And risk-taking in adolescence

By Tim Rush

The Curse

All animals die, but only humans are cursed with the knowledge that death is unavoidable.

Cultural World

View

contextualizing

our

fear

Cultural World

View

- gives us value

- offers

immortality

contextualizing

our

fear

Terror

Management

Theory

≠

Risk-Taking

???

Terror

Management

Theory

=

Risk-Taking

!!!

Risk-taking in

Adolescents

=

Self-esteem

~ It’s not

different. It’s

just wrong! ~

Family Based ---------> Peer

Based

“Embedded into many cultures is the

wisdom that children must somehow

leave their childhood community in

order to find their way back into it

as adults and citizens.”

(Larson & Martin, 2012 p. 38)

Positive reaction towards home culture

Negative reaction to foreign cultures

Positive reaction towards home culture

- values and beliefs

- patriotic imagery

- symbols

Negative reaction to foreign cultures

- customs

- styles of dress

- religious beliefs

Family Based ---------> Peer Based

The adolescent undergoes a rewiring of their cultural world view

The adolescent undergoes a rewiring of their cultural world view.

And healthy

adaptation

Luxury or

Requirement?

- Liberal views of

drug usage

- Compromised

cognitive effort

“Individuals with low self-esteem struggle

with adjusting to the knowledge of mortality,

individuals with high self-esteem remain

unscathed and unflappable.”

(Routledge, Ostafin, Juhl, Sedikides, Cathey,

& Liao 2010, p. 913)

Anxiety Buffer Hypothesis

< risk-taking =

< self-esteem =

< anxiety protection

Sometimes the risk defines the individual.

Immediate Gain vs. Future

Cost

Immediate Gain vs. Future

Cost

Because not taking the risk could be the

bigger risk.

“Risky behavior can be thought to be driven

by a process in which the individual concludes

that the potential gains outweigh the possible

losses. However, this process is not necessarily

a rational objective evaluation of gains versus

losses.”

(Hirshberber, Florian, Mikulincer,

Goldenberg, & Pyszczynski, 2002, p. 120)

< Mortality Salience = < Motivation to Belong

Risk-taking = Escape from anxiety

Risk-taking = Relief from death awareness

Risk-taking = < Self-esteem

Self-esteem = Anxiety buffer

Because taking risks marks the transition to

adulthood.

Undiscovered identity can lead to unhealthy risk-

taking

Some risky behavior should be

considered, “purposeful, meaningful, goal

oriented… regarded as instrumental in

gaining acceptance… establishing

autonomy from parents, coping with

anxiety… or affirming maturity and

marking a transition to adulthood.”

(Tuabman, 2004, p. 106)

Encourages:

- Creativity

- Adventurous Spirit

- Satisfaction

Rites of Passage

< Risk-taking =

< Self-esteem =

< Mortality Salience

Buffer

Parents can reduce risk-taking behavior in children

through:

1. Parental Monitoring

2. High-quality Communication

3. Healthy Relationships

Parents can reduce risk-taking behavior in children

through:

1. Parental Monitoring

Parents can reduce risk-taking behavior in children

through:

2. High-quality Communication

Parents can reduce risk-taking behavior in children

through:

3. Healthy Relationships

Parents can reduce risk-taking behavior in children

through:

** Better Modeling Practices **

Culture: Defines Personal Value; Offers Hope for

Immortality

contextualizin

g

our

fear

Exposure to Mortality Salience leads to:

- Over-value home culture

- De-value foreign cultures

• Why would adolescents take risks?

Adolescence is a Journey

Required: Self-esteem

• Risk-taking leads to higher self-esteem

How does the

culture of the

Home compare to

the mainstream

culture?

Do those without

rites of passage

struggle more with

finding their

identity?

With self-esteem?

Do involved

parents have

children with higher

self-esteem?

And risk-taking in adolescence

By Tim Rush