Adolescent and adult risk-taking in virtual social contexts.

Journal article

There is a paucity of experimental data addressing how peers influence adolescent risk-taking. Here, we examined peer effects on risky decision-making in adults and adolescents using a virtual social context that enabled experimental control over the peer "interactions." 40 adolescents (age 11-18) and 28 adults (age 20-38) completed a risk-taking (Wheel of Fortune) task under four conditions: in private; while being observed by (fictitious) peers; and after receiving 'risky' or 'safe' advice from the peers. For high-risk gambles (but not medium-risk or even gambles), adolescents made more risky decisions under peer observation than adults. Adolescents, but not adults, tended to resist 'safe' advice for high-risk gambles. Although both groups tended to follow 'risky' advice for high-risk gambles, adults did so more than adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between the effects of peer observation and peer advice on risky decision-making.

Authors: Haddad, A; Harrison, F; Norman, T; Lau, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Frontiers in psychology
• Volume: 5
• Issue: DEC
• Pages: 1476
• Publication date: 2014-01-01
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01476
• EISSN: 1664-1078
• ISSN: 1664-1078
• Language: English
• Keywords: adult; decision-making; risk-taking; peer influence; social conformity; adolescent