Accessibility links

Skip to content
Accessibility Help

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

.sc-c-sounds-nav { position: relative; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__menu-button { display: none; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__items { max-height: 500px; visibility: visible; position: static; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__overlay { display: none; } @media screen and (max-width: 659px) { .sc-c-sounds-nav__wrapper { padding-bottom: 0px; } .sc-c-sounds-nav__wordmark-link { padding-bottom: 18px; } }

Sounds home page

Home
Music
Podcasts
My Sounds

The Why Factor - Coming of Age - BBC Sounds

Contains language which some may find offensive.

The Why Factor - Coming of Age - BBC Sounds

Coming of AgeComing of Age

Available for over a year

Why do different cultures mark the advent of adulthood at different ages?

Programme Website

Coming Up Next

now playing
The Why Factor
Coming of Age
Why do different cultures mark the advent of adulthood at different ages?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Blue
The weird world of the colour blue.
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Tap
What changes when taps come to town? Mike Williams travels to Ghana.
17 mins
The Why Factor
Fear - Episode 1
What is fear? Are our fears universal and how do we go about facing our fears?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Fear - Episode 2
Why do some of us enjoy and endure fear, horror and suspense?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Drum
Why do we find the beat of the drum so intoxicating?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Sackman (and other stories)
The Sackman - a very different Father Christmas
17 mins
The Why Factor
Manners
The strange customs and conduct that make up ‘good manners’. Where do they come from?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Nitrogen: Forgetting Fritz
Why have we forgotten Fritz Haber?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Heel
Where did the fascination with elevated footwear come from and what do they tell us?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Boxers of Bukom
Why are the men of Bukom in Accra so good at boxing?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Mirrors
Mike Williams explores the myths and mysteries of the mirror
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Mob
Why do we behave differently when we are in a large crowd?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Black
Mike Williams peers into the world of black and asks why it has so many different meanings
17 mins
The Why Factor
Why are Open Plan Offices the Norm?
Why has the open plan office become the norm in many places, despite the distractions?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Cultural Memory
We all have memories but do we share some of those, socially or collectively? If so, why?
17 mins
The Why Factor
PTSD
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and why is it so controversial?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Silence
What role does silence play in our lives and why can it be so poignant or so awkward?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Sleep
The first of two programmes which looks at human behaviour and sleep.
17 mins
The Why Factor
Why do we get insomnia?
The second of two programmes about humans and sleep.
17 mins
The Why Factor
Retirement
Why do we retire?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Ageing
Why are attitudes towards older people often so negative?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Kiss
Why do humans kiss?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Singing
Singing is a way of bringing people together, expressing joy or sadness. Why do we sing?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Gold
Why are we so fascinated by gold?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Pets
Why do we live with cats and dogs?
17 mins
The Why Factor
Disgust
Why do we experience disgust?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Lie
Why do we lie? How do different cultures define telling the truth?
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Ball
Why play with a ball? Mike Williams finds out how ball games first evolved
17 mins
The Why Factor
Make-up
Why millions of women - and some men - paint their faces
17 mins
The Why Factor
The Sea
The compelling attractions of the sea through literature and science
17 mins

Cymraeg
Gaeilge
Gàidhlig

BBC Sounds Help
Contacts, Privacy and Information
Help with Signing In
Newsletter

Explore the BBC

Home
News
Sport
Weather
iPlayer
Sounds
Bitesize
CBeebies
CBBC
Food

Home
News
Sport
Business
Innovation
Culture
Travel
Earth
Video
Live

Terms of Use
About the BBC
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Cookies
Cookies
Accessibility Help
Parental Guidance
Contact the BBC
Make an editorial complaint
BBC emails for you
Advertise with us

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.