Preferences for Autonomous and Collective Risk-Taking in Adolescents and Young Adults

This thesis investigates how collectives impact risk-taking differently in adolescents versus adults and how preferences for collective versus individual decision-making evolve throughout adolescence. Using a risk-taking task, participants made decisions either individually or within a group, presented with two options, one of which involved more risk. In one condition, participants were assigned to either autonomous or collective decision-making settings. While in the second condition, they voluntarily chose to join a collective or choose to decide autonomously. Results indicate voluntary collectives are more prone to risk-taking than individuals, with this effect being particularly amplified during mid to late adolescence. They also highlight that after experiencing the outcomes of autonomous decisions, the likelihood of voluntarily joining a collective decreases as adolescents get older.