High Risk Factors for Teens

Impulsivity, Sensation Seeking and Novelty Can Be Dangerous Traits

Sep 7, 2009 Nelson Acquilano

Research has shown that certain personality traits can lead into high risk behaviors and even into patterns of high risk behaviors with lifelong consequences.

Everyone needs to be able to take risks in life. Risk taking is an essential ingredient to learning, growth and development. In fact, a person who habitually avoids risks due to anxiety or fear of failure may stagnate in the overall growth process.

But there is a major critical difference between taking a calculated risk and impulsive risk taking. A calculated risk is one that is thought out in advance, logical and balanced with little chance for harm or negative repercussions. Impulsivity, sensation seeking and novelty, however, are traits that have a strong correlation with negative outcomes. Such traits, researchers believe, also have a predictive value for long term behavior and success in life.

Risk and protective factors have been well documented. In particular, there has been extensive research on the relationship of personality traits such as impulsivity, sensation seeking, and novelty seeking with involvement in risky behaviors. Such traits seem to be highly associated with teenagers taking social, physical, and financial risks and a variety of illegal and/or risky behaviors such as drinking, smoking the use of illicit drugs, sexual risk-taking, and even delinquent behavior.

According to “Risk and Protective Factors of Child Delinquency”, many studies of delinquency have focused on the concepts of behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation. Behavioral inhibition (in response to a new stimulus or punishment) includes fearfulness, anxiety, timidity, and shyness. Behavioral activation includes novelty and sensation seeking, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and predatory aggression.

The study found evidence that high levels of behavioral activation and low levels of behavioral inhibition are risk factors for antisocial behavior. For example, high levels of daring behavior at ages 8–10 predicted convictions and self-reported delinquency before age 21, whereas measures of anxiety and guilt did not. Overall, studies have shown that impulsive, not anxious, boys are more likely to commit delinquent acts at 12-to-13 years of age.

Signs of High Risk Traits

There are several signs that may be predictive of future problems for teenagers. Again, all teens may demonstrate risky behavior on an occasional or episodic level, but the following traits – if patterns, can indicate lifelong risk taking, and become self-sabotage and dysfunctional behavior.

• The teen tends toward excitement or new sensations and experiences.
• The teen tends to be an impulsive person in many ways overall.
• The teen tends not to make careful, deliberate decisions cognizant of all the details.
• The teen tends to have friends who are unpredictable or uninhibited.
• The teen tends to do things for thrills or excitement, even if frightening or dangerous.
• The teen tends to act spontaneously and live for the now rather than for long term goals.

Prevention and Intervention of Dysfunctional Behavior

Early identification of risk taking traits is important for the normal growth and development of a child. As well, investment into “human capital” has been found critical in helping youth develop in appropriate normative ranges.

Parents, educators, family and friends should remember:

• Teaching "deliberation" reduces risk taking.
• Positive social influences prove the most highly effective contribution as a protective factor in mitigating risk.
• Building strengths as protective factors includes a positive identity, a sense of personal efficacy, self-regulation skills, rational decision making and social problem solving skills, a system of pro-social normative beliefs, a hopeful future goal orientation, academic excellence, and vocational skills.
• Help youth manage their own behavior within specific contexts, for example, within an impoverished neighborhood.
• Provide positive adult social bonds.
• Provide a moral-reasoning component.
• Provide a cognitive reasoning component.
• Provide opportunities to accomplish more conventional goals.

To some extent impulsiveness, sensation seeking and risk taking can be necessary for normal development. When these traits are too strong, however, they can overwhelm and repress the rationale decision making process. The result can be catastrophic for a teenager – today, or in his/her future life. To resolve this, help youth see a future where they are engaged in healthy relationships, purposeful activities, and as constructive members of society.

Source:

Wasserman, Gail A., Keenan, Kate, Tremblay, Richard E., Coie, John D., Herrenkohl, Todd I., Loeber, Rolf and Petechuk, David, "Risk and Protective Factors of Child Delinquency," Child Delinquency Bulletin Series. US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, April 2003.

References:

How to Have a Healthy and Happy Family

A Parent Guide for Alcohol and Drug Free Children

The copyright of the article High Risk Factors for Teens in Parenting Teens is owned by Nelson Acquilano. Permission to republish High Risk Factors for Teens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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