Scholarly Reflection On Development

Running Head: EDUCATION 1
Scholarly Reflection On Development
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction

EDUCATION 2
I personally feel that there is no magic formula for personal development. Every individual
is on a personal journey, in a unique situation and with his own set of problems or opportunities.
What add to the distinctiveness of the situation are individual strengths and weaknesses? But one
thing is for sure, nobody is perfect. This is what I have learned when I look back at my growing
years and my risk-taking behaviors. During my college years, I had no control over alcohol
drinking and was into drugs.
Summary of traditional research
Adolescents carry a tendency to take risk behaviors as they get influenced by their
environmental and peer pressures and seek out more stimulation without considering the risks or
the disadvantages.
The majority of adolescence is already into risk-taking behaviors such as drug, tobacco and
alcohol use. Social scientists assert that the behaviors are influenced by the intention, the
knowledge, habit, and environmental constraints. The intention to change behavior is influenced by
factors such as social norms, attitude toward behavior, self-concept, emotions, beliefs, and
expectations (Sadzaglishvili, 2017). When the adolescent engages into risk-taking behavior, one
should study their attitudes towards the behavior, the peer pressures, their perceived social images
and how they relate emotionally to the behavior or perceive its advantages and disadvantages.
Today, teenagers are addicted to the Internet, technology and social media. They are under the
impression that social media can strengthen their social relations and are not aware of the risks
involved in online communication with strangers in the virtual world (Lareki, Martínez de
Morentin, Juan Ignacio, Altuna & Amenabar, 2017). This is a new risk or addiction that was not
there in my times. Still, it is good to know educational efforts and effective interventions by
teachers and parents can prevent these risks of excessive use of technologies. Substance abuse,
aggression, and addictions are seen as problem behaviors among teens. There is a rise in the
psychological distress and problem behaviors among young adults. Negative mood symptoms can
develop due to substance use and aggression, and thus targeted interventions are indicated (Ranney
et al., 2018).
Scientific studies reflect that risk-taking behavior has little to do with age, gender, and
depressive symptoms. It was the psychosocial maturity that had the significant but indirect effect
on risk-taking behaviors and is a much better predictor of the risk-taking behavior as stated by

EDUCATION 3
Pailing, Renate & Reniers (2018). MRI studies reflect that the teenage brain is unique because of
the increased networking within the brain. While the limbic system that is responsible for emotions
intensifies during this age, the prefrontal cortex that controls the impulses does not mature until the
20s (Giedd, 2015). It is this mismatch within the teens’ brains that makes them prone to risk-taking
as well as flexible to adapt to their environment. Risk-taking behaviors may have the possibility of
getting the desired, beneficial outcome but there is always the risk of unwanted consequences.
Adolescence is characterized by an unbalanced surge in risk-taking behavior. An excessive risk-
taking behavior can even lead to death or other calamities (Pailing, Renate & Reniers, 2018).
The developmental changes seen during adolescence have much to do with the decision-
making and risk-taking behavior. Any wrong decisions can raise the risk of risk-taking behaviors
such as substance use, excessive internet use, and gambling. Results on the study of the addiction
vulnerability in youth reflect that developmental changes during puberty behaviors involve brain
areas. However, peer pressure and individual differences too have a role to play in decision-
making and risk-taking behaviors (Balogh, Mayes & Potenza, (2013). Brain-based changes impact
the cognitive and emotional processing in the teenagers, and this is what makes them more
vulnerable towards additive and risk-taking behaviors.
Critical reflection
I remember my early college days, and it was a phase of mixed feelings and emotions. I
was going away for the first time form my hometown. It was a bit sad and at the same time I was
excited to move to a new place, in a new surrounding and make new friends. I was soon busy with
college studies and projects and saw my family during the holidays. I made a couple of friends.
My drug use did not begin until the second year of my college. I had never smoked in high
school and never used drugs socially. I remember it was one evening when I was finding it difficult
to stay awake for the presentation exam the next day and was tense. A friend casually hinted taking
some stimulants. I took one of those pills and felt terrific with the results. Deep in my mind,
suspicions were there if this was some kind of addictive pill or drug. However, I shoved those
thoughts away from my mind and just focused on the success of my presentation which was the
most important at this time. And as I really felt good after taking those pills, I started using them
whenever I felt the need. Thus, my experiment with drugs began on an innocent note and without
much thoughts on the risks I was taking.. It was like taking a strong cup of coffee, but the effect
was a lot more effective. I felt all charged up, loaded with energy and raring to go.