The importance of belonging and the avoidance of social risk taking in adolescence

Abstract

Adolescents are commonly thought of as risk takers. However, adolescents often avoid social risk taking, that is, the risk of being socially excluded by their peers. Here, we review evidence showing that the negative effects of social exclusion and loneliness are particularly high during adolescence, and that adolescents actively seek peer approval and avoid being excluded by peers. Evidence suggests that social belonging is especially important during adolescence and, given that social exclusion and loneliness have negative effects on adolescents’ immediate and longer-term well-being, young people tend to be especially motivated to avoid social risk. We review evidence that suggests that the motivation to avoid social risk might lead to heightened peer influence in adolescence. Heightened peer influence can lead to a range of behaviours, from increased health risk taking to prosocial and healthy behaviour, depending on peer norms, that is, the types of behaviour endorsed by the peer group. The evidence reviewed suggests that adolescents are not always risk takers, but are often motivated to avoid social risk taking.