reduce risk-taking

reduce risk-taking

Discussion assignment

Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk-Taking

As described in Chapter 9 (page 271) Piaget introduced the concept of the “personal fable”, which can be described as an adolescent’s belief that she or he is an extremely unique and special individual. There are several aspects to this fable, one of which is a sense of invulnerability or invincibility. Many teens engage in risky behavior as a function of this belief. They either have difficulty recognizing the possible consequences of their “risky” behaviors, or they dismiss the consequences as something that could happen – to someone else, but not to them.

Review the section on The Brain from Chapter 9 (pages 257-259), and answer the following questions.

1) What characteristics of the adolescent brain might account for adolescent risky behavior? (Be sure to cite the text as appropriate.)

2) Is there a way to break through this type of thinking and reduce risk-taking, even if their brains are partly responsible?

3) Is reducing risk taking in teens a good idea? Or not? (Be sure to explain your answer.)

Consider your reading assignment for this chapter and explain why you feel this way. Response must be 200-400 words

Participation:

Read and respond to at least two other students. Response must be 100-150 words here are 2 students responses

Student#1

Discussion 5 Topic: “Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk Taking

A characteristic of the adolescent brain that might account for risky adolescent behavior would be the executive function within the prefrontal cortex (Santrock pg. 272). This section of the brain and the stage of it’s development controls an adolescent to make a risky decision; as younger adolescents are more likely to make a risky decision because they have a stronger sense of the “personal fable” and invincibility than older adolescents who understand more aspects of the consequences from the risky behavior, due to the increased development of the prefrontal cortex and the executive function cognition.

A way to break through risky behavior and the type of thinking that causes it would be to teach adolescents to try to make decisions when calm, as being emotionally aroused can cause a person to make a more risky decision. By providing adolescents with role-paying situations where they have the opportunity to say no to risky situations in-front of peers and with peers helps them not be so emotionally aroused with the “personal fable” of the imaginary audience judging them (Santrock pg. 272-273). A good example of this is the D.A.R.E. program where adolescents practice saying, “No” to drugs and alcohol when pressured by peers to use and abuse substances.

I personally feel that risk taking in teens is an essential part of growing up. With egocentric teens it’s very difficult for them to learn from the mistakes of others due to the personal fable theory. I think back to my teenage years, I never truly learned a lesson until my risky behaviors resulted in consequences; like speeding, getting a ticket from the police, and then grounded by my parents. I am conflicted with this topic due to the normalization of deviance theory. Normalization of deviance, is when you repeatedly deviate from the practice you’re supposed to do, and nothing bad ever coming from it so, you continue to deviate from the normal thing until disaster happens. An example of this is, you leave your house later than usual causing you to be running late to work so, you speed to get there. You drive so fast and recklessly that you make it on time, with no incidents (speeding ticket, or vehicle accident). After this happens you realize that if you drive faster you can leave your house later so, you repeat the action over and over again normalizing the deviance until the day that you have negative consequences. This is where I am conflicted with trying to reduce risk taking behaviors in teens. I feel that with how media progresses and we see more risky behavior in entertainment, teens take more serious risks than they did in the past. I feel that you can’t reduce all risk taking behaviors in teens but by educating them appropriately and having an open, trusting relationship with them so they feel that it’s okay to speak with you about their lives as much as you can, you can make sure that the risks they are taking will have the least amount of life-long consequences possible. I think reducing the behaviors that cause risky decision making that result in life-long consequences is what needs to be done.

Student#2

1- “Out of several neurotransmitters in the CNS, three play a significant role in the maturation of adolescent behavior: dopamine, serotonin, and melatonin. Dopamine influences brain events that control movement, emotional response, and the ability to experience pleasure and pain. Its levels decrease during adolescence, resulting in mood swings and difficulties regulating emotions. Serotonin plays a significant role in mood alterations, anxiety, impulse control, and arousal. Its levels also decrease during adolescence, and this is associated with decreased impulse control. Lastly, melatonin regulates circadian rhythms and the sleep–wake cycle. The body’s daily production of melatonin increases the requirement for sleep during adolescence.”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/ (Links to an external site.)

2-“Neuroimaging studies have revealed that when interacting with others and making decisions, adolescents are more likely than adults to be swayed by their emotions. In addition, adolescents often read others’ emotions incorrectly. These studies involved comparing a teen brain to an adult brain determined that adolescents’ prefrontal cortices are used less often during interpersonal interactions and decision making than their adult counterparts. In fact, adolescents relied more on the emotional region of their brains when reading others’ emotions, which is more impulsive when compared to a logical or measured interpretation. Thus, an understanding of how the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex are used has provided a partial explanation for certain characteristics of adolescents and adolescent behaviors, such as quickness to anger, intense mood swings, and making decisions on the basis of “gut” feelings. Because adolescents rely heavily on the emotional regions of their brains, it can be challenging to make what adults consider logical and appropriate decisions.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/ (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external site.)

