Adolescents engage in both negative and positive risks, contributing to their personal growth and development.
Parents have a significant influence on teens' decision-making, challenging the belief that peers have more influence.
Deep dives
Teens' risk-taking behavior and its benefits
Research shows that adolescents tend to engage in higher levels of risk-taking behaviors compared to children and adults. This is thought to be driven by sensation-seeking and reward-seeking behaviors, which are related to brain development. However, the widely held stereotype that this risk-taking is solely negative is not entirely accurate. Adolescents also engage in positive risks such as pro-social behaviors and stepping out of their comfort zones. These positive risks are often overlooked, but they contribute to the development of identity, learning, and personal growth.
Parents and peers influence on teens' behavior
Contrary to popular belief, research suggests that parents have a significant influence on teens' decision-making and risk-taking behaviors. Studies show that parents and peers have a similar level of influence on adolescent decision-making, and in some cases, parents' opinions outweigh those of peers. While adolescents do consider the influence of their social environment, they often stick to their own attitudes and values, showcasing their independent thinking. These findings challenge the stereotype that peers have more influence over teens than parents.
Adolescent brain development and the impact of social media
The adolescent brain is highly sensitive to rewards and social feedback, which makes teens more prone to engaging in social media and digital platforms. Social media has transformed the social landscape for adolescents, providing continuous opportunities for interaction and influence. Researchers are currently examining the coexistence of brain development and digital media engagement to understand how the brain is shaped by online experiences. Although it is too early to draw firm conclusions, studying the impact of social media on adolescent brain development is crucial for understanding its effects on social relationships, well-being, and cognitive abilities.
There’s a common stereotype is that teenagers’ brains are immature and underdeveloped, and that teens are “hard-wired” to take unwise risks and cave to peer pressure. But psychologists’ research suggests these negative stereotypes are unfounded and that the teen years are a time opportunity and growth as well as risk. Eva Telzer, PhD, explains why teens take more risks and why that risk-taking is sometimes beneficial, why parents have more influence than they think, and how social media and other technology use may be affecting teens’ behavior and development.