Taking Risks Can Be A Healthy Part Of Development
Saturday, May 31st, 2014 -- 9:13 AM
Parents, if your teen sometimes engages in risky behaviors that seem hard to fathom, take heart.According to a Press Release from the Clark County UW-Extension Office, a University of Wisconsin-Extension/UW-Madison teen specialist said teenagers are physically, socially and emotionally programmed for behavior that people in other stages of life might find perplexing.
Scientists say that during adolescence, young people possess high levels of dopamine, which creates a sensation of pleasure in the brain. Experiencing risk can literally create a thrill by increasing the sensation of pleasure via dopamine, explains Mather.
But Mather advises parents not to be overly concerned if their teens engage in some risky behaviors. In fact, taking risks can be a healthy part of development by helping young people define their identity, practice independence and learn from their mistakes.
For some young people, taking a risk may be as simple as asking someone out on a date, snowboarding down a steep hill or auditioning for a part in a play.
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