Non-Extreme Risk Taking During Adolescence

Adolescence is a time when heightened risk taking becomes vulnerable for teens, this is because of the lack of reasoning between a novelty and sensation seeking. Self regulatory competence does not fully evolve until early adulthood. Most of this is caused by the increased desire of peer relationships. The drive to be accepted by ones peers influences the need to belong thus increasing the high risk behavior during the early teen years. The brain region known as the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the most active part of the brain development during these years. This likely leads to participating in risky behaviors to avoid being left out Teens are more reward driven and the focus of being apart of there peers out weighs the

Non-extreme risk taking is a necessary in adolescence development to help build confidence both in creating new relationships and social behaviors. But it has also serious negative consequences that show up in many forms, including Drug and Alcohol use and unsafe Sexual practices.

Based upon the statistical data, it has been found that the National average Age at which Americans begin Drinking regularly is 15.9 years of age. Each day more than 4000 teenagers try their first cigarette and another 2000 become regular, daily smokers. About 6% of 12th graders report daily use of marijuana. About 13% of high school seniors use cocaine according to the national clearing house of alcohol and drug.(Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults, Michael Windle, Ph.D. This research was supported by grant R37–AA–07861 )

Sexual experimentation in early adolescence often begins with fantasy and masturbation. Estimates vary, but about 50% of 9th to 12th grade students reported having had sexual intercourse. Adolescence younger than age 18 years account for 20% of arrests for sexual offences. (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, CDC Centers for Disease