Development of risky decision making: Fuzzy-trace theory and neurobiological perspectives
Open accessAbstract
Developmental differences in mental representations of choices, reward sensitivity, and behavioral inhibition (self-control) explain greater susceptibility to risk taking. Ironically, relying on precise representations in reasoning promotes greater risk taking, but this reliance declines as adolescents mature. This phenomenon is known as a developmental reversal; it is called a reversal because it violates traditional developmental expectations of greater cognitive complexity with maturation. Fuzzy-trace theory (FTT) predicts reversals by proposing two types of mental representation (gist and verbatim), and that risk takers rely more on verbatim processing when making decisions. In this article, we describe the main tenets of FTT and explain how it can account for risky decision making. We also explore the neural underpinnings of development and decision making in the context of distinctions from FTT. FTT's predictions elucidate unanswered questions about risk taking, providing directions for research.
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Behavioral research has demonstrated for decades that by mid-adolescence, young people are comparable to adults in their ability to make deliberative decisions, including working memory, logical reasoning, weighing risks and benefits, and anticipating consequences of their actions.
“Specifically, behavioral research has demonstrated for decades that by mid-adolescence, young people are comparable to adults in their ability to make deliberative decisions, including specific abilities in working memory, logical reasoning, weighing risks and benefits, and anticipating consequences of their actions (Icenogle et al., 2019; Reyna et al., 2015; Steinberg, 2013).”
From The role (and limits) of developmental neuroscience in determining adolescents' autonomy rights: The case for reproductive and voting rights (2024) · cites this paper as Reyna et al., 2015
The Abstract (page unavailable) says adolescents trade off risks and rewards and often do not underestimate risks. But it describes the view that decision-making capacities had developed by adolescence as something 'once thought,' then emphasizes cognitive differences between adolescents and adults. The cited passages do not establish adult-comparable working memory, logical reasoning, or anticipation of consequences by mid-adolescence. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAdolescents have demonstrated capacity to make deliberative decisions.
“adolescents have demonstrated capacity to make deliberative decisions (Icenogle et al., 2019; Reyna et al., 2015; Steinberg, 2013).”
From The role (and limits) of developmental neuroscience in determining adolescents' autonomy rights: The case for reproductive and voting rights (2024) · cites this paper as Reyna et al., 2015
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“…young people are comparable to adults in their ability to make deliberative decisions, including specific abilities in working memory, logical reasoning, weighing risks and benefits, and anticipating consequences of their actions (Icenogle et al., 2019; Reyna et al., 2015; Steinberg, 2013).”
- Authors
- Reyna, V. F., Wilhelms, E. A., McCormick, M. J., & Weldon, R. B.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Reyna, Valerie F
- Venue
- Child Development Perspectives
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2015-04-28
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 122-127
- ISSN
- 1750-8592 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-8606
- PMC
- PMC4428604
- OpenAlex
- W1989900451
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 6.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Child Development Perspectives (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Cancer Institute (R21CA149796)
- National Institute of Nursing Research (RO1NR014368-01)
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Federal formula funds (NYC-321423, NYC-321436)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- risky decision making, fuzzy-trace theory, risk-taking, adolescents, self-control, behavioral inhibition, reward sensitivity, mental representation, neural development, decision-making
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