The Good and Bad of Risky Decisions

Episode 12

Teenagers taking risks is a natural part of development.

Any situation with an uncertain outcome is risky. And the future is always uncertain. Risky behaviors range from unhealthy, destructive decisions to socially acceptable risks that test your limits with few consequences. The Risk Index includes probability, impact, and a relative risk scale--- watch out for Decision Traps. In the teenager's prefrontal cortex, taking risks is natural as part of brain development. Positive risks can expand your comfort zone and create learning, but be careful to not cross the Stupid Line!

A useful resource/article from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is this related article, Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making.

Taking Appropriate Risks Is An Important Part of Growing Up

This video is a DEF student volunteer presenting her use of a Conversation For Clarity to clarify the risky decision she wants to make.

High School Student Makes Time Management Decisions