Young adults are faced with dozens of decisions on a daily basis, from when to wake up, what to do, and who to spend time with. Some of these decisions are made easily without much thought while others are made in the heat of the moment, as young adults are more likely to make last-minute plans or feel less confident about what they actually want. Sometimes, this tendency to make impulsive decisions can lead to risk-taking behaviors without considering possible consequences. A recent study published in the National Academy of Sciences suggests that fluctuations in brain activity may drive risk taking behaviors.
The Emerging Adult Brain
Brains go through periods of rapid growth during infancy and adolescence, but slow down through young adulthood. Research suggests the “adult brain” does not stabilize until one’s mid-twenties, when the prefrontal cortex responsible for rational decision-making skills becomes more fully developed. Before this occurs, there tends to be a disconnect between emotional areas of the brain and rational areas of the brain, leading to more impulsive decision-making and intense emotions.
The researchers that looked at the role of brain activity in risk-taking behaviors found that higher resting brain activity is associated with higher dopamine levels and a higher chance of taking risks. Young adult’s inconsistent decision-making behavior is partly explained by what their brains are doing when they’re doing nothing as well as when they’re faced with difficult decisions about their personal goals.
In the study, participants were more likely to gamble when brain activity in this area was high during a state of rest, but this did not suggest that they were more likely to gamble in every situation. In some cases, once the participant made the decision to take a risk, activity in that area decreased, suggesting that the activity satisfied the impulse.
Why Take Risks?
Senior study author, Robb Rutledge, proposes “our brains may have evolved to have spontaneous fluctuations in a key brain area for decision making because it makes us more unpredictable and better able to cope with a changing world.”
This suggests that risk-taking is seen as a reasonable way to get out of one’s comfort zone and meet one’s needs for curiosity, entertainment, and instant gratification. The difference is that some risks may lead to new opportunities or new relationships, while others may lead to self-destructive behaviors and other consequences. Young adults often struggle to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy risks as they are less likely to weigh the risks and rewards of either scenario with a limited amount of time to make a decision.
Ways to Support Better Decision-Making
- Encourage young adults to plan ahead. Many young adults live fast and struggle to see beyond their next decision. Events in their lives feel isolated, rather than connected.
- Recommend taking different perspectives. Rather than just making pros and cons lists based on their own perspective, young adults are encouraged to ask for feedback and support when making big decisions. Ultimately, they are responsible for choosing their own path, but looking at a situation from someone else’s point of view may suggest factors they may not consider.
- Help them set short term goals. When young adults aren’t living in the moment, they tend to get lost in the big picture. They may have specific dreams in mind, but are unsure of how to achieve them. Setting short-term goals are beneficial in reaching longer-term goals as they allow a greater level of self-monitoring and re-evaluating goals without feeling discouraged. We encourage young adults to set short-term goals based on their values rather than their achievements.
- Encourage healthy risk-taking activities, like hiking, biking, and rock climbing to meet the same needs for adventure and unpredictability. Taking risks is not inherently negative. Healthy risk-taking can help young adults feel motivated and confident about their independence.
Foundations Asheville Can Help
Foundations Asheville is a program for males ages 18-25 who are struggling to find the motivation to launch into adulthood. Many of our students struggle with anxiety, depression, social skills, and learning difficulties. This program is committed to helping young men develop and sharpen the skills they need to be successful in the real world. There is a focus on teaching students how to enter the workforce, develop vocational trades, and functional living skills. Foundations Asheville gives young men the opportunity to gain confidence, find their purpose, and learn useful skills that will help them navigate through the adult years.
Contact us at 1-877-318-7273. We can help your family today!
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