Social Visibility and Risk-Taking: Evidence for Asymmetric Social Costs in Adolescent Girls

Overview

The purpose of this research is to evaluate how much influence social visibility plays on decision-making among adolescents by isolating social cost perception as a variable. In the three experimental studies carried out for this paper, the subjects (657 total, age 13-18) were asked to estimate their likelihood of taking risks under private and public circumstances, as well as their social reward and punishment perception. The results showed that the presence of others during risk assessments increases social punishment perception significantly for girls, while social reward perception remains rather unchanged across all participants. These changes in the assessment of cost-benefit ratio result in decreased levels of behavioral engagement, with a notable negative correlation between punishment perception and behavioral engagement. This study shows that rather than calling our girls "avoidant", we must give them the proper opportunities and environments to address this social math.

Awards (2)

• Bronze Medal
• Selected for CWSF 2026

Competition history

• CWSF 2026 Health & Wellness

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