Positive and negative risk-taking in adolescents and adults – what we already know?

As many risks may have detrimental outcomes to people’s health or well-being, risk-taking is often viewed as negative. This negative bias has been present in scientific research, particularly on adolescent risk-taking. However, recent attention has been given to the fact that many risks taken by adolescents and adults are beneficial for their development and well-being and are accepted and supported by society. This article reviews the current literature on positive and negative risk-taking, beginning with how they are conceptualized in psychology and why a positive perspective on risk-taking is important, especially in research on adolescence and risk-taking across the lifespan. The article summarizes the current (although still scarce) research results on the relationships between positive and negative risk-taking and personality, social functioning, and decision-making. It also shows what is known so far about age differences in positive and negative risk-taking. Finally, challenges for future research on positive and negative risk- taking are discussed.