Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
09:12
Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
Published on: March 17, 2019
Risk-taking patterns of female adolescents: what they do and why
R Shapiro1, A W Siegel, L C Scovill
1Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX 77204-5341, USA.
Journal of Adolescence
|May 19, 1998
Summary
Adolescent females engage in diverse risk-taking behaviors, including interpersonal and financial risks. Their motivations are often goal-oriented or stress-related, challenging the notion of mindless adolescent risk-taking.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Adolescent risk-taking is often perceived as impulsive and sensation-seeking.
- Previous research has primarily focused on traditional risks like substance use and sexual behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the range of risk-taking behaviors in college-age adolescent females.
- To understand the underlying motivations and justifications for engaging in these behaviors.
- To challenge prevailing stereotypes of adolescent risk-taking.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 58 college-age adolescent females participated.
- Data collection involved a risk-taking questionnaire and a one-week behavioral diary.
- Participants provided justifications for each recorded risky behavior.
Main Results:
- Participants reported a wide spectrum of risky behaviors, encompassing traditional (e.g., drinking, sex) and non-traditional (e.g., interpersonal, financial) activities.
- Justifications for behaviors were predominantly goal-oriented or related to personal needs like stress or loneliness relief.
- Findings contradict the view of adolescent risk-taking as solely "mindless" or "sensation seeking."
Conclusions:
- Adolescent females' risk-taking is multifaceted, extending beyond conventional behaviors.
- Motivations are often purposeful, serving to achieve goals or manage personal states.
- This study provides a more nuanced understanding of adolescent risk-taking, moving beyond simplistic explanations.
Related Concept Videos
02:04Bullying
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...