be in the police or military either - just using some examples to offset your thinking. Some people can reach 30..or 40..or older, and always be predisposed to immaturity, true. That however does not negate the fact that they are adults.

Bizarre post and mindset..but it's yours so..*shrug*

Age does not = maturity. People mature at different rates so it is still within the boundaries of perfectly normal and still be somewhat immature at 22 years of age.

I have a 21 year old daughter and although I think she is pretty mature for her age I don't know how she would cope in the sort of confrontational stressful pressure cooker in that house - she simply does not have the life experience to draw on.

Gemma's 34 and doesn't have the life experience to cut a frigging potato.

At 22 I was married & pregnant with my first child. My children are now 22 & 20. While my 20-year-old is mature for his years, my 22-year-old is a true Stephanie She has huge insecurities, never learns from her mistakes & leaves her dirty washing all over her bedroom. She wouldn't dare leave it anywhere else! Because of my Stephanie at home, I can see how annoying she must be for the other HMs, but I can also see how lost & immature she is. I hope to see in a few years, that Syptephanie has become a happier, more fulfilled & mature woman, because seeing her so troubled is upsetting.

It goes to show we are all unique & it's impossible to judge one 22-year-old against another.

I agree

I've met very mature grounded 18 year olds who are frighteningly mature
and some very scatty childish 18 year olds too
depends on what you've been exposed to by that age

but snidey bitchy remarks are something 22 year olds know what they're doing and they know right from wrong , this is all this is about and there's been a few breaking down in that house, all ages, which is down to the environment in that house, not because of their ages