Reinforcement sensitivity, sensation seeking, and counter-productive behaviour at secondary schools

Abstract

Behavioural approach and behavioural inhibition as well as sensation seeking have been postulated important determinants of impulsive and risky decision making, or, the pursuit of long-term goals. Adolescence has been described a particularly sensitive developmental period, as an imbalance of these factors may result in risk-taking and counter-productive behaviour. In the current study, we assessed sensitivity to reward, sensitivity to punishment, and sensation-seeking in a cross-sectional sample of adolescents at secondary schools. The battery also included experimental paradigms to assess different forms delay and probability discounting, risk-taking behaviour and gambling as well as a capacity measure of intelligence. As outcome variables, we assessed counter-productive behaviour, substance consumption, and scholastic achievement. The presentation will focus on an imbalance of motivational approach and avoidance tendencies as predictors of risk-taking behaviour and will end with a brief discussion of the behavioural paradigms.