As you organize your thoughts, consider this:
● what does current research re: adolescent risky behavior tell us
● what types of risky behaviors are stereotypical to this age?
● are the stereotypical ideas based upon fact?
● is there a biological explanation for this behavior?
● what is meant by developmental “time gap” of cognitive functioning, and how does that
relate?
Anita cannot understand why adolescents are more likely than any other age group to engage in risky behaviors.
She has learned in class that individuals undergo significant cognitive advancements during adolescence, and in fact,
many adolescents aged 15 and older use the same basic processes that adults use to make decisions. Your
instructor has asked you to explain to Anita why risk taking may peak during adolescence. What do you tell her?
It is well known that adolescents are seen to be more risky and impulsive, participating in drug
experimentation, dangerous behaviors, unprotected sex, among other activities.
Adolescents are more developed in regard to their cognition than children. Children are more
limited to concrete thought. Adolescents are able to think in abstract thought, possibilities,
hypotheticals, metacognition, deductive/inductive reasoning, among more skills.
Adolescents are well aware of the dangers associated with many risky behaviors. When
