Risk Behavior in Youth: Deviation or Norm?

Research objective is studying of factors of risk behavior in youth. Results of research of features of the personality and coping strategy of the young men who are engaged in extreme sports in comparison with young people, not engaged extreme sports are presented. The interrelation of risk behavior and makiavellism, gender features of risk behavior and expressiveness of the main reasons for risk behavior of young men are analyzed. The factors of risk behavior of young men and girls are different. The statistical analysis of data an direct comparison showed significant relations between level of risk behavior and aspiration to a maturity and independence for young men. Significant relations were also found between risk behavior and underestimation of outcomes as the reason of risk for girls. Risk behavior is connected with such characteristics of the personality as a practicality, low expressivity, high self-control, rigidity in the relations, trustfulness. The significant positive two-way relation between level of a makiavellism and risk behavior for young men and for girls is found.

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