A risk is essentially "a behavior for which the outcome is uncertain," and risks are extremely developmentally important for growing adolescent brains. Adolescence is full of new experiences and transitions- changing environments, brand new social landscapes, new responsibilities, and more difficult academics. This requires adolescents to learn new skills and be vulnerable. While many adults and parents are fearful regarding their adolescents comfort level with risk, the trait is actually adaptive for their proper development.

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that deals with the "rewards center" of the brain, is released more in adolescents compared to children or adults. Since dopamine is released more in an unexpected or surprising reward, teens are more heavily rewarded than children or adults when they take a risk.

Even if adolescents merely think their peers may be observing them from another room (or online), research shows that adolescents are more likely to take risks, and the brain's reward response from that risk is stronger. This isn't always a bad or dangerous thing! Sometimes these risks could be defined as prosocial, or providing benefit to others.