Understanding adolescents’ risk-taking behavior

By Ellen Carpenter

College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
September , 2010

I would say I am not so much of a risk taker now, however in my adolescent years; I was the epitome of a risk taker. I think I took such risks as an adolescent to get attention. I am a text book definition of a child who has middle child syndrome. I have always felt that my older brother was the golden child, and I was always made to live up to what he did so well. He never smoked, drank, did any drugs, did his homework every night, went to class everyday just to give an example what I was expected to act like. He was the kid that told my mom if I stepped slightly out of line, whereas I was the kid who always found a way around a rule that was set, or at least try my hardest to find that loophole. Some of the risks I took was handing out with people that were close to twice my age, going for joy rides with people that may or may not have even had licenses, risky sexual behavior, I started smoking at the age of 12…I really wanted to be THAT cool to name a few behaviors. I am very happy I outgrew this, but I still do have that “middle child” thing going on, but not to the point that I am going to put myself in harm’s way for me to get some attention.

I feel strongly to this day that if there was someone who would have gave me the slightest bit of attention and had expectations for me which were built on my own abilities and personality I may not have taken SO MANY risks. This time in my life has given me much insight to when I have children what types of behavior to look for and if they’re going to start going down the road of poor decisions that I made, and how to minimize risks they feel they have to try. I also thank God every day that I’m still alive and there was nothing bad that came out of these risky behaviors, because now I know my life could have turned out so differently, and I am truly happy and proud with what I’m doing now.