Risk Takers

 

In the biopsychosocial model of risk-taking behaviors, it is explained that adolescents may participate in more dangerous and risky behavior due to the timing of their biological development and maturation. They are more impressionable while simultaneously striving for independence and validation. There is also a vast amount of cognitive changes that are taking place as well as a re-assessing of personal morals and values. Do you go along with what your parents have taught you or do you rebel against it? If you’re a teenager, the answer is likely the latter. During this stage of development, adolescents are more concerned with what is going on among their friends and the social scenes than anything else. Egocentrism is rampant. They are not only trying to figure themselves out, but trying to prove themselves to their peers at the same time. Egocentrism involves the false sense that everyone is watching (the “imaginary audience”), and distorts the perception of what others may be thinking, in some cases causing severe depression and anxiety. Decision making skills are more stunted due to the prefrontal cortex’s slowed development during adolescence and this can contribute to making poor choices. Interesting that this happens at nearly the same time as something David Elkind called the “invincibility fable”, where the individual has the idea that they are immortal, protected from harm, and invincible. “Some young people seem convinced that, unlike other mortals, they will not be hurt by fast driving, unprotected sex, addictive drugs, or self-starvation.”(Berger, pg392, 7^th ed)

Risk taking behavior is often a result of the influence of the teen’s peer group, or dependent on the individual’s state of growth and development. For example, young girls who are maturing more quickly than their peers often have a negative self-image and are more likely to act according to the way they look instead of their age, placing them at a higher risk for making choices that could potentially put them in danger. In Michael D. Lemonick’s article, “Teens before their Time” he notes that sexual harassment, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy are only the obvious difficulties in this premature development. There is also an immense amount of social and emotional pressure that weighs too heavy for a child, forcing them to grow up before their time.

Even though there is not a lot we can do to reverse this early maturation in females, we can still treat them as the young girls they are and also educate them as to what is going on with their bodies, and how to combat potential threats that they may experience. Kids and teenagers will always take risks, as we have learned, it is a part of their wiring and developmental stage. We can, however, continue to educate them about safety in sexuality and drugs. D.A.R.E. does not work, because it teaches kids about all the different kinds of drugs they can try, and then tells them not to do it. I do think education against drugs should include the message “don’t do it”, but like teaching abstinence from sex, it’s not likely to be effective. Safety cautions should be included such as the dangers of sharing needles, overdosing, and the potential long term effects. In my opinion, sexuality education cannot begin too young and should be combined with tools on how to love and respect yourself and your body.