Study: Presence of friends leads to riskier decisions among teens

By Staff Writer

A recent study in the journal Developmental Science reveals that many teens are more likely to take risks when they are around their peers.

Psychologists from Temple University measured brain activity in a group of adolescents while they were using a simulated driving game. Through functional magnetic resonance imaging, the team studied the underlying process that went into decision-making while the teens were independent and while they were with friends.

The goal of the game was to complete a course as quickly as possible, and faster times resulted in higher monetary rewards. Participants encountered a yellow light when they came to an intersection, forcing them to either stop and proceed cautiously or run through the light and risk a collision with another vehicle.

The study showed that the presence of peers heightens the sensitivity in a teen's brain to the potential upside of taking a risk. Thus, adolescents were more likely to run by the yellow light without stopping when their friends were observing the activity.

The lead author of the report concluded that this brain activity may explain why many teens engage in binge drinking, careless driving and cigarette smoking. Individuals who exhibit risky behavior may benefit from boarding schools, many of which are structured to foster healthy decision-making.