Teens take fewer risks around slightly older adults

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/afps-ttf012816.php

Public Release: 28-Jan-2016
Teens take fewer risks around slightly older adults
Association for Psychological Science

Adolescents are known risk takers, especially when they're surrounded by same-aged peers. But new research suggests that being in a group that includes just one slightly older adult might decrease teens' propensity to engage in risky behavior.

The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

"The take home message is that decision making in groups of adolescents and young adults is more prudent when a somewhat older adult is present," explains psychological scientist and lead researcher Laurence Steinberg of Temple University. "The findings are important because they provide guidance to organizations that must decide on the age mix of their work teams."

•••••

"There is no question that late adolescents bring to work teams many desirable qualities, including spontaneity, creativity, and enthusiasm," the researchers write. "The key for the individuals who supervise people in their late teens and early 20s is to find a way to harness the passion of the young without permitting their readiness to take risks to endanger them and their teammates."

tags: youth, influence