Why teens do stupid things

Teens smoke, take drugs, have unprotected sex and ride with drunk drivers, not because they think they are invulnerable or haven’t thought about the risks, says a new Cornell study.
In fact, they are more likely to ponder the risks, take longer (about 170 milliseconds more) weighing the pros and cons of engaging in high-risk behavior than adults — and actually overestimate the risks. It’s just that they often decide the benefits — the immediate gratification or peer acceptance — outweigh the risks, says Valerie F. Reyna, professor of human development at Cornell.

リスクやベネフィットを考えていないってわけじゃなく、要は考えた上で、自分にとって得なことをやっちゃうってだけ。