Why are teenagers hardwired for risky decisions?

Hi Chris,

Help me understand my teenager; he’s driving me nuts!

Maddening Teen

Hi, Maddening Teen!

Remember your own teens and all the crazy things you did? It’s because teens are hardwired to take risks, have seriously poor judgment, and make simply terrible decisions.

There are two reasons for this. A teen’s base level of dopamine is lower than an adult’s. Dopamine is the brain’s reward chemical and is released whenever you get something you want. So teens need more excitement to get a dopamine high, which is why they feel driven to do such weird things. And the pre-frontal cortex, which assesses the consequences of our behaviour, doesn’t fully develop until you’re around 25. So adolescents tend to make terribly rash choices.

Teens also emphasise benefits over risks. They’re perfectly aware of the dangers but play them down, stressing the positive aspects like fun, the shared experience, and the thrill of breaking the rules, especially when they’re hanging out with their friends. Teens feel a huge need to be connected to their peers and often do stupid things just to be included in whatever their friends are doing.

So the best way to influence your teen’s behaviour is to focus on how they see the world.

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Emphasise rewards and what they have to gain, rather than talking about what they might lose, because adolescents go for something they want even when there might be serious downsides.

You’ll get your teen to study if you highlight a reward: “…so you’ll get to college,” rather than threatening: “If you don’t study, you can’t go out.” That’ll just create a battle of wills!

Help them get dopamine highs by finding positive experiences for them, like learning something new for a studious teen or trying unusual sports for an athletic one, because those raise dopamine levels just like riskier behaviours.

And be involved in their lives, because adolescents whose parents monitor their activities, talk with them, and eat together turn out far better than those whose parents are more hands-off. They also take fewer risks and develop better thinking skills.

All the best,

Chris