Explore with Me: Peer Observation Decreases Risk-Taking but Increases Exploration Tendencies across Adolescence

Abstract

It has been assumed that adolescents increase risk-taking tendencies when peers are present but findings on experimental decision-making have been inconclusive. Most studies focus on risk-taking tendencies, ignoring the effects peer presence can exert over other cognitive processes involved in decision-making, as well as any other underlying developmental and individual differences. In the present study, the trial-by-trial choice behavior was analyzed in a task in which adolescents adjust to dynamically changing risk probabilities. Using Bayesian modeling, the study aimed to infer about peer presence effects on risk-taking tendencies but also on reactions to, exploration of, and learning from positive and negative outcomes of risk-taking. 184 pre- to late adolescents (M = 14.09 years, min = 8.59, max = 18.97, SD = 2.95, 47% female) conducted the Balloon Analog Risk Task under two conditions: Once alone and once in the presence of a (non-existent) peer observing them virtually. Findings revealed that (a) peer observation reduced risk-taking but increased exploration tendencies and (b) that individual differences modulated this effect. Especially female pre-adolescents increased their openness to explore different choice outcomes when a peer observed their behavior. These results support the assumption that the occurrence and direction of peer influences on risk-taking depend on a person-environment interaction, emphasizing the dynamic role peers play in adolescent risk-taking.

Preprint - Combined Effects of Social Exclusion and Social Rank Feedback on Risky Decision-Making Across Adolescence

“…These findings challenge conventional assumptions linking social exclusion to elevated risk-taking behaviors during adolescence, as supported by previous research and theoretical considerations (Blakemore, 2018;Falk et al, 2014;Peake et al, 2013;Tomova et al, 2021). However, our study aligns with existing research indicating that other social influences, such as peer observation, can have both risk-inducing and risk-diminishing effects, depending on task-specific factors, contextual details, and age (e.g., Lorenz & Kray, 2022;Somerville et al, 2019).…”

“…Additionally, we found nuanced developmental differences in how social exclusion and social rank interfered with information usage, indicating that adolescence is a sensitive period for social cognition, which becomes increasingly complex with age. These findings underscore recent accounts suggesting that peer influences also have adaptive effects, fostering exploration and social learning (Ciranka & Bos, 2021b;Dahl et al, 2018;Lorenz & Kray, 2022;Romer et al, 2017;Silva et al, 2016). Regarding influences on health and risk behavior, peers emerge as pivotal sources of both positive and negative health trends in adolescents' lives.…”

“…Evidence suggests that adolescents, like adults and children, rely more on social information when faced with uncertainty (Ciranka & Bos, 2021b). Accordingly, peer influence can bolster confidence in decision-making explaining increased risky choices under uncertainty (Lorenz & Kray, 2022;Romer et al, 2017). Thiy explains why studies have robustly shown increased risk-taking following social exclusion under uncertain conditions, such as simulated driving (Falk et al, 2014;Peake et al, 2013).…”