Why Teenagers make risky Decisions

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Why Teenagers Make Risky Decisions
“Today, ladies and gentlemen, the spectacular hallmark of adolescence is the level of risky and reckless behavior among the teenagers. The rate of risk-taking is higher during the teenage years than at any other stage of human development. According to Albert and Steinberg (215), the number of teenagers committing suicide and crimes as well as engaging in unprotected sex and drugs and substance abuse increases every year. This escalating propensity of teenagers to engage in risky decision-making is becoming a huge concern to parents, teachers, religious leaders, and society at large.
However, Albert and Steinberg (218) opine that ignorance is the major contributor to teenagers’ precarious decision-making. Most teens are aware that certain vices such as having unprotected sex expose them to some risks but they ignore. They engage in such behaviors out of peer pressure. In other words, they do things just because their peers do the same despite knowing the possible consequences of some of the actions. Teenagers also make risky decisions out of naivety. They lack exposure and experience to inherent dangers or risks that might come out of their deeds or actions. Therefore, teenagers need guidance from their elders or those with experience since ‘Experience is the Best Teacher.’
Additionally, a ‘don’t care attitude’ is another factor that prompts teenagers to engage in risky decision-making. Such attitude leads teenagers to adopt risky decisions despite knowing the inherent risks of some actions.

Besides, most teenagers weigh a decision by evaluating the potential benefits and overlook to assess its potential danger or inherent risks. In conclusion, most teenagers are usually hyper-rational. As such, their desires to explore risky behaviors prompts them to make a risky decision in order to gain experience or learn from their actions.”

Work Cited
Albert, Dustin, and Laurence Steinberg. “Judgment and decision making in adolescence.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 21.1 (2011): 211-224.