Week 10: Adolescent Risk Taking

Question 1

That alcohol consumption causes risky sexual activity in adolescents is what type of explanation?

Answer 1

A causal explanation

Question 2

That the desire to engage in risky sexual behaviour in adolescents causes alcohol consumption is what type of explanation?

Answer 2

A reverse-causal explanation

Question 3

Risk-taking behaviours in adolescents appear to…

Answer 3

cluster together (illicit substances, sexual activity, risky vehicle use, minor deliquency)

Question 4

Alcohol diminishes cognitive capacities, distal cues are ignored, simple, salient cues are processed.
This theory is called…

Answer 4

Alcohol myopia theory

Question 5

‘I’ll be more confident if I drink…’

This is referred to as…

Answer 5

Expectancy theory.

Question 6

What are the 4 theoretical categories of risk-taking behaviour?

Answer 6

Biological (brain development, hormones)
Psychological (personality, decision making)
Social (family, peers)
Biopsychosocial - all combine

Question 7

What is it?

Cell bodies involved in muscle control, perception, memory, emotions, speech.

Answer 7

Grey matter (substantia grisea)

Question 8

What is it?

Composed of nerve fibres

Answer 8

White matter (substantia alba)

Question 9

An increase in the myelination of neural pathways during adolescence results in…

Answer 9

A faster processing of information.

Question 10

Approximately half of the synapses per cortical neuron are pruned during adolescence. This is called…

Answer 10

Substantial synaptic pruning

Question 11

Rather than ‘small and disorganised roads’, the adolescent brain is building…

Answer 11

‘Major highways’

Question 12

What happens to the grey matter in the brain during adolescence?

Answer 12

It decreases, resulting in advancing of cognitive abilities.

Question 13

The prefrontal pathways have delayed development during adolescence, while the reward pathways do not, resulting in…

Answer 13

Adolescents taking risks to receive reward without processing their actions cognitively first.

Question 14

In males, testosterone is linked to what kinds of behaviours?

Answer 14

Earlier and more frequent sexual activity, smoking, drug use, aggression, socially dominating behaviour.

Question 15

One psychological theory for risk-taking is that the individual is of the Sensation-seeking personality type. What does this mean?

Answer 15

They have a need for novel, varied and complex sensations and experiences.
They have a willingness to take risks to achieve such experiences.

Question 16

Substance abuse, reckless driving and deliquency is associated with what sort of personality?

Answer 16

Sensation-seeking personality

Question 17

Some studies show that adolescents who engage is risky behaviour perceive…

Answer 17

less risk than those who do not engage in risky behaviour

Question 18

What influence can family have on risk-taking behaviour in adolescents?

Answer 18

Parental approval of and modelling of risky behaviour increases risk-taking.
High level of family conflict = risk taking

Question 19

Explain adolescent decision-making.

Answer 19

Adolescents give greater weight to PROXIMAL (less severe) consequences than DISTAL (potentially more severe) consequences.
eg. condom use

Question 20

What type of parenting styles is associated with high risk taking behaviour in adolescence?

Answer 20

1. uninvolved/neglectful
2. Indulgent/permissive parenting
3. High authoritative

Question 21

What parenting style is associated with low risk-taking and responsible risk-taking?

Answer 21

Authoritative with negotiation

Question 22

Actively choosing friends who are similar is called

Answer 22

selection

Question 23

The influence that friends have on eachother is called

Answer 23

socialisation

Question 24

What are 3rd variable explanations for an association between alcohol and risky sexual behaviour?

Answer 24

An avoidant style of coping with negative emotions.
Low impulse control
Thrill seeking
Lifestyle