The Importance Of Risky Behavior

‘Risk taking’ nowadays is a term used to describe the behaviours which emerge during the years of adolescence. This generic terminology implies that young adults tend to go through a stage within their biological, social and psychological process of life, whereby they conduct experiments with themselves as well as with others to find the person they wish to be. Risky Behaviour does not necessarily mean that an action has to be criminal, rather can also be a passage of choices leading the individual to find their identity. During this essay I will explore the degree to which ‘risky behaviour’ is a true feature of adolescence, through the discussion of relevant academics such as G. Stanley Hall, Erik Erikson and David Bakan and many others whom

Reason being is because the people around them, can either influence them for better or worse. Taking risks with the people around you, can be beneficial to some degree, but it can also be consequential. Depending on the individuals whom you are associated with, will almost certainly determine the outcome of your character and the traits you obtain. Moreover this too suggests that risky behaviour is a factor in the development of an adolescent. As I have stated before not all actions of risk have to be negative, rather some can be life changing risks for the greater good. There are various organisations and institutions which promote the idea of taking risks to help young people achieve their goals in life. One in particular is Cornell University as they have a Human Development department for adolescents. In a report of theirs called ‘Adolescents and Risk: Helping Young People Make Better Choices’ (2014), it discusses the benefits of taking risks collectively in order to achieve life goals and maximise potentials. We can therefore accept that risk taking is not always an act of disobedience or recklessness, rather it can be a source of motivation and a push towards important