Ponton Provides New Perspectives and Solutions Regarding Adolescent Risky Behavior
Since the dawn of mankind, there has been the battle between fearful parents and their rebellious teenagers. And there is an accepted perception that high-risk adolescent behavior is part of a power struggle with authority.
But UCSF psychiatry Professor Lynn Ponton, MD, provides an alternative perspective. In her two books, The Romance of Risk and The Sex Lives of Teenagers, Ponton explains that risky behavior is not a form of rebellion against authority; rather, teens test out high-risk activities in the process of developing and defining their identity.
Ponton spoke at UCSF on Wednesday, May 24, as part of the monthly Women's Health Today series, co-sponsored by the UCSF National Center for Excellence in Women's Health and the Center for Gender Equity.
"Parents have a misconception that their children's risk-taking behavior has to do with them," says Ponton. "But children and teens engage in risk taking as a natural part of their development. Risk taking is the major tool adolescents use to discover and develop who they are." Instead of being fearful and overprotective, Ponton recommends that parents expose their children to healthy risk-taking activities, such as sports, artistic and creative endeavors, travel, volunteering, running for school office and making new friends. Discussing these experiences and talking about risk help children develop skills in assessing risk and anticipating consequences later in life. In supportive environments, these experiences also expand their lives and provide the challenging and thrilling interactions they are looking for. Participation in healthy risk-taking activities also prevents unhealthy risk taking, such as drinking, smoking, drug use and unsafe sex. Ponton says, reassuringly, that 90 percent of adolescents engage in some unhealthy risk taking as a part of normal development. The other 10 percent, however, spiral into more dangerous, unhealthy risk-taking patterns, such as severe eating disorders, hard drug use, self-mutilation, running away, stealing, gang activity and violence. "It's never too late to change unhealthy patterns into healthy ones, and open communication is key to this process," says Ponton. "These conversations should not be interrogations. Instead, parents should take a 'team' approach, and have discussions with a foundation of mutual respect." Ponton is also involved with neurological research with regard to risk taking. When children and teens imitate the behaviors they observe around them, Ponton says "mirror neurons" grow and establish patterns in the brain. These patterns are reinforced with repeated observation and can lead to expression of the behavior by the child, sometimes on an unconscious level. For this reason, Ponton says it is essential that parents be positive role models and exhibit healthy risk-taking behaviors. It is also important for parents to share their own risk-taking successes and failures, and to discuss unhealthy behaviors among the child's peer group and in the media. "Since teens need to take risks, parents should welcome the risk taking," says Ponton. "Just be around to shape it by discussing their risk-taking patterns and helping them find healthy alternatives."
But UCSF psychiatry Professor Lynn Ponton, MD, provides an alternative perspective. In her two books, The Romance of Risk and The Sex Lives of Teenagers, Ponton explains that risky behavior is not a form of rebellion against authority; rather, teens test out high-risk activities in the process of developing and defining their identity.
| Ponton's
recommended questions for parents to ask their children: • Do you feel pressured by friends to make risky choices? • Do you rush into decisions? • Do you think it's uncool to try things in a safe manner? • Are dangerous risks more exciting? • Do they feel more like you? • Do you make dangerous choices to show others? • Does it feel as though it's happening "in a dream" when you make dangerous choices? |
Ponton spoke at UCSF on Wednesday, May 24, as part of the monthly Women's Health Today series, co-sponsored by the UCSF National Center for Excellence in Women's Health and the Center for Gender Equity.
"Parents have a misconception that their children's risk-taking behavior has to do with them," says Ponton. "But children and teens engage in risk taking as a natural part of their development. Risk taking is the major tool adolescents use to discover and develop who they are." Instead of being fearful and overprotective, Ponton recommends that parents expose their children to healthy risk-taking activities, such as sports, artistic and creative endeavors, travel, volunteering, running for school office and making new friends. Discussing these experiences and talking about risk help children develop skills in assessing risk and anticipating consequences later in life. In supportive environments, these experiences also expand their lives and provide the challenging and thrilling interactions they are looking for. Participation in healthy risk-taking activities also prevents unhealthy risk taking, such as drinking, smoking, drug use and unsafe sex. Ponton says, reassuringly, that 90 percent of adolescents engage in some unhealthy risk taking as a part of normal development. The other 10 percent, however, spiral into more dangerous, unhealthy risk-taking patterns, such as severe eating disorders, hard drug use, self-mutilation, running away, stealing, gang activity and violence. "It's never too late to change unhealthy patterns into healthy ones, and open communication is key to this process," says Ponton. "These conversations should not be interrogations. Instead, parents should take a 'team' approach, and have discussions with a foundation of mutual respect." Ponton is also involved with neurological research with regard to risk taking. When children and teens imitate the behaviors they observe around them, Ponton says "mirror neurons" grow and establish patterns in the brain. These patterns are reinforced with repeated observation and can lead to expression of the behavior by the child, sometimes on an unconscious level. For this reason, Ponton says it is essential that parents be positive role models and exhibit healthy risk-taking behaviors. It is also important for parents to share their own risk-taking successes and failures, and to discuss unhealthy behaviors among the child's peer group and in the media. "Since teens need to take risks, parents should welcome the risk taking," says Ponton. "Just be around to shape it by discussing their risk-taking patterns and helping them find healthy alternatives."