Positive Risk Taking in Adolescence

Abstract

Adolescents are more likely to take risks than children or adults. This propensity can be directed toward negative (illegal and dangerous) or positive (socially acceptable and constructive) risk behaviors. Adolescents who take positive risks include teenagers winning Olympic medals for landing snowboard tricks and students protesting gun violence on a national platform. Yet little is known about the nature of positive risk taking because much of the research on adolescent risk taking has focused on negative risks, such as substance use or delinquency. In this article, we offer a theoretical model of positive risk taking, briefly review research on positive risk taking, and discuss theoretical correlates of positive risk taking based on models of adolescent risk taking. We aim to identify positive risks as a unique class of socially acceptable risks in which youth engage in addition to negative risks.

Developmental perspectives on risky and impulsive choice

“…For instance, it may be possible to steer adolescents toward taking positive, prosocial risks (e.g. auditioning for a play or running for student government; [5]) with a similar probability and reward structure, rather than risks that are illegal or that can lead to dire consequences. Moreover, providing opportunities to engage in future simulation (e.g.…”

Risky Politics? Associations Between Adolescent Risk Preference and Political Engagement

“…Our study also contributes to theory and research on adolescent risk taking, political engagement, and positive youth development by highlighting the importance of considering the adaptive role of adolescent risk preference. Our results add to the growing body of theory and research on adolescent risk taking as developmentally normative and adaptive (e.g., Do et al, 2017;Duell & Steinberg, 2019) by raising questions as to whether political engagement may constitute positive risk taking. Recent theorizing proposes that positive risks must: (1) benefit adolescents' well-being, (2) have potential costs that are mild in severity relative to negative risk taking, (3) and be legal and socially acceptable.…”

Lingkungan Keluarga, Tekanan Teman Sebaya Dan Perilaku Berisiko Remaja Di Kota Bandung

“…Responden dalam penelitain ini adalah remaja dengan rentang usia 13-18 tahun yang bersekolah SMP atau SMA di Kota Bandung. Populasi remaja dipilih karena perilaku berisiko cenderung terjadi selama masa remaja daripada saat pra-remaja atau dewasa (Steinberg, dkk 2008;Steinberg, 2007;Duell & Steinberg, 2018). Kemudian, peneliti memilih subjek SMP dan SMA karena berdasarkan data Statistik Daerah Kota Bandung (2018), persentase remaja usia 13-18 tahun yang bersekolah sebesar 85,6% dan yang tidak bersekolah/ putus sekolah sebesar 14,4%, sehingga populasi remaja di Bandung dapat diwakili oleh remaja yang bersekolah.…”