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Dying for romance: risk taking as purposive behavior.
1Department of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA. jason.siegel@cgu.edu
Psychology, Health & Medicine
|July 13, 2011
Summary
Adolescent risk-taking is driven by the need for desired outcomes, not just impulsivity. Greater need for romance predicts a higher willingness to endure harm for relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Adolescent risk-taking is often viewed as impulsive or due to perceived invulnerability.
- Existing research has not fully explored the goal-directed nature of adolescent risk-taking behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that adolescent risk-taking is a purposive behavior, driven by the need for specific outcomes.
- To investigate the relationship between the need for a romantic relationship and willingness to endure harm to attain one.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 192 participants assessing their need for romance and willingness to endure harm for a romantic relationship.
- Data were collected at two distinct time points (T1 and T2) to examine predictive relationships.
- Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to analyze the data, controlling for gender and sensation-seeking tendencies.
Main Results:
- Need for romance significantly predicted willingness to endure harm for romantic relationships, even when controlling for gender and sensation seeking.
- Need for romance at Time 1 (T1) was a significant predictor of harm for romance at Time 2 (T2).
Conclusions:
- Adolescent risk-taking can be effectively interpreted through a purposive, goal-directed framework (Tolmanian approach).
- The need for a specific outcome, such as a romantic relationship, is a key motivator for adolescent risk-taking behaviors.
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