Anyone who works with young people will have asked the question ‘why do they do such stupid things?’ As youth workers it is important that we understand why young people, who are often identified as ‘risk takers’, do the things they do, in order to be best able to support them.

There are many activities that young people (although not exclusively) participate in, that we [adults] would consider ‘risky’. Things like driving stolen scooters or cars, fighting, using certain drugs, excessive alcohol use, unprotected sex, self-harm etc. Risk taking has been defined as ‘the participation in behaviour which involves potential negative consequences (or loss) balanced in some way by perceived positive consequences (or gain)’. (Gullone and Moore, 2000).

The importance of perception

An individual’s perception, and therefore their perceived cost / benefit associated with ‘risk activities’ is unique to that individual. Although this may seem obvious, studies addressing adolescent risk taking behaviour tend to adopt an adult-centric focus. In other words, judgements as to the wisdom of particular behaviour are adopted from a perspective that often fails to recognise the perspective of young participants.

Young people view certain activities differently to adults. We need to explore how they perceive their behaviour, deemed ‘risky’ by us, in order to be able to intervene in appropriate ways.   The fact that adults are so caught up in the negative connotations of ‘risky behaviour’, means we loose sight of the fact that for many young people it is what they gain from participation that is central. To gain a better understanding of young people’s motivation to participate in ‘dangerous and risky’ pursuits we need to focus on their perceived benefits. Motivation is the driving force behind behaviour. Key questions are therefore ‘what is it that makes young people behave in certain ways, and is their decision to participate based on rational decision making, or is it purely impulsive?’ Once we answer these questions we can support them to take less ‘dangerous’ risks with their lives. How we answer these questions will affect how we relate to young people, and the type of youth work intervention we will use.

Research has shown that for young people choice to participate in risky activities is based more on the likely positive outcomes, rather than the possible negative outcomes. This is the difference between adults and many young people’s thinking. Young people place higher value on social popularity and their need to belong within a certain group of peers, than on conforming to socially held ‘adult’ norms or rules. If a young person perceives that the only way a group they wish to be included into will accept them, is for them to engage in accepted forms of behaviour (within the groups norms) then they are more likely to participate in such activities (despite wider held social norms) then to risk being excluded from the group.

During the period of adolescence (the transition from childhood to adulthood) young people are also seeking more independence from their childhood figures of authority and may therefore demonstrate ‘rebellious’ behaviour which may result in ostracisation from those from whom acceptance is most craved – parents or carers for example. Young people want to take on adult roles and therefore in many ways seek to emulate behaviour that they regard as ‘adult’. This will often include using certain drugs and alcohol, driving or riding motorbikes or participating in sexual activity etc. All these behaviours may then be viewed, when undertaken by young people as ‘highly risky’ and therefore be frowned upon by many adults. It is not surprising therefore that many young people get confused and as a result feel further excluded from society.

Some significant research in risk taking behaviour has identified that far from being a negative factor of adolescent development, in certain ways it is actually an important element of the process of becoming an adult. Young people who participate in certain experimental risk taking are more likely to develop positive levels of autonomy and independence, whereas those who seek total avoidance of risk may limit their personal and social development. I think there is some balance needed here, as we would not want to encourage young people to take risks which would be likely to lead to serious harm to them or others. 

Another question that is crucial when working with young people who are involved in ‘risky behaviour’ is ‘to what extent are their choices to participate in these activities based on rational choice or pure impulsiveness. The answer to this question will radically affect how we work with, and relate to, young people. It is my belief that too often we do not recognise young people’s ability to make choices for themselves, particularly if they are not the choices we would choose for them. If peer acceptance, is more important than ‘wider social acceptance’ to young people [and therefore the potential benefit more significant that the potential cost] it would seem that their participation in certain activities would be logical in their minds. If this is the case we, as youth workers, should acknowledge this, and use this as a staring point for our work with young people, rather that assuming what they do is irrational and illogical.

Other factors that would suggest that it is rational for young people to take risks is that they are going through a process in which they are developing an identity for themselves. Their participation in particular activities will help in this. There is a sense in which their identity is formed, at least in part, by certain activities that they involve themselves with. Certain behaviour therefore can become a symbol of identity that is taken on and valued by the young person. If for example a young person is known and respected by their peers for ‘tagging’ [doing graffiti] or ‘driving’ for example, they will take on this identity, and it will be this identity that will help them to belong within their group of peers. This need to belong will often make it difficult for an individual young person to break out of a cycle of potentially destructive behaviour. This is important point youth workers to consider.

