A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

How do adolescents' decision-making capabilities in gambling compare to adults?

1. Adolescents are less capable of making effective decisions.

2. Adolescents show greater risk-averse behavior.

3. Adolescents exhibit decision-making similar to adults with no risk.

4. Adolescents prefer constant irrational choices.

The correct answer is: Adolescents exhibit decision-making similar to adults with no risk.

Adolescents exhibit decision-making capabilities in gambling that can be observed as being influenced by various factors including emotional responses and social environments. While some may argue that their decision-making resembles that of adults, it is important to note that their choices often reflect a higher propensity for assessing risk with less caution than adults. This is because adolescents tend to be more guided by immediate rewards and peer influences, which can lead to riskier choices in gambling scenarios. The notion that adolescents exhibit decision-making similar to adults without any risk oversimplifies the complexities of their cognitive and emotional development. Unlike adults, who have more developed cognitive control and risk assessment skills, adolescents are still developing these processes. Consequently, they may be more prone to impulsive decisions which can drive them towards more reckless gambling behaviors rather than demonstrating a consistent adult-like approach to safe or rational decision-making. Thus, while option C implies a level of maturity in decision-making akin to adults, it misses the nuances of how adolescents actually navigate risk, which can often lead them to make less informed or more impulsive decisions compared with adults.