Adolescents take positive risks, too

Abstract

The detrimental outcomes associated with certain risk behaviors during adolescence has perpetuated a narrative that risk taking during adolescence is inherently maladaptive and warrants prevention. This is not the case. In the broadest sense, risk taking is engaging in a behavior with uncertain probabilities of desirable or undesirable outcomes. Whether a risk is considered positive or negative depends on various factors, many of which are culturally defined, including the developmental benefits of the risk, the potential for harm, and social acceptability. Although adolescents take many negative risks, such as substance use and delinquency, adolescents take positive risks, too. Evolutionary theories have pointed to the importance of risk taking for adolescent development. In order to develop a sense of identity, establish autonomy, hone new skills, and take advantage of exciting opportunities, people need to have a willingness to try things they may not like or at which they may fail. This requires a tolerance of risk. Although researchers have speculated about positive risk taking for decades, empirical work on positive risk taking is relatively sparse in the developmental literature. Society has seen many examples of adolescent positive risk taking in the popular media through teen activists, Olympic medalists, and young inventors. Yet, little is understood about what motivates adolescents to take positive risks. To this end, the present paper reviews the literature on positive risk taking from various fields, summarizes existing theories of positive risk taking, identifies what is currently known about positive risk taking from empirical findings, and identifies remaining questions for future research.