 (Links to an external site.)-Honestly, I do not think that there is a way to breakthrough this type of thinking and reduce risk taking. What I have learned is that when someone is determined to do something, they have their heart and mind set on it, it is happening. There is no talking them out of it, reasoning, changing their mind etc. I really feel like it all has to do with the brain and with the above quoted statement, teens base a lot of their decision making on emotions, whether good, bad, or indifferent it is what they do.

3-“It is generally held that adolescents take risks to test and define themselves, as risk-taking can be both beneficial and harmful. It can lead to situations where new skills are learned and new experiences can prepare them for future challenges in their lives. Risk-taking serves as a means of discovery about oneself, others, and the world at large. The proclivity for risk-taking behavior plays a significant role in adolescent development, rendering this a period of time for both accomplishing their full potential and vulnerability. Hence, acquiring knowledge regarding adolescent brain maturation can help understand why teens take risks, while keeping in mind that risk-taking behavior is a normal and necessary component of adolescence. This knowledge may help in developing physiologically and pharmacologically effective interventions that focus on reducing the negative consequences associated with risk-taking behavior among the adolescent population” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/ (Links to an external site.)  (Links to an external site.)

 (Links to an external site.)-This is a rather difficult question to answer because I feel like it is based on the situation, how risky are we talking? I know for me, I was not a risk taker at all. I had 2 jobs in high school and made sure that all of my work was done effectively and efficiently. I was too nervous/scared to do anything risky. I will say that I did rebel just a little, nothing crazy though. With the little bit of rebelling that I did do, I would say that I am glad that no one tried to correct my ways because it taught me a lot, kind of a “been there done that” scenario, lesson learned. However, my younger sister, she went left, like way left! Someone should have intervened and stopped her. Now that she is older she is definitely living through the consequences of her younger ways. See, it is all situational, I think, it just depends on the person and the circumstances. Do we get involved and prevent them from falling and learning their lesson or do we not get involved and risk them ruining their future? That is a tough question in itself.

Discussion assignment

Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk

Taking

As described in Chapter 9 (page 271) Piaget introduced the concept of the “personal fable”, which can

be described as an adolescent’s belief that she or he is an extremely unique and

special individual. There

are several aspects to this fable, one of which is a sense of invulnerability or invincibility. Many teens

engage in risky behavior as a function of this belief. They either have difficulty recognizing the possible

consequences of

their “risky” behaviors, or they dismiss the consequences as something that could

happen

to someone else, but not to them.

Review the section on The Brain from Chapter 9 (pages 257

259), and answer the following questions.

1) What characteristics of th

e adolescent brain might account for adolescent risky behavior? (Be sure to

cite the text as appropriate.)

2) Is there a way to break through this type of thinking and reduce risk

taking, even if their brains are

partly responsible?

3) Is reducing risk t

aking in teens a good idea? Or not? (Be sure to explain your answer.)

Consider your reading assignment for this chapter and explain why you feel this way. Response must

be 200

400 words

Participation:

Read and respond to at least two other students.

Res

ponse must be 100

150 words here are 2

students responses

Student#1

Discussion 5 Topic: “Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk Taking

A characteristic of the adolescent brain that might account for risky adolescent behavior

would be the executive function within the prefrontal cortex (Santrock

pg. 272). This

section of the brain and the stage of it’s development controls an adolescent to make a

risky decision; as younger adolescents are more likely to make a risky decision because

they have a stronger sense of the “personal fable” and invincibi

lity than older

adolescents who understand more aspects of the consequences from the risky

behavior, due to the increased development of the prefrontal cortex and the executive

function cognition.

Discussion assignment

Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk-Taking

As described in Chapter 9 (page 271) Piaget introduced the concept of the “personal fable”, which can

be described as an adolescent’s belief that she or he is an extremely unique and special individual. There

are several aspects to this fable, one of which is a sense of invulnerability or invincibility. Many teens

engage in risky behavior as a function of this belief. They either have difficulty recognizing the possible

consequences of their “risky” behaviors, or they dismiss the consequences as something that could

happen – to someone else, but not to them.

Review the section on The Brain from Chapter 9 (pages 257-259), and answer the following questions.

1) What characteristics of the adolescent brain might account for adolescent risky behavior? (Be sure to

cite the text as appropriate.)

2) Is there a way to break through this type of thinking and reduce risk-taking, even if their brains are

partly responsible?

3) Is reducing risk taking in teens a good idea? Or not? (Be sure to explain your answer.)

Consider your reading assignment for this chapter and explain why you feel this way. Response must

be 200-400 words

Participation:

Read and respond to at least two other students. Response must be 100-150 words here are 2

students responses

Student#1

Discussion 5 Topic: “Personal Fable” and Adolescent Risk Taking

A characteristic of the adolescent brain that might account for risky adolescent behavior

would be the executive function within the prefrontal cortex (Santrock pg. 272). This

section of the brain and the stage of it’s development controls an adolescent to make a

risky decision; as younger adolescents are more likely to make a risky decision because

they have a stronger sense of the “personal fable” and invincibility than older

adolescents who understand more aspects of the consequences from the risky

behavior, due to the increased development of the prefrontal cortex and the executive

function cognition.

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