Dealing With Uncertainty: Testing Risk- and Ambiguity-Attitude Across Adolescence. Issue 1 (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blankenstein, Neeltje E.; Crone, Eveline A.; van den Bos, Wouter; van Duijvenvoorde, Anna C. K.
• Is Part Of: Developmental neuropsychology. Volume 41:Issue 1/2(2016)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2016.1158265
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-5641

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Attitudes to risk (known probabilities) and attitudes to ambiguity (unknown probabilities) are separate constructs that influence decision making, but their development across adolescence remains elusive. We administered a choice task to a wide adolescent age-range ( N = 157, 10–25 years) to disentangle risk- and ambiguity-attitudes using a model-based approach. Additionally, this task was played in a social context, presenting choices from a high risk-taking peer. We observed age-related changes in ambiguity-attitude, but not risk-attitude. Also, ambiguity-aversion was negatively related to real-life risk taking. Finally, the social context influenced only risk-attitudes. These results highlight the importance of disentangling risk- and ambiguity-attitudes in adolescent risk taking.