Risk Taking Adolescents

1) Both articles talk about how peers can affect the amount of risk an adult and adolescent take. The authors of these two articles suggest that adolescents take risk because of peer pressure and the sense of reward that follows. These rewards that can follow for adolescents can be attention from the opposite sex and a confidence boost in social settings. These authors also conclude that people tend to take more risks when with peers whether they are adults, young adults, or adolescents then they would if there would if they were alone.

2) Two ways peers can influence adolescent risk taking, adolescents are more prone to peer pressure in which when they are faced with a decision like this, they usually comply because they want to impress

The article also mentions that cognitive factors play a role because people think about how they would feel after doing a certain thing when given a choice to do it or not to do it. In the second assumption, the article mentions that social bonding plays a key factor. Naturally when trying to create a social bond with other people, humans tend not to fully pay attention to some of the things being said and some of the actions being done in their surroundings while in a positive stimuli or environment. When driving a car, the less distractions you have the safer you are. You are supposed to give the road your full attention when driving and on nothing else. The third and final assumption suggests that impulse control is heightened in adults and adolescents have difficulties assessing a situation before deciding. This means that adolescents use less brain power and assessment when planning or deciding (impulsive behaviour). When an adult is driving, they are more aware of the speed limit and the consequences of going well over the speed limit. When an adolescent is in the car driving with their peers not only will they not fully pay attention to the rules of the road but they will also feel a pressure to go faster because of their environment with their friends as well as the stimuli that is created by the