CYP Now - Research Report: Social Influence on Risk Perception During Adolescence

Researchers look at whether the influence of other people makes adolescents more or less likely to take risks.

Authors Lisa Knoll, Lucia Magis-Weinberg, Maarten Speekenbrink, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, University College London

Published by Psychological Science, March 2015

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SUMMARY

Past research has shown adolescence is associated with risky behaviour such as alcohol and drug abuse, unsafe sexual behaviour and dangerous driving. The University College London team wanted to find out whether the influence of other people makes adolescents more or less likely to take risks.

The researchers analysed the behaviour of 563 visitors to the Science Museum in London over 14 days in April 2013. The group consisted of 313 females and 250 males, ranging in age from eight to 59. The average age was 23.4 years. There were 106 children (aged eight to 11), 68 young adolescents (aged 12 to 14), 52 mid-adolescents (aged 15 to 18), 136 young adults (aged 19 to 25) and 201 adults (aged 26 to 59).

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