Adolescent Decision Making

The Prevention Researcher, Volume 16, Number 2, 2009, Item# 162

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Adolescence is a critical time in life when youth begin to make life-changing decisions. By understanding how youth make decisions and the factors that impact this process, those adults who work with youth can more easily assist them. This issue of The Prevention Researcher explores this often neglected topic, and in the process, might dispel some common myths about adolescent decision making.

The issue begins with an overview of the decision-making process, by defining competent decision making and describing decision-making models. Then, because most of the decisions that adolescents–and adults–make on an everyday basis are intuitive rather than analytical, we explore the difference between these two types of decision making.

After learning how adolescents make decisions, we turn to two important factors that can shape this process: the use of consultants and the goals of the decision maker. Adolescents often turn to consultants (including parents, friends, and romantic partners) for advice and these consultants have an impact on the decision. Finally, a decision maker’s goals play a key role in the type of decision he or she makes. How goals impact decisions, especially those of at-risk youth, is the topic of our final article.

View the Table of Contents

Articles in this issue:

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Adolescent Decision Making: An Overview

By Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Ph.D.

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Goal Setting and Decision Making by At-Risk Youth

By Kathleen M. Galotti, Ph.D., Steven F. Kozberg, Ph.D., and Mary Gustafon, Ph.D.

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Intuitive Risk Taking During Adolescence

By James D. Holland, M.A., and Paul A. Klaczynski, Ph.D.

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“What Should I Do?” How Consultants Impact Adolescents’ Risky Decisions

By Laura Finken, Ph.D.

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Stress, Coping, and Decision Making Bundle

By understanding how stress impacts youth, their coping mechanisms, and decision-making processes we can better support them along their life course. This bundle of issues examines the relationship between high levels of teen stress and increased problem behaviors, looks at how youth cope with stressful events, and then explores the processes they use to make decisions. All for only $27.00

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