A young persons general attitude to risk will affect all aspects of their life and general behaviour patterns. It is rare for young people to participate in only one significant risk activity – as often certain ‘risky behaviours’ are linked. For example being in a stolen car may take place under the influence of alcohol or certain drugs, and be followed by unprotected sexual activity. The link between violent behaviour and alcohol has been commonly recognised. A young person’s willingness to break the law, or social conventions, in one respect, will often be an indicator that they would be willing to do so in other ways. This has implications for youth work intervention. Rather than simply focusing on one specific behaviour when working with young people, it will generally be more helpful and productive to come from a more general and holistic perspective, that identifies issues of motivation and belonging, rather than specific behaviour.

Potential causes of risk taking

 

We have identified some of the potential ‘positive’ reasons why young people may take risks. Now it is important to consider some of the underlying reasons why they may be prepared to take risks with their lives and health. One factor that is very significant is that of hope, or to be more precise hopelessness. 

If young people believe that their future is going to be negative, regardless of what they do [including getting good qualifications etc.] and therefore they have little chance of getting a well paid job for example, then it is only natural that they will live for the moment, rather than planning for a future that is, in many ways uncertain anyway. There is a sense in which many young people, particularly those from poorer communities where unemployment is common, see little point in future planning, and therefore their behaviour is more about enjoying the moment. For many the ‘rush’ associated with particular activities, and the acceptance from peers that these activities brings, is at the forefront of their minds, rather than the potential cost. There is also the view that ‘it won’t happen to me’ for many young people. When something bad does happen, such as a friend being killed for example, the reality is often a huge shock for the friends that are left. If however, a young person already has a very low level of self-worth, they may not feel that any potential risk to them is significant anyway. This is where hopelessness can become a very dangerous emotion. This can also be seen within ‘fatalistic’ culture, where people think they have little control over potential outcomes…and when it is ‘their time’ to die, it will be ‘their time’ and nothing will prevent this. Often this is a way of deflecting personal responsibility, seeing ‘God’ as somehow divinely responsible for the consequences of an individual’s actions – however misguided and reckless those actions might be.

I guess they key question in our minds should be ‘how do we, as youth workers, work with young people in order to support them in their personal, social, and spiritual development, whilst helping them reduce the potential harm they may experience as a result of their behaviour?’ We need to recognize that social conditions will affect the behaviour of young people, and at the same time recognize that each young person is an individual, and should be treated accordingly. Whilst it may not be very scientific, I think it is crucial that as youth workers we help young people to dream dreams, and then work with them to help them realize their own dreams. In doing this we will help young people make the connection between the present [the here and know that dominates their focus] with the future [and the positive potential they may work towards]. When talking to young people on an individual basis, in general they want a positive future which includes a good job, income, family etc. even if they do not see how they can possibly obtain it.

It may also be appropriate to address these issues not only on an individual basis but with small groups of young people. By doing detached youth work, for example, meeting the young people on their own territory, it may be possible to get a better understanding of what motivates them, and also what their hopes and aspirations are. Often they will be able to recognize the causes of their behaviour, if given the chance. The role of advocate is central to youth work, and here is one place where it may be important.

 

Concluding thoughts

Much of this article has focused on risky behaviour that is often viewed negatively, and which may have detrimental consequences. However I think it is also important for the Christian youth worker, working with Christian young people, to consider the risks associated with our faith, and the outworking of faith that we encourage young people in. In many ways we, as Christians, are encouraged to take risks, for our faith. When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked towards Jesus [Matthew 14:22-33], he was taking a risk - one that nearly went very wrong. For many people in the world today, simply confessing faith in Jesus is a huge risk, and one that may very well cost them their life. In the West, the Christian faith has become connected with the ‘easy life’. Often people are not prepared to take risks with their lives, but would prefer to stay within their comfort zones. Young people have often been at the heart of challenging social norms. Maybe, we as youth workers, should be there encouraging them and enabling them to take risks, to go out and get involved in mission, to give up their creature comforts, in order to become radical risk takers for the gospel. The only question is, how will we cope when it is our comfort zones that that get challenged by these young ‘Risk Takers’, and when parents start complaining that their children are becoming ‘irresponsible’?

 

 

 

 

 

Gullone, E. and Moore, S. (2000) Adolescent risk-taking and the five-factor model of personality in Journal of Adolescence 23 pp. 393-407

 

 

Parsons, J. Siegel, A. W. and Cousins, J.H (1997) “Late adolescent risk-taking: effects of perceived benefits and perceived risks on behavioral intentions and behavioral change”, in Journal of Adolescence  20, pp. 381–392

 

Bell, N. and Bell, R. (ed.) (1993) Adolescent Risk Taking Sage, London.

 

 

 

 
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