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Risk Taking Behaviors in Adolescence The prevalence of risk taking in adolescence tells us that risky behavior is a usual aspect of the adolescent life experience. Some risk taking looks like to be normal behavior for the young people. This is a very important factor to be considered by teachers in their pedagogic work. Taking risks appears to be a way of gaining self-understanding. And it does not matter whether it is an attempt to master things or testing some limitation or boundaries.
The main developmental tasks of adolescence are about forming an identity and developing autonomy. Although, according to the article, adolescents take a disproportionate number of risks compared to any other population, there is no evidence that most young people really try to harm themselves or others. Such behavior sometimes looks irrational, but it is rational for adolescents. Nevertheless, risk taking itself dangerous and can lead to grievous consequences.
As the frequency of risk taking increases, it does not serves a positive developmental purpose and becomes a real problem. The article illustrates that the most problematic cases are conjunctions of risks such as sexual activity without contraception. Indeed, there is strong evidence that risk taking behaviors co-occur, taking place in a variety of domains (Irwin & Millstein, 1991). Although some risk taking behaviors are not socially favored, such as extreme sports, a challenge lies in distinguishing between those behaviors which are health-enhancing and health-compromising.
Healthy risk-taking is a positive instrument in an adolescent's life for discovering and developing his or her identity. Risk taking only becomes negative when the risk is dangerous. Healthy risks are usually perceived as challenges. But they can turn unhealthy in any time without internal control or without adult guidance. I think healthy adolescent risk needs to have a positive impact on an adolescent's development. Young people have to participate in sports.
It can be a lot of more things that adolescents can do, like: travel, take active part in school life or make contributions to the family or community. Teachers and parents must support children with their beginnings. Negative risk taking behavior includes drinking, smoking, reckless driving, disordered eating, stealing, gang activity, and others. Unhealthy adolescent risk taking can be described as a rebellion. It can take the form of anger and be aimed at parents. However, risk taking, whether healthy or unhealthy, is simply part of a teen's struggle to test out an identity by providing self-definition and separation from others, including parents. (Irwin & Millstein, 1991).
Adolescents who initiate health-risk behaviors such as sexual intercourse and involvement with drugs at an early age frequently have poorer health later on in life, lower educational attainment, and less economic productivity than their peers. Early initiation of these behaviors is associated with longer periods of risk taking in later adolescence and early adulthood and also may be a marker for risk taking in adulthood. (Harris, Duncan & Boisjoly: 2002). Sexual experience, and particularly the age at first intercourse, represent critical indicators of the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Because sexual intercourse during the teen years is often unplanned, it is often unprotected by contraception.
Violence among youth is growing more rapidly than in any other subgroup. Between 1985 and 1994, the number of persons arrested for murder and non negligent manslaughter increased by 150 % for persons under 18 years of age in comparison to only 11. 2 % for persons 18 years of age and older. (Harris, Duncan & Boisjoly: 2002). An understanding of the meaning of risk taking in the adolescent culture, from the adolescent perspective, is essential to successful prevention of health-compromising risk behavior. It also an understanding of healthy adolescent development. Adolescents take risks for many reasons: in defiance of authority, as a transforming experience, and to define relationships with others. Sharing risks resulted in cohesion, trust, and greater closeness with peers.
Since risks were found to vary according to different peer groups, risk taking becomes a badge of social identity. In addition, adolescents believe there is a social expectation for them to take risks. Although risks are understood to hold a high potential for harm or loss, they also are considered to hold potential for growth opportunity. (Lightfoot, 1997). Adolescent risk taking can also be described as an attempt to gain personal control over the environment. As adults keep the environment, adolescents do not see sufficient important roles for themselves in society. In this occasion, teachers carry a very important and difficult role.
They have to guide their student and, at the same time, the must not violate freedom of chose. I think adolescents have to look to their parents for advice and ask how to assess positive and negative risks. Teachers at school also have to express understanding and provide support if asked. Teachers also have to pay much attention to the variety of factors that influence adolescents behavior described in the article.
Financial ability of the family to provide appropriate education, future expectations and state of health appear to be essential for the chose of behavior for the young people. Such conditions lead to nothing to lose behavior and result in grave consequences. Parents need to help their teens learn how to evaluate risks and anticipate the consequences of their choices, and develop strategy to direct children energy into healthy ways. The understanding of reasons for taking risks can help teachers direct their students on their way of life. The understanding helps teachers speak in the same language with the adolescents. And speaking the same language eases education process and help children escape many problems.
It is important to say that we learn assess risks throughout our lives. Adolescents need both support and tools to be able to do this. In order to undertake healthy alternatives to dangerous risk taking, adolescents need the active help and support of the adults in their lives, including parents and teachers. Bibliography: Irwin, C. , & Millstein, S. Correlates and predictors of risk-taking behavior during adolescence.
Norwood, NJ: Able Publishing Corporation, 1991. Kathleen Mullan Harris, Greg J. Duncan and Johanne Boisjoly. Evaluating the role of "nothing to lose" attitudes on risky behavior in adolescence. University of North Carolina Press, 2002. Lightfoot, C.
The culture of adolescent risk taking. New York: The Guilford Press, 1997.
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Research essay sample on Risk Taking Behaviors In Adolescence
