Carefree Adolescence: A Risky Business
It is widely accepted that adolescents are predisposed to indulge in risky behaviours, more so than adults. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development have recently provided us with new insights into the underlying reasons behind such risk-taking.
The study found that, compared to adults and children, teenagers are much less interested in, much less motivated to seek out, and much better able to tolerate a lack in understanding of information useful in gauging the risks involved in certain practices.
The lead author on the project comments: “It’s not that [teenagers] are cognitively incapable of processing the issues. They are simply driven to seek new experiences and try out new things.” This conclusion may explain why the advice of information campaigns focused on educating young people about the dangers of drug use is often not followed. The co-author of the study, therefore, warns: “If we really want to get through to young people, we need to take these insights into account when designing interventions.” One such way, he adds, would be to offer adolescents the opportunity to learn about the consequences of their risky behaviour in virtual environments.
