ITHACA, N.Y., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Teens take on risks not because they don't weigh the downside but because they decide the benefits outweigh the risks, says a U.S. study.
Researchers say teens are more likely to ponder the risks, they take longer to weigh the pros and cons of engaging in high-risk behavior than adults -- and that they actually overestimate the risks.
However, they often decide the benefits -- the immediate gratification or peer acceptance -- outweigh the risks, according to Valerie F. Reyna, professor of human development at Cornell University, and Frank Farley of Temple University.
The researchers found that while adults scarcely think about engaging in many high-risk behaviors because they intuitively grasp the risks, adolescents take the time to mull over the risks and benefits.
"In other words, more experienced decision-makers tend to rely more on fuzzy reasoning, processing situations and problems as gists rather than weighing multiple factors," said Reyna.
The